The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-03-15

A Young Farmer Charged With q
| Serious Cr1me-He Il Released on San
/ atTowson.-Alet letter from Belaiz dated March
10th, says: Considerable excitement was
caused in the 5th district of this county today
over the arrest of ]. Duncan Almony, well
known farmer residing near Taylor. BY Deputy
Sheriff Sheridan, on the charge of having
murdered Horace Sutton. at Houck's Mill. Just
over the line in Baltimore county, on the night
of December 9TH last. Almony was brought
to Belair this afternoon, and. after being taken
before Justice Norris, was committed TO Jail TO
await the action of Baltimore county authori-
ties.
'At the time the murder is supposed to have
occurred Sutton had spent the day in Balti-
more and on his way home, near Taylor,
stopped at Houcks Mill, where he began play
ing cards with several persons, among whom
was Almony. When it was dark Sutton left
the MILL ostensibly to go home and short
time afterward Almony left the mill also, with
the remark that he was going to look for SUIT
ton.' 1t was not long before Almony returned
and reported that Sutton was found lying on
the ground in an unconscious condition, with
blood running from one ear 1t being the sup
position that he had fallen distance of 10 or
Is feet Drs. Turner and Emory were sum-
moned, but the man died without regaining
consciousness. An autopsy which followed
showed that the skull had been fractured and
a clot of blood had formed on the brain, which
they believed to have been the cause of death.
Detectives were put on the case about a
month ago. with the result that Almony was
arrested on warrant sworn out by Detective
Bartholomew, charging him with the murder.
When arrested Almony made no resistance,
and, in fact, expressed no surprise at being
taken, and failed to refer to the affair in any
way during his long drive to Belair. He was
seen in his cell tonight, and stated in the pres
ence of his lawyer, Walter w. Preston, that it
was perfectly ridiculous to charge him with
the murder of Sutton, who had always been a
good friend of his and whom he had often
given him employment on his farm"
Sheriff Reasin brought Almony to Towson
on Tuesday and, upon the order of States At
torney Grason, Justice Herbert released him
on 81 900 bail, his father, Josiah Almony, who
is one of the road commissioners OF the 10th
district of this county, becoming his surety.
The accused who is about 80 years of age, has
a wife and two children.
WHAT DETECTIVE BARTHOLOMEW SAYS.
Regarding what took place at the hearing in
Towson, in the presence of States Attorney
county, attorney for the accused. Mr.. Bar
tholomew, who is a private detective, said:
I'm my career as detective have had bust
ness with many States Attorneys in various
| been subjected to the treatment l received
from Mr.. Grason. When met Mr.. Grason and
thoritive manner to tell him what knew about
the case. replied that l could hardly do that
in the presence of the accused's legal adviser,
but would tell him privately what evidence
had in the case. and turning to Mr.. Preston he
. did you ever hear of such an outrage2 The
idea of man coming into county and con-
Quoting an investigation without consulting the
authorities of that countyl
HE then turned to me and asked why l had
not consulted him in the case. l told him that
did not need his opinion, but that had con-
suited Sheriff Reasin.
"Mr. Grason then said: IF anyone would
swear out a warrant for me, charging me with
what the prisoner is charged with, would fur
nish some grounds for the charge
MIR. Preston asked Mr.. GraSOn to have the
case called as soon as possible, and Mr.. Grason
said it would go before the grand jury on Fri
day. Then to me Mr.. Grason sald But there
fore Friday
Before left he also demanded to know who
him did not care to divulge the information.
"sUnless you tell me will have nothing to do
with the case, said Mr.: Grason, and was COM
PEELED to give him the information"
ALLEGED EVIDENCE AGAINST ALMoNY.
Detective Bartholomew said he had been
working on the case three weeks. He had one
of his men employed at Houck's Mill, and an
neighborhood While In Towson the detective
exhibited the instrument with which he believes
the deadly blow was struck. 1t is piece OF
zinc pipe, about 80 inches long and an inch in
diameter. 1t was found, he said, just beneath
the edge of the MILL as if someone had hastily
thrust it away out of sight. Near one end of
the piece of pipe are several dark stains, ap
parently rust, but Bartholomew says that zinc
does not rust and the ominous stains will be
examined by chemist.
I'VE have quantity of evidence" said Bar
tholomew. 1.-The distance from the door, from
which Sutton was supposed to have fallen. to
the ground is but feet and it is hardly possible
that anyone could fall that distance and by
striking on earth sustain fracture of the skull.
Sutton's wound was over the right ear and about
four inches long. There were no scratches or
bruises on his face or head, as would necessarily
have been the case had he fallen from the door,"