Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-14
second EDITION
BLACNISTON MURDER
John BIaCkiStOn Accused Of
Killing His Cousin, Joshua,
Near Summit Bridge.
| TRIAL STARTED TODAY
Jury Drawn and Taking Of TaS-
timOny Begun.
THE DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR
AsTold by a Son Of the Ac-
Cused Man.
TRIAL STARTED TODAY
IuT Drawn and Taking Of Tts-
timODy Begun.
THE DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR
AsTold by a Son Of the Ac-
Cused Man.
EVIDENTLY A LIVELY ENCOUNTER

Johu w. biacki6ton, colored, who
,ss indicted by the grand jury at the
r,ssent term OF court on the charge Of
mnrder in the first degree, for the
SiIIiuq OF Joshua Blackiston, al Sum
nil Bridge, was placed on trial in the
Goprt Of Oyer and Terminer this
morning. The Prosecution IL being
conducted by Attorney General tich-
s,es and Deputy Attorney General
gastinqs. }. Frank Ball and George
n Davis are counsel for the accused.
The Jurors selected to pass upon the
Ista OF the defendant are a. folio VS.:
Lbrsm Palmer, ioremans John j. Sew
srsou, William b. Crouch, John Dep
uty. kobert K. Wilsoo, William S
Hemap. Harry u. HAbbart, William
CTumpton, Peter Boyer, Rodman
fo,ett, Isaac W. Weaver, and Harvey
Hollingsworth.
The iolloWing jurors were chal-
lenged: William ID. Warner. Thomas
n. Townsend, Kennard s. Chandler,
Jobu Z. Brockson, Edward Dulin,
Robert M. Cam, Charles +. Rose,
William p. Wilson, William Band,
William NJ. Householder, Isaac S.
Baird, William Oakss, William +.
Green, Charles ID. Wells. James +.
White, John W. FTaim, Victor Gael,
William Fubr, John A. Cleaver, J heo-
dole hanf, John Thomas Moore, Samuel
K. Price, John HNWard Richards and
Richard Frazier.
The prisoner sat in the dock be-
tween Tipstaves Heal and tlounders.
looking downcast and worried while
Clerk Of the Peace Quigley read the
lengthy indictment.
At the conclusion Of the reading Of
the indictment the members of the
special panel of Oyer and Iefminer
Jurors not empanelled in toe present
case were discharged from any further
attendance.
The petit jury was discharged until
Monday morning at 10 o o'clock.
The case On the Iart Of the State
vas outlined to the jury by deputy
Attorney General Hastings. AS usual,
the prosecuting officer defined the de-
gfees Of homicide. In telling Of the
crime Mr.. Hastings said that Joshua
Blaokiston, a cousin Of the accused,
and a woman named Mary Gould, toJ
supper at the house Of John W. Black.
is;on, and during the meal, be said,
John produced two quarts Of whisky
which was partaken Of. While drink
ing, he saio. the two men became in
volved in a violent quarrel in which
Joshua struck John. lhe latter, be
said, went 70 a closet and GOT az
old single barrel gun. Joshua grapplec
With John and the gun was broken 10
twain, John then ran upstairs and
got his double barrel gun. When be
came downstairs he found Joshua
threatening Aaron Blackiston, son oil
the accused, by striking at him with
the butt Of the gun, declaring be would
kill him also.
While standing in the stairway,
holding the door open with one hand
be said, John fired his gun with thl
other hand, knocking Joshua down anC
Wounding him in such a manner tha
be died. After the shooting, Mr.
\ Hastings said, the wounded man wal
led out Of the house and leaned agains
the fence, where he was allowed 4
remain all night, bleeding. The mex
morning Joshua died while being takel
to the county hospital at tarnhuIst.
Aaron blackiston, son Of the &C
oused, testified that be Was sittin
down IN the room where the fimily an
guests we're eating supper, and wen
10 sleep. de was awakened by Joshu
blaokiston striking him in the mouth
he said that Joshua next struck a
him with the butt Of single barre
run and split the top Of a table an
made hole IN the wall. Witness sal
that Joshua declared, with an oath
that he would kill him, too. de sal
that be moved to a chair when Joshu
NtruNE AZ hfu fanN he hraN Of d
gun and broke a hole through tn
floor.
Where was your father at tha
time z" asked Mr.. Hastings.
lie was standing inside the stair
way, looking at what Joshua wa
ooine. lie told Joshua to get out {
me house and Joshua cursed him an
.old him he would kill him in his ow
house. "
he said that Joshua was standin
tRht up to him when his father she
nm from the stairway. lie said tbs
Joshua fell and said: "Oh, Lore
cousin John, don Z shoot me no more.
rather said, Josh, why didn't 20
80 out when l told you to Ro?'
saw Name Gould take Jcshu
out Of the house and / saw him nei
~gg.hlng leaning against the hog pen.
Ihe witness said that he and b
oiotheE John started TO Farnhuri
WIN Joshua, but he died before the
sot him there.
4he muzzle-loading donble-barr
suni with which the man was killes
vas Produced by Mr.. Hastings an
Nenuned by the witness as the gu
WIN which his father shot Joshua.
Mf' Hastings offered the gun in ey
& said:
,.9ns barrel of this gun is loaded.
Can't you remove the CAP ?" ask'
sGdge SpIuance.
,, IL has no cap ON IL, " replied NJ
eionafds, and the gun was admits
evidence.
40 his REORGANIZATION Mr. Bal
J' me defence, made a great deal o.
VI he States witness. de brought
wv clearly that Joshua bao stru'