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Biography: Howard Kirby was the oldest child of William and Laura (Magaha) Kirby. He met and married Mary (not sure of
maiden name) and had one child together. We beleive that there are other marriages, but at this time we aren't sure of whom
or when. In 1913 Howard had an altercation with his father and knocked him to the ground, and fractured his father's skull
and three days later his father died. Howard was indicted for murder by the Baltimore City Grand Jury. His indictment read,"
In and upon one William Kirby, feloniously, willfully and of deliberately premediated malice aforethough, with great force,
did make an assault, and with the left and right fists of him, the said Howard Kirby, him, the said William Kirby, feloniously,
willfully and of deliberately premediated malice of aforethought, with great force and violent push, cast and knock down unto
the ground there, thereby then and there inflicting in and upon the right and left sides of the head and body of him, the
said William Kirby, as well as by said stricking, beating and bruising as by said pushing, casting and knocking down
unto and upon the ground there as aforesaid, divers mortal wounds, bruises, contusions, lacerations and fractures, he the
said William Kirby, afterwards, to wit, on the third day of April in the said year, at the city aforesaid, did die.
And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do say
that he, said Howard Kirby, him, the said William Kirby, in manner and by the means aforesaid, feloniously, willfully, and
of deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, did kill, murder: contary to the form of the Act of Assembly in such case
made and provided and against the peace, goverment and dignity of the State."
Second Count: "And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath
aforesaid, do futher present that the said Howard Kirby, on the Thirty First day of March, in the said year, at the city aforesaid,
feloniously, willfully and of deliberately premeditated malice of aforethought did kill and murder William Kirby; Contary
to the form of the Act of the Assembly in such case made and provided and against the peace , goverment and dignity of the
State.
William and Mary (Magaha) Cook who were the Aunt and Uncle of
Howard Kirby posted bail of $500.00 on the 7th of April.1913.
Article taken out of the Sun Papers June 20, 1913. " Guilty of
Manslaughter: Howard Kirby convicted of causing his father's death. Howard Kirby, 28 years old, 1703 Williams Street, charged
with causing the death of his father, William Kirby, by knocking him down with his fists was convicted of manslaughter yesterday
in Criminal Court # 2. The case was tried without a jury before Judge Ambler, who suspended sentence. The penalty for
manslaughter ranges from a nominal fine or imprisonment to 10 years in the penitentiary. During an altercation between
father and son on March 31st last the elder man was knocked down. His skull was fractured and he died on April 3rd. Youndg
Kirby, who is employed in the city fire department, and is married, said in his testimony in his own behalf that he upbraided
his father for telling the police that no license had been obtained for a dog belonging to him. Then they had a quarrel and
the blow followed. The young man was given an excellent character by witnesses called in his behalf."
July 2nd, 1913: Taken out of the Baltimore Sun Papers: Criminal
Court II Judge Ambler For sentence----------Howard Kirby: guilty of manslaughter; one year in jail"
On December 22, 1913 Howard Kirby was given a pardon by the
Governor of the State of Maryland, Phillip Lee Goldsborough. The pardon read that Howard Kirby has been recommended to the
clemency of the governor by the Prisoners Aid Association of Maryland and many respectable citizens of Baltimore City.
After Howard was released from prison he did not go back with
the Baltimore City Fire Department, but became a pipe fitter. Howard lived in South Baltimore until the time of his death
in October 1930. When he died he was listed as living with his mother on Westphal St. His cause of death was listed as accidental
death, fractured skull. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery on October 29, 1930. The funeral arrangements were made by
McCully's
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