Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-09
From the Baltimore .ineriean, March z.
TRIAL OF RILEY.

Having understood from one OF the counsel
Of the prisoner that the motion Tor new trial
would be Withdrawn from before the City Court
Yesterday, we now feel ourselves at liberty to
publish the following report of the trial, which
has been kindly furnished US by gentleman en-
gagged in the case.
The City Court Judges Brice and McMeehen
presiding) has been occupied for the principal
part Of last week in the trial the case OF JOHN
RILEY, against whom the Grand Jury had re-
turned bill Of Indictment for the murder Of
EDWARD RILEY. No case which has occurred
in Baltimore for several years has excited such
intense and universal interest, and from the
time that the first juror was called to the
book, until the rendition Of the verdict, the
court house was thronged with numerous au-
ditory. all feeling most deep and anxious con-
Germ in the result OF this case As the testimo-
ny was exclusively circumstantial, and as some
incidents occurred during the progress Of the
cause, at least novel in theirnature, it may not
be uninteresting to give short history Of the
case.
The prisoner was arraigned and the indict-
ment read to him, upon which he pleaded "not
guilty." The clerk then proceeded to swearing
the jury; previous to which, however, the coun-
sci for the prisoner suggested that as great
deal Of prejudice existed in the community upon
this case, that it would be necessary that the
usual question should be put to the Jurors as
they severally came 10 the book, 10 wit: whe
Their they had "formed anil expressed an OPT
Mon upon the guilt or innocence of the prison
er at the bar" The swearing of the jury &C.
cupied the Court for more than two hours. A
great portion of the regular PANEL attending
the Court having answered that they had "form-
ed and expressed AN opinion" were objected to
and rejected 1t became necessary then, to re-
sort literally 10 the tales. In addition to the
challenge for Cause, there were twenty peremp-
tory challenges, (the number allowed by law
The jury having been sworn and the cause
opened by the counsel for the state, the wit
nesses upon the part of the prosecution were
called. They testified that on the night Of the
Soth of January last, the body Of Edward Ri
ley was found near the north end Of Howard"
street, under circumstances which conlusively
established that he had very few minutes be-
fore fallen victim to murder. This was a
bout O'Clock They testified that the deceas-
ed was at the house OF the prisoner at the bar
that evening, about o'clock, whittier he had
gone for the purpose of removing loom, (the
deceased being drayman.) That while at the
house, some conversation occurred in reference
to the prisoners going to Philadelphia, when
he alleged that he had no money to take him
there, to which the deceased replied, that he
had enough TO take them both there and back.
Whereupon he drew out his money, and it was
counted, the prisoner assisting to count it. The
deceased and the prisoner then left the house
together, (the prisoner residing IN lrishtown,)
and went to Mr.. Patterson's, at the corner Of
Franklin-street and Lerew's alley, when some
thing was had 10 drink. They again left there
together, 4 little after seven, and were not again
seen in company that night. The deceased pro-
ceeded to the store of Mr.. Klockgether, in Ho-
ward-street, and took an empty cask upon his
dray to carry for some gentleman who resides
at the upper end Of Howard-street, where was
also the residence Of the deceased Although
no one saw the prisoner and deceased together
after they left Patterson's, it was proved by the
confession Of the prisoner, that he was with the
deceased about o'clock, at the corner of How
ard and Franklin streets, and that the deceas-
ed was then on his way home; which, according
to the testimony of other witnesses, must have
been but two or three minutes before the MUIR
der was committed. 1t was further proved,
that that nigh, about 10 o'clock, the prisone"
a, the bar went to slop shop at Market Space
represented himself as just from Montreal,
ana tnat ne was SoihS W ANCW- Aoih III lC uioiH-
ing-affected the greatest ignorance OF Balti-
more, asked the name Of Market.street-show-
ed quantity of money, which was wrapped
Up in calico rag-whicb money in quantity,
precisely corresponds with the money counted
at the house of John Riley, as does also the ca
leo in which it was enveloped. He stated that
he was travelling as gentemans servant, and
that he had a wife and children in New-York.
Tie purchased cloak, hat and pocket-book.-
From thence he went to two other houses in the
neighboyhood, in each ofwhich he gave contra
dictory accounts OF himself--he stated that he
was that morning from the West Indies, and
was going to Philadelphia the next day He
showed quantity of money, which he stated
he had received from Mr.. Hays, at The corner
Of Howard and Franklin streets, who was sworn
and who deposed that he had never paid him
dollar. He then went to the stage Office, appli-
ed for seat in the earliest Washington stage,
and exhibited great anxiety and resllessness.--
This was about one o'clock, A. NJ.
He was next found playing cards in North
street, where he treated the company. From
thence he returned to the stage Office and took
his seat in the earliest stage, giving in the name
of O. Riley. He went to Washington, where he
was arrested on Wednesday morning, the muI.
der having taken Mace on the Monday night