Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-08-06
DONrM STT0a
TRIAL OF cox THE MURDERER.

20 much sought for by large class of readers that
we are sure we shall crafty the public taste by publish
INK at full length the account OF the copvic,on oC Gov
for the murder Of Col. Dunn in the adjoining conniv
OF Jefferson. IL Is copied from the Chariesown Free
Press oil Wednesday last copy having be on obiginp-
iy sent us in anticipation OF the mail. Our EiepdIv
correspondent; at that place will also accept our thanks
for the very Interesting letter which follows:
TO THE EDITOR REPUBLICAN,
ChGriesfotcn, J,dy 26, 1890
You will doubtless see, in the Free Ptess deniled
account Of the trial Of Con- for the murder OF Col Dunn:
an you nave been already informed of Oh. manner in
which he received, from the jury, the annuncaon Of
their verdict upon his atroeios crime Public curos-
wasot great height on Saturday last, 10 hear tho
oead sentence death pronounced upon him. and this
feeling was not little heightened by a rlnor that he
meant TO make spesch. Many however, who expect
ed TINS to be done in the morning. disappointed
The court proceeded 10 other business; and at half
past o'clock the agitation of the crowd soon told that
the cuiprt was approaching. He entered rather soon.
er man was intended, just OF the attorney was
making his closing argument to a jury. II was then
impossible to have secured further attention and the
case in band was submitted.
The p isoner was directed TO stard up which he did
with his usual promptitude. In reply TO the clerk
have you any thing TO cay why sentence Of de ath
sh,l not now be passed upon your' he said 6rmly
mo, sir, have nothing 10 say" Judge Parker then
commenced his affecting and solemn sentence, which
the condemned listened to without emoiisn. While
the tear-drop trembed in every eye-nny, while from
many the gush of sympathy flowed in torrents-hs
stood gazing earnestly upon the Judge; his undim
med and nnfnchng; his cheek at frs, eighty blsnch-
ed but soon resnming lite natural hue; and his heart
apparently unmoved ~ conri,ion.
For my own part,l had never hc DAYS Of a hui
man being numbered; and therefore 10 me the scene
was thflInng. ie 4 sensation in nv forehead as If
the blood would hurst from the proruied veins; AT nv
oosom was aeiated as my heart were adv
10 break And ye' the guilty creature who was listen
ing 10 the s'erne verdict OF the law gave not the least
sign OF wo the slighos, svmptom OF fear Indeed
so perfectly sepoised was he and so placid were bis
features that close observers were unable To Discover
the slightest trace, in the neameDs of his face or the
expression OF kis eye denoting an innate depfavty
oheart They saw, in his whole appearance and bear
ing, moral phenomenon,-a youth of but little
than 20 years for whom the hearts Of agonzed sister
and other respectable respectable relatives bleed
me perpetraor OF an outrage. which for deliberate
trocity only find parallel among the eeds of ber-
dened and veteran offenders. They saw him untouch~
ed, when ii would have required the reckless ferocy
OF bend to Withstand the subdung effects of the soul
stirring scene. fondly hope, however, hat tho s'slI
small voice of conscience" not nactive sincerity
trust for the honor Of the human species hatthe ex-
ternal signs of indifference but the fnge NOUS
though vain coverings OF heart deeply and efecual-
W operated upon by remose the forerHnner of repen
tence. For is JUDGED horrible reflect that one 90
young with little in his aspect 10 denote soul in
sensible 10 the peadings of humanity and Of religion,
should suffer himself TO be cut off without proror
sense Of the enormity of his offence. 1t s but JUS
uce however, to state that though he does not exhibit
in public.
t'souo~'s ego, glazed with binding tcars,0
YET ne often een pouring out in the solitude and si
ience OF his prison, and upon the bosoms OF those
whom he looks for advice ia his hours Of wo, floods Of
grief "tIown up by the tempest of his SOUL The 9Th
OF August will closs his earthly May the fear
iui example be beacon 10 errfng youth, and it
call back to the path of recude the feet Of those who
are now wandering in the labyrinths Of vice. [Rep.
From tho Virginia Froe Press July 20.
1Tni or EbeneEer Cor, for the murder Of Col Dunn.
The of Ebenezpr Cox indicted for the murder Of
COL Thomas h. Dunn, late superintendent Of the Uni
ted States crmory at HarpersFerry, in his office, on
the 29h day Of January last up for trial Ties
day the 2Oth instant, in the superior court Of law for
Jefferson county. before the Hon. Richard E. Parker
The prosecutor for the comm onweath John E. Page,
Esq. assisted in the examination Of the witnesses
Edmund l.. w
brought 10 the BAR tho court inquired IL bo had counse
he replied that John r. Cooke, Esq would appear for
him. Mr.. Cooke stated, that he not aware the pr-
soncr considered him his counsel but he should deem
1t his duty TO act for him. The prisoner then ar
ragned; and Notwithstanding bis confession Of the crime
before many persons and several occasions pleaded
not gully to the indictment. The grand Jury which
found the bi, consisted of the following persons viz:
Ed'oard Lucas. j.: foreman Michael HsnselI, John
Motter, Janice McMurran, Frances Gardiner, John
James Frame, james Granhsm, William c. Burns,
George Isler. Patrick Daueherty, Samuel Cameron,
Thomas Rawln', william T. Washington, William
Clark, Leonard Sadler, Samuel W. Washington, Tho
mas Campbell.
Considerable time spent in obtaining Jury
After the venre was exhausted, the by.standers were
summoned In all, sxty-oDe vepre men were calIeds
Of whom were challenged peTempiory by the prison.
er, and 40 were excused by the court, they having
formed and expressed decided opinions upon the case
rein previous hearing Of the testimony. The follow
Ing jury was eventually impannelled, at about O'clock
p. M, viz:
Frederick Rosepberger. Jacob Pultz. Thoma, Bell.
Mccormick. Abraham Heshi,t, Samuel H. Aemong
John Ples. Warner Peters, Henry Crow.
The trial then proceeded & although the heat ex-
cessee and almost ovrrpowerng, yet the court room
wa crowded throw ghou the whole examination. Great
anxiety was evinced 10 witness the entry and deport.
ment Of the prisoner. when he appeared, every eye
was uron him with scruinizng gaze" yet he appear
ed totally unembarrassed and answered to his arraign-
ment with an unirembling and audible voice.
The following IL the substance OF the testimony.
James Stephenson testified, that on the day Of the
murder OF Col. Dunn. which the 10Th Of Janua-
ry, 1880, he WIS in the clerks Office ofthe superinien-
dent at HatpersFerry, being the floor above
the office Of Colonel Dunn. Mr.. Arpistead Bccs-
ham, the master came in; they
ling lew minutes, when they heard some ono enter
he lower Office, whom they believed to he Gel. Dunn,
from the circumstance OF hearing stir the frs
"a practice which Col d. had, when 6rst coming into
the tflice-Shory after they heard a sudden and ex.
the report Of gun was doll, heavy sound, as u
The house were falling. Mr.. Beckham exclaimed.
"there's come hing wrong beiowi''snd being acs
tive than witness Immediately down the steps,
witness following him when Nc Beckham reached
Col Dunn Office lac ex claim cd, "My Gndl Col. Dunn
dersr?"-be replied, "Eb. Cox" When the Office door
opened, witness Col ID lying on he Roor on
his back welterng Iva hs blood ne approached Col.
d. cast his leii eye upon him impoFingy Did not see
Cox AT this time; afterwards muskot lying near
Gel ID with the muzzle within two feet Of his breast
and found II very large one; saw fomethng white,
mixed with blood supposed to be ,ho contents Of Col.
De s'omach.
T.drBlisfcad Beckhaa principal witness, was sick
and unable to attend this tia hut his evidence before
the examining Court was nearly as foows;Tha on tho
upper Office (he Clerks ofice) heard some one CONS
info the ioter office (same buildinoN oresupad a., 10