Year: 1870

A horrible murder was committed in Balti-
more yesterday morning, about 3 O'Clock, by a
negro named Charles Costun, residing at No. 10
Holiday street, near Saratoga, who cut the
throat OF his wife. Nancy +. Costun, from ear to
ear, with a razor; first putting a strap about her
neck and dragging her from the bed, while she
was asleep. The room and passage of the house
where the horrible decd was committed pre-
covered with blood. The murderer was taken
into custody, and the Coroner empanelled a
jury, before whom it appeared from the evil
dence Of Anthony Costun, aged Is years, a son
OF the murderer. who was sleeping in back
room over the kitchen, when the FIRST thing he
heard was noise in the upper front room; lie
Immediately ran into the room and saw his
father dragging his mother from the bed on the
moor towards the wardrobe, from the top of
which he got razor and cut her throat: he had
strap round her neck: his father did not drink
liquor; re previously had spells and while in
that condition he threatened witness; he had an
attack last summer, when he went about the
house bike ore out of his mind brother of wit
ness started that morning early to 20 fishing.


VIM. q. Custom, years old, testified that he
was in the same bed with bis mother. when he
saw his father place the strap round her neck
while she was asleep; there had not been any
quarrel between his father and mother pre-
yiously. In the morning, before placing the
strap round her neck, heard his father say that
mother had done something wrong, which he
did not like; she was asleep at Ia. time.
Lchn =. Costun. another son, twenty years
old, testified that there had been no difficulty
between lis father and mother since last sum
mer, when there a fuss between them on
account of father being jealous; they then lived
on Orleans street; he had been Jealous ever
since and had heard him several tim : now and
then talking at4ut il.


Virginia Dorsey, colorcd. who occupies a por-
ton OF the house. testified to hearing the
screams OF the children. and she ran first TO the
back gate and then TO the front; finding that
they came nom an upper room, she ran up
Stairs, and IN the passage met Mrs. CoStun COM
ing out OF her room; il being dark in the pass
age witness did not notice the blood, hut heard
something drop on the floor; she caught witness,
WHO led her TO the passage step. and then ran to
the dspensary for a doctor, but on going back
found that she was dead; witness had lived in
the house seven months and had never heard
them quarrel; had left Mrs. COstun the previous
night ironing, while he was sitting with book
III ms hand waiting tor her TO finish ir onins to
go TO bed.


Jonathan Waters. colored, testified that he
talked WIN COstun the night previous and he
sec med 10 be perfectly sensible. CoStun after
wards went in his house and after staying about
twenty minutes came out, saying that he was
not satisfied; that there som ething wrong in
family matters; witness did not wish to he con
cerned IN the matter, and did not make any in
curry. CoStIn aud his wife lived apparently
very happy and loving; witness never heard
them dispute, and had made a remark % his
own wlie how loving they were; there WAS moth
ing ulsagreeable about them; never saw Mrs
Costun go ont, excepting to take clothes or with
her husband.


The accused was committed by the coroner to
await the action Of the grand jury.


The murdered woman was about rorty-twe
years old, and was born ON the Eastern Shore.
while the prisoner is about forty seven years of
age. They have been married twentv-three
years, and have six children, the eldest twenty
years and the youngest nine years old. He lived
ior many years with the family of DIR. Michael
Difenderfer, South High street, and bore a
remarkably good character, being quiet, wen
disposed and religious. Those who knew him
state that his married life was an agreeable one
and that he loved his wife and family While AT
the station several gentlemen conyersed with
MIN, when in answer to their inquiries he said
ne DID not know what made him do the dread
fui deed, as he never hal but one slight quarrel
with his wife, and that was only for q short
time. s


DIR. VIM. II. Diffenderher, wi Ii whose father.
as above stated, he formerly lived, and who st,
tended him as family physician istates that he is
subject to periodical attacks, ca using Temporary
alteration Of the mind. A year ago he had one
OF these attacks, lasting about two weeks The
Doctor was desirous Of making q statement be-
fore the jury, but the coroner stated that an i'm
quiry as to the condition of mind previously. in
case OF murder, belonged proper to the grand
Jury and the court, and it was only the dity OF
the inquisition to ascertain in what manner
deaths occurred and by whom caused