Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-13
Bennington (.ger.) august Is.
Burlington. Aug. S, 1903.


Burlington, Aug. $, 1903.
+ Murder of Ormshy, Drake, and Marsh
Minutes ofthe Court Of Enquiry.
lhe grand inquest having examined the
witnesses pronounced their verdict. that
the deceased we're wilfully murdered.
Inc Court OF Enquiry proceeded to the
examination OF testimony in behalf of rov-
eminent against the prisoners -raine in
number, but we have not received all their
names.1
Sergt David b. johnson, sworn-,avs
that on Monday, August l. 1903, lleutcnaor
Harrington, with ten men, OF whom he was
me, We're detached from Windmiil-Point i'm
search OF smuggling boa. called the Black
snake. They were on board revenue
BOAT, and having gotten information. thew
proceeded up Onion river on "Wednesday.
August, Sd instant. Wnen they got 70 The
Snake, they found one Midget on shure.
With gun IN his hand: he was the com,
m Ander. Midget threatened TO kill the
hrst man who should land. Lieut.. Far
r'nseon told him the Snake had been long.
engaged IN the smuggling business, and W. 3
forfeited TO the government an1 he v,s
authorised to take her. There appeared
TO be number of men skulking about in
the bushes, with arms, and Midget tried
IN VAN to bring them forward. Tue Lieut..
Ithen TOOK the revenue boat and myself with
tour men, took the Snake, and projected
down the river. The smuggicrs ran down
the river, and fred from he bushes and
killed Drake, on board of the r. venue boat.
we then all landed, and ths L. cut. ordered
Us not to hre---not To kill unless il was ab-
s2utely necessary. On our rising the Bank
OF the river. Mr.. Ormsby stepped TO u
he mad been al wol k near US. As ne was
NJ IN L
hred by Samuel /. NJ TT, and knitd Oras-
by and Marsh Ormsby groaned aud sirur-
gied ana NJ rSh exclaimed 80 Lord" ants
d cd instantly was about to fire, when
the Lieut.. stopped me and said, ssdon't
nre am Won ded" I went Immediately
after surgeon. On my re.ura We took
Auaget, Day, Dean, and three Others. 4
heard Mott swear ne would kill ihe Lieut..
James II. Hays, sworu--says the same
as Sergeant Jnhnson, and adds, that the
crew OF the Snake were about IL in num-.
Der, OF whom had guns. He says Mote
hred the wtil-piece, and ne saw Ornsby
and Marsh fail.
Stephen p. Lafhroh, sworn--says, thae
August Cd inst. the crew of the Snake had
heard that they were pursued by a revenue
boat, and were preparing their arms aud
ammun ton. They prolessed to De SNUG
S:rs, ana SAID they would kill all the go.
Vernment party they could. they loaded
z small arm with FIVE balls the wall. piece
they loadd with Is ounce balls. Aug.
81 inst. he met one DAVID Sheffield near
the place from whence Drake was shot,
and Sheffield said, 60 have not fired, buc
nave drawn my charge
James 1Isad, sworn--savs, Sheffield said.
" BY God, viii k /! the Lieutenant before
he leaves he river"
Mr. Ledycrd, sworn-says, Sheffield
sad, {" BY Cad, the Lieutenant Shall be laid
low before he leaves tn ground"--and turn.
ing to ms comrades, said elbow them thro',
God damn 'em''
HE court Immed ate.y ordered the pri.
soners 70 Jail, without bail or mainprise, to
await tie trial which Commences this
day, August %
Five men, two Of the name Of Taylor, and
'hree OF the name Of Hoxie, nave been
Xtmined ~ the same court who commit
ted the murderers, & committed for qRK<-
SON, 10 be tried by the Circuit court of the
y. states, at Rutland, IN DC ODER next.
Samuel l. Mott, the ringieader of the
crew who murdered our Citizens on our
irohtier, has been arrested aud commit ed
Tor trial H. was taken in Canada We
understand that the whole of the II men
implicated have been taken.