Year: 1874

CAPTURE OF THE MURDERER.


About O'Clock yesterday morning dispatch
was received at police headquarters in this cry
from Aberdeen, Harfo-d county, which stst VI
that q woman had been murdered near there by
a colored man named Joshua Griffin, who had
then robbed her house of $500 and escaped.
About O'Clock another dispatch was received
stating that Griffin had been captured not f4T
from the scene of the murder.


DETAILS or TEE MURDER.


The following are the particulars of the
bloody deed, as detailed by an eye witness to
tn victim, aged about 10 years, lived With her
brothers Joseph and Henry, upon a farm situa.
ted on the main road about four miles from
Aberdeen. Joshua Griffin, the murderer, is
about 25 years of age, and had been in the fam
ily since he was two years OF age. Yesterday
morning after breskfaSt the brothers Henry and
joseph left the house to sow wheat field, and
left Griffin TO attend 70 some duties in the farm
yard. Miss Taylor told her brothers before
trey left that she intended 10 turn carnage
horse out iato pasture feld, and some con-
versation took place in regard 10 this matter.
About an hour after this the brothers we're star
tied by the sudden appearance sf a colored man
named William johnson, also employed upon
tie farm, who came running over TO the field
where they were at work, and was in such a
state OF excite meDt that for several minutes he
could rot make himself understood. When he
had been somewhat quieted he impaired to the
brothers the shocking intelligence that Miss
TaylCr was lying in a calf pen in the bsrnyard,
with her skull crushed in, and quite insenSlble.
The brothers and johnson hurried TO the place
indicated, and there found the unfortunate
woman lying on her face, with her right arm
across the breast, and the left arm, with the
hand tightly clenched, stretched out to its full
length. A terrible wound was plainly seen Ou
the back of the head, where the skull had D zen
mashed in, and from which brains and blood
were oozing She was turned over, when IL
was found that the pulse was still beating,
though feebiy, and that she vet breathed. An
attempt was made TO raise her for the purpose
Of carrying her into the house, but whilst IN the
act Of moving her she made several gasps as II
fer breath, and was dead


thorough examination OF the barn yard was
made. AT short distance from the calf pen
heavy club OF gum wood was found. broken in
three pieces, and from that spot TO the rem q
line OF blood marked the track along which Miss
Taylor was dragged. The Indications were that
when Miss Taylor went into the barnyard 20
turn out the horse Griffin came upon her
sieslthily from behind, and with the club lie
dealt her heavy blows UpOn the back of the
head, crushing the skull and telling her to the
earth. Probably thinking her dead he began to
search her person for money, as the pocket OF
her dress was turned out. Miss TAYLOR doubt
less rallied from the shock produced by ths
blows from the club, and made some resistance
as the flesh on the right side OF her neck was
found TO be literally gOuged out, and portions
of it were hanging in shreds, which must have
been done 10y the hand of the murderer, as the
evidences were plain that the wounds were
caused by finger nails on a mans hand. The
monster no doubt thought TO 6nish his work by
Suangung his victim To death. He then drag ged
her to the pen, which is ia a remote corner of
the baFnyard. VIM. johnson, the coIored man
who first discovered Miss Taylor, went to the
barnyard upon some errand, and had bis At
tentlon attracted by the blood, and traced it TO
the pen. 1t was known that Miss TayIor had
$500 in money, but the most diligent search
failed to discover il. Her bed chamber bore
evidences of having been ransacked, AMI no
doubt the murderer secured the booty, although
It is stated that none OF il was found upon him.
Bait. American, 1874.