Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-09
70 THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER


The insertion Of the piece in your paper which aP-
peared in the Enquirer Of January 3D. Purporhng to
have been written By Student oil The University, IS
Of great regret here and must be so to large
portion of the community; as the errors and mlsre
presentations of the writer, according to the views
generally entertained will be productive of warm, If
not angry discussion, and thus lead to consequences
peiudc,al fair and impartial decision ot the trial
in which the murder of Professor Davis is involved
the Of that article is not believed to be Stu
dent Of The University; and he has certainly drawn
more largely upon his mag natian than upon real ex.
tences for his facts; for, fany reliance can be Paceo
upon the testimony which unfolded upon the COM
mitncn, of the unhappy individual charged with Inc
offence, he is singuarly unfortunate IN ms PerceP
tons, as there not single assertion in his account
of the traeca event which is not either absolutely
false or grossly perverted.
Without referring to the guilt or innocence OF the
person accused expressing any opinion favorable or
nnavorablr to his character, but desiring that the
public mind shall be dsabused of all undue prejudice or
preposesson, and that the may come before the
tribunals of the land upon its own intrinsic merits,
have taken the liberty to give you PLAIN statement :"
the facts that may al once be enabled 10 correct 'he
se impressions which likely to be produced by the
article in question, and to prevent the necessity by
which the students proper may feel themselves con-
strained of engaging into discussion upon so import
ant and delicate q subject.
The facts then, as furnished by the witnesses, and
which are of general notoriety here, simply these
That only two individuals, in DISCUSSES engaged in the
row on the nigh, Of the 18th November last that they
commenced firing pistols between the hours OF eight
and nine OF clock, the western side of the Lawn,
before the door. the two Professors residing
to the RotunGa that they then crossed over TO the
eastern side Of the Lawn, firing successfully before tue
houses of the Professors, until they reachedhe paw
Ion lately occupied by Mr. Bonnycastle; that they were
then reminded by of their ellowstudents OF the
condition OF the family, and advised not proceed fur
Their that direction, Professor DAVIS was on the
look out, and might discover them; that Of those
disguise Immediately desisted whilst the other
proceeding few PAGES, charged his pistol, and ram
ming down the load against the wall OF one OF
The buildings, proceeded to the spot where Profess
sar Davis was standing-being few yards beyond
the range Of the columns Of the arcade and not between
them asserted by the writer that he advanced up
Mr. Dacs, according to his own statement before
his death if in defiance, and close to induce
him TO lay his hand upon hin: that there was no seiz
cure, violence, advancing receding whatever
by Mr. Davis, but that upon his laying his hands upon
ia shoulder of the person disguised the latter stepped
back few feet, levelled his pistol and long and
deliberate in shooting that Mr.. Davis believed he
did intend 10 fire, but merely attempting to
alarm him that Immediately upon firing, this person
started 10 ran bu: dropping his pistol, then returned
picked il up and then disappeared in the direction Of
the Eastern range of buildings
As 10 the charge that it has been asserted to prcu
dice the of the accused, that there had been
previous misunderstanding betwixt him and MIR. Davis
all that have heard was enquiry simply, "if such
had been the case and II IS believed that whenever
any reference has been made to such suppositon it
was done more with the view of finding plausible
eSenuaion for offence, which otherwise seemed TO
have been pepe,rated in cold blood and with the ut
most presentation, rather than of seeking Tor cir
cltisance Of greater ruiit
cannot close this communication without word 10
excuate the great body of the Students and especially
that portion Of them referred to by dsnterested
Gent IN terms Of condemnation, from the dispersion
which attempted 10 be thrown upon their character
was close observer of their conduct throughout the
whole a:llr, and have any body of men of
whatever station condition of life, act in more ex-
empary and praiseworhy manner than they did on that
occasion With audable zeal to discover The offender
they were active in experimenting the individual whose
testimony, It was believed, alone capable of ident
lying hm: but US he secured, they quietly
handed hun over 10 the evil authority, and have calm
y awaited the action OF tie tribunal appointed to try
The case, They are charged with denouncng the offend
or m harsh and cruel language Can any one, whose
vision IS ro distorted, or whose sensib,es are not
strangely msdreced, look upon the murder Of Profess
scr DAVIS IN any other light, speak oft in any other
manner than as act Of gross atrocity: They have
Denounced The offence have spared the accused
JUSTICE.
u We now beg leave to adjourn the discussion of
The whole subject from the public Press TO the Judicial
Tribunals of the country, to which properly belongs
Editor.