Year: 1859

Robert NJ. Rigdon, m Wit a
on the 5th of November last i''''


The prisoners mother, sister, aunt and three brothers
We're present in Court yesterday His mother sat with
her lace Veiled and appeared to be much affected


On the opening of the Court yesterday morning Judge
Price inquired whether there any gentleman upon
the jury who had not been naturaized


The jurors replied that there were none


r Machen then went before the jury and explained to
murder in the first degree explained in the books He
then referred to the Indictment and said that it charged
the prisoner the bar with the killing of Robert Ris
don and also with being present. aiding and abetting in
the shooting with Marion Cropps Mr. Machen then
stated that in the eye the law the person who was
ent, aiding and abeng, just at guilty as that one
who had fired the shot That if the State would show
I'M mat Peter Gore was present at the of the MURDER


ne was guilty OF murder in the first degree and that yer
dict was expected from them by the State Mr. Macben
then related all the circumstances connected with the
shootlng OF Rgdon, and the part taken that mur-
der by Peter Core. Mr. Machen recapitulated all that
he had said in opening the case of Marion Cropps


After the concl sion of Mr. Machen's opening address
| Mr. Preston arose and said:


Mr. Preston said that if the usually pursued in
capital cases involving the life of prisoner had been fol-
lowed IN this case he would not be compelled to trou
Die the court with any remarks at this time. He must
ASK 10 pc apwed 70 express his astonishmen that


hoe hour mad been occupied by the adjunct counsel
the state not in making statement to the jury the
facts connected with the which they expected to
prove Dut in arguing points of law nstructing the
Jury what they had to do before word of testimony


In the whole practice the bar which was
commenced perhaps when the assistant States officer
IN ms cradle, ne had never seen such course pursued,
ana would assert that it not the regular course He
then alluded to the murder of Rgdon and said he con-
IL most foul and horrible
must show the connection of this prisoner with that affair
by evidence and the jury determine that csnnec
| tion themselves


This murder has been alluded by the States officer
as occurring at memorable in city of Baltimore
at time when we found bands eagued together
committing throughout the community crimes of every
grade and character. We find ths-and also will find
hereafter that these bands of mere tools and
dupes in the hands of designing tricksters who to crafty
their own ambition and gain high places stoop to anv
means to attain their ends and when raised the po
stions to which they have aspred wrap themselves in
| tho
| dupes whom they have led to crime


Mr.. Preston said that the proposition advanced by the
State that because one guilty of the murder
and that the other being present was also guilty was
ialacy and ne would at the proper time, fully argue
ness was no excuse for crime yet it enters duly into
the consideration of the jury, and has its weight
element to be considered because the mind was not So
stad and well balanced in of sobriety and
| of murder in the first degree.


Mr. p Preston to. said the defence would prove, without
murder makes the highest grade crime never for
once entered into the bosom of the unfortunate prisoner
me state cannot show by evidence the combination
tween Crops and Corre they must establish some pre
vious evil INTENT they must establish premedated NAL
the indictment. ~


Mr. Preston occupied hour the delivery of his
learning. e"'


After the conclusion of Mr. Preston's remarks Mr..
Cuttings asked him he would admit the pats of the Io
cay OF the murder to be correct without the State be-
ing under the necessity of again calling Bryson to the
stand Mr. Preston replied that he admitted them to be
correct cheerully and would consent that the eyi
denc OF Dr. Fernandis should be read to the jury without
recalling the Doctor


Mrs Augusta A Rigdon sworn.-Am the widow or
Robert NJ Rgdon, reside 46S West Baltimore street on
the north side of the street Friday evening the eth
Of November, man came into the store and asked wit
ness for net undershirs witness him she had no
net shirts, but she had flannel; this man
was the prisoner at the bar he then socks
which witness shew him; he said did not want any
then but would come again during this time he was
moving towards the door between the rooms he then
| at N md in fau min


1.-THE pats of the house where the murder was committed
and the plas of different localities in the neighbor
hood were here shown to the juryl the window is
| two panes of glass wide; husband was standing
with his back against the mantle piece with
his left side towards the window about four feet off, wit
ness was sitting on the right side husband
came home about O'clock had been in the house from
fifteen to twenty five minutes; husband sitting the
corner of the first; he crossed then to the mauel
piece Corre looked into the back he kept looking
that way all the tme Corre and Rgdon were in sight Of
each oher if they both had good eyesgh husband took
tea at home that night and went with officer Snch
comb he came in about eight o'clock old named
Butts. neighbor, in Rigdon came home and
talked with Rigdon; Butts bareheaded and in his
| shirt sleeves N III ''''


Mr.. Preston said he had questions to ask the wit
| ness.


The testimony of DR.. Fernands, which was given on
the trial OF Crops, was then read to the jury by Git


Officer Benjamin Hough, sworn-Am police officer
and was acquainted with officer Rigdon; witness heard
the sho red; 1t was heavy report if the report of
gun; witness was at the Station house on Green street
when he heard the shot, witness then went to Rigdons





ness searched the yard and alley Rgdons house wit
ness found this pistol laying in the alley small
window 1.-THE pistol found in Rgdon's shown by wit
ness witness found the pistol about hour after Rig
don death Witness then related to the jury the posi-
ton in which the pistol laying when found and
reiterated all he had said when giving his testimony on
! the trial of Crops.


| Cross examined by Mr.. Preston-It had been raining
drizzng during the day. the pistol appeared have
been laid carefully down. witness into the alley
from the yard door, the alley gate fastened;
ness pulled open and then shut it, the gate opened eas
y it was about an hour after Rgdon's death wit
ness found the pistol there time enough a person
10 come IN the alley and lay pistol there witness did
not examine the alley when he first went to Rigdons
house; all who were in Rigdon's appeared to come
through the front door witness don't recoect whether
the yard door was fastened not the pistol LAYING
with the muzzle little raised across the alley at
gle with the wall of the house, witness could not saw if
there was bolt on the gate; witness has been on the
police six years; am sergeant have particular beat
attend to the whole district had known Crops by sight
for four years; Corrie pointed witness in the
entry Of the Court House, near Court House lane.


BY Mr. Gittngs.-The gate opens inward the gate was
not entirely shut; it square the street. did
not notice whether the gate would swing to or not


Officer Franklin Dennson, sworn-Witness saw Cropps
and Corrie on the evening of the murder between i've
and six o'clock pass through the Lexington market the
of Green street, they up Green street as far
as Mulberry street. witness noticed something in Cropps
sleeve witness corroberated his testimony given the
trial of Crops.


Cross by Mr. Preston-Witness can't exactly
state the time he Crops and Corrie did not look at
his wach witness beat starts from the Paca and
Franklin Streets then down Paca to Lexington down
Lexington to PEARL up Pearl to Franklin and then up
Franklin to Paca Corrie and Crops from towards
O
the street. they passed Green when thev got
to Mulberry street they turned towards Paca street. wit
ness thinks witness is certain that it Crops who
passed him. Corrie to witness than Cropps;
witness had heard of the verdict and heard that an
attempt had been made Gambrl; he heard this
before he Crops Corre the corner of Mulberry
and Green street is about five squares distant from Rig
don's house, don't recoect the state of the that
day.


By Mr.. Gittings.-Corrie had glazed cap.


By Mr. Preston.-Witness don't think he had his nm
brella with him that night.


Officer John Mcdonald sworn-on the night the 5th
of November last standing the of Baltimore
and Paca streets conversng with three gentlemen heard
a noise; thought it came from omnibus Crops and
Corrie came along and passed. Core then turned and
said who says murder in the first degree' Cropps then
turned back witness said what matter Cropps
said they had Gambrill in the watch-house they then
went off across Paca street, witness followed across
and when near the curbsone, of them said, 'some
of you will get murder in the first degree o-ngh they
down Baltimore Green street witness fol
lowed them and watched them off and an hour and
half Witness then repeated his testimony given in
Cropps case, describing the different localities where he
had seen Crops and Core together before Rgdon was
shot, Crops appeared to be in hurry than Cor
RE on the corner of Paca street. it is the impression of
witness that Corre said who says in the first de-
gree to the best of witness recollection said it


Cross-examined by Mr. Preston-Tbe nersons On the
corner oil faca and Baltimore streets the two Messrs
Welsh and Mr. Kaylor


Mr. Preston here desired Clerk to issue subpenas
for the Messrs Welsh to testify in the case for the de-
fence.


Witness continued.-witness beat starts from the cor
ner of Green and Baltimore down Green Pratt
ly along Pratt street to Euaw, then Baltimore
street, then west to Green street. when witness Corie
and Crepps first it about six o'clock the only houses
witness saw them go in were Cherrys and Clouds, a
cigar store and tavern; Crops
Paca street FIRST Corrie Jagged behind lamps
lit 1t was hazy night Scotch mist; them
the northwest of Pearl and Baltimore witness
was then on the southwest of Green Baltimore
they then to Porters the
OF Green and Baltimore; they then crossed
kins and went down Baltimore street. weswardly
and passed Thomas


By Mr.. Gttngs.-Witness them so many times it
would be impossible to how times or at what
points he did see them.


1t being O'Clock the Court took three
quarters of an hour.


AFTERNOON SESSION.


On the reassembng of the Court the examination of the
witnesses for the State resumed.


Adam Kaylor, sworn-Was on the of Baltimore
and Paca streets the evening of the murder;
company with the Messrs Welsh and officer Mcdonald
know Marion Cropps him the with another
man; witness asked of the Messrs. Welsh about the
verdict in the Gambrill these then passed us
and came back and said who said murder in the
first degree; Crops back and then officer Mcdonald
came across TO the and asked what the matter
witness did not hear what said then; Crops then
passed and said the come on they
the street, Mcdonald turned go them and as he
went oil Mcdonald said, There is something out.'
MIR. Glttings.-"You that up and
said, who aid murder in the first degree, tell the
jury what was the tone and in which this was
said? ?n


Mr.. Preston.-I object to the question The witness
give the facts that such and a thing was said and
what was said, but object to the witness giving his
opinion about the tone and manner in which it
| said.''


Judge Prce.-"The witness may describe the tone and
manner, it is competent to go to the jury"


Witness continued.-The tone and of the per-
son who came up first very threatening much
that witness put himself the defensive in things
| should come to the


Mr. Gittings.-"The witness is with you, Mr. Preston


Mr.. Preston.-"I have questions to ask the wnessn


Officer Stinchcomb, sworn-On the day of the murder
nf InHnn nIfna and DtrlnF,