Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-05-27
COURT PROCEEDINGS.
Henry Smith Convicted Bunt-
ing mot GUILTY."

esting than those found i'm last issue of
, the MESSENGER. We are very glad To
know the people enjoyed reading them
in their paper and appreciated the infor-
nation therein conveyed. 1t is our pur-
pose always to put in the Peoples Paper
all the news Of interest To them. hence
the full account of Court and other pub
lie proceedings.
Henry Smith. the colored "hcrb doc
tor" of Pocomoke City, who was ON
trial last week charged with furnishing
to Mr.. Samuel Bunting certain durgs
that caused the death of Miss Minnie r.
Lambertson, an estimable young lady
of our sister city, was found guilty of
the charge against him and the sentence
held sub curid by the court, pending
notice of motion for new trial, given by
prisoners attorneys Messrs John ii. Han
dy and G. o. Melvin. Smith, the CON
vict, was notorious character, having
general reputation as an herb doctor
throughout the lower part of Worcester
and the upper part of Accomac County.
The principle witnesses in the case were
Doctors John King and Corbin +. Har-
gis, of Pocomoke City; Harry n. Brown,
Baltimore detective, Constable Benja
min Hearthway. of Snow Hill. who ar
rested Smith and lodged him in the
Snow Hill Jail. and the parents of the
deceased young lady. Mr.. and Mr.. |. I.
I.ambertson of Pocomoke City. Cap
tain Charles S. Capper also testified as
to his part in the arrest of Smith. DIR.
John II. King and DIR. Corbin i. Har-
gis testified to the condition of the body
of Miss Lambertson after her death last
fall Bottles containing oil of turpen-
tine and pennyroyal were found by the
dead girls side. Harry n. Brown. a
detective, told of his visit to Smith i'll
Virginia. ostensibly for the purpose of
getting drugs for young woman OF his
acquaintance He testified that Smith
admitted having furnished drugs for
Miss Lambertson. but declared that they
had not killed her. Brown further tes-
titled that Smith furnished him with
two bottles, which were produced, and
arranged if they failed to have effect,
to meet Brown in Pocomoke City on
certain day, when he would let INN
have more. Before that time came,
however, Brown had Smith arrested.
Benjamin W. Hearthway. constable of
Snow Hill, testified that, in the pres
ence of Deputy Sheriff Charles S. Cap
per, Smith while on the way to Jail
acknowledged that he sold the medicine.
Bunting, to whom it is charged the
medicine was sold and who is also III
dicted, was put on the stand for the de-
Tense. and denied that Smith had ever
sold him medicine of any kind. Smith,
in his own behalf. denied the CONVERSE
ton testified to by Brown and said that
Brown came to his house and asked him
to mix him up something for cold,
and named his own ingredients and at
the same time offered him 81. The
money Smith says. he refused. but he
did mix the medicine. Smith denied
ever having mixed or furnished Bunt- |
ing with medicine of any kind and i'll
fact denied any acquaintance with Bunt-
ing whatever. The trial lasted until |
late Friday afternoon when the case |
against Samuel Bunting to whom it
was charged Smith sold the drugs that
caused death was taken up and jury |
drawn. To get a jury in this case re-
quired considerable time and much |
trouble, numerous talismen were sworn
but almost everyone had formed and
expressed an opinion" which rendered
them ineligible as jurors. Finally, how
ever, a sufficient number were found To
sit in the case and heard the opening |
statement of the counsel for both State
and defendent. The court house was
filled with anxious friends of the deceas-
ed girl and her lover. Mr.. Bunting, who
was charged with furnishing her medi-
cine, who expected a continuace of the
trial, and were disappointed when the
court granted request of counsel to defer
the examination of witnesses till the
following morning on the ground that
both sides of the case could he better
presented the following court day,
Monday. The remainder of Saturday
was consumed in the trial of minor
cases and routine work.
When Court convened Monday morn
ing the jury was found TO be one short of
the requisite number. Mr.. Thomas p.
Selby being sick in bed, and was excused
from attendance. An effort was made
to continue the trial with eleven jury
men, which was objected to, and finally |
it was proposed to discharge the jury
altogether and try the case before the
Court which was agreed To. Judge
Lloyd was alone on the bench and after
half days work taking testimony the
by the counsel, Judge Lloyd rendered "a
verdict of mot guilty" and Bunting |
was discharged. Bunting is a young
farmer and has many friends i'll and
and around Pocomoke City who were
very much elated at his acquittal. He
had been under $1,000 bail bond since
Miss Lambertson's death until his re-
lease on Monday when he returned to
Pocomoke happy man.
George Harmon, Samuel Waters and
Emory Purnell were arraigncd, followed
by trial of case. State VS.. Edwin Nelson
for assault with intent to kill Lemuel
Hammond few Saturday nights ago
in Snow Hill. This was the Saturday |
night fracas that caused sd much excite
ment and during which ten pistol shots
were fired. five of them ut Lcmuel
Hammond the assaulted negro and five
i'm the air by one of the officers who
was trying to stop Nelson in his escape
from pursuers. Hammond it will be-
remembered, was first reported to be
dying, but he escaped death and was
before court to testify against his as
sailant. The affair was one Of many
that result from carrying concealed
weapons by young negro boys and men.
Nelson, who was found guilty. is
notorious for rowdyism In passing
sentence on him in this case. Judge
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