Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-03-24
THE MURDER OF MIR DUNN.

THE MURDER OF MR. DUNN
In our last paper We stated that Cox. the
murderer. hal made full confession of III,
crime. and had accused seven other person,
oi having beca par'icipstors Of his gull, ths,
-four Of them had been committed, and two
Others had voluntarily surrendered the msei ives
ia,o custody upon hearing Of the accusation.
Since that time the seventh person came TO
town sod gave himself up to undergo an ex-
animation.
On Wednesday last, Charles n lKEs. one
OF the first mentioned four, aud the one mosi
deeply Implicated by Cox's disclosures. Was
brought before the examining court; and We
have never witnessed a trial which excited
moro intense interest. The courthouse was
crowded to evcraowing by sn audience dis
playing. in their manner, the u,mos, anxiety
to sec and hear the proceedings. Cor. the
murderer. was frs, examined n a witness on
the part Of the Common wealth, and gave his
testimony without the iess, apparen, embsr.
rassment. lie is, BY the way, the most in
comprchcnsible being we have ever SEEN
eve defy the disciples Of Laraier to make
sny thing Of him. whatever the cranioiogis,s
may be able TO do lie is. apparently, a
youth OF Is or 10, although he is said 10 be
- years Of age. lie is small and neat in his
person, and there is nothing in his eountc.
nance be'rsying the hundred,h part Of tina,
depravi,y which his own evidence disclosed
Yet we have never seen q human being pos.
sessed OF such nerves. Nothing can embar-
rass him no horrors can dsunt him. When
every auditor shuddered At the recital of his
criminali,y, he alone remained unmoved -
During the investigation, the fatal muskct
with which he perpetra,ed the murder, was
brough, in and laid before him. He examined
4 the aint. and declared il TO be the same which
lie used when he shot Mr.. Dunn. lie spoke
Of all this with as much apparent indifference.
as if relating an ordinary occurrence in which
he was no, in any manner interested. During
the trial an incident occurred which excited
his visibility to considerable degree Al
though every eye was upon him. lie was en-.
tirely self possessed, and made no display Of
feeling whatever. He is a most extraordna.
ry being.
A great many witnesses were examined,
perhaps to the number Of fifty and the mos,
unlimited range of examination in regard to
Mills habits and general conduct. was per.
8 mitted by las counsel. All agreed, however.
20 representing him ss man of excellent cha.
3racter and upright department. Not soli,s-
Try circumstance was proved to corroborste the
testimony OF Coz; but. on the contrary, evil
dence was produced calculated to throw a
strong suspicion upon his veracity, even had
he been man Of good character. So entire.
s Iy satisfactory was the investigation. tina, the
attorney for the Commonwealth. Informed the
court, that he conceived il his duty TO saw,
the evidence was entirely insufficient; 70 us,i.
Ply the court in REMINDING the prisoner to isii
*for further trial. The court were unanimous
an the decision that he be acquitted. The o,
B Their persons accused were also discharged
without the form Of going again through an
examination Of the testimony.
We have received Mr.. DoDbRIpoL's Circu