Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-18
(Fron the ST. Louis Republican, May ~
THE TRAGEDY Of THE NIGHT OF THE 18th.
Fire Thousand Dollars REGARD.


For some days past, the city authorities have been
engaged in investigating some recent developments
connected with the murder of Messrs. Baker and
Weaver and the burning OF the store OF hessrs. Col
lier and Pettus, and have RETAINED from giving
any Of the particulars, lest doing lght impede
their operations The objects Of secrecy being over
in the opinion of the officers, feel at liberty 10
state the particulars far as they have been developed
A negro named Edward II. Ennis, who has
been for some months past in the employ OF barber
named Johnson on Market street, opposite the Nation
al Hotel, made the disclosure. The communications
it seems were made TO Ennis by one OF the parties
that Ennis being uneasy about IT. and yet AFRAID be-
cause Of the excitement and also OF the murders, to
tell what he knew, went Friday last 10 Butcher,
yellow man. who resides in Brooklyn, the opposite
side of the river and told him what he knew and asked
his advice. Butcher refused to give any advice. On
Sunday he went over again and went 10 Alton, when
Butcher communicated the facts 10 two constables who
arrested Ennis, and after taking his statement, came
here with expectation Of catching Of the parties,
| (Warrick,) but he had left before their arrival.
The circumstances Of this horrible affair, as detailed
by Ennis, are as follows: About 10 o'clock Saur
| day night, Ennis went from the BARRIERS shop TO his
boarding.. house kept by Leah, free yellow woman,
and Peter Charleville free man, on Third between
Market and Walnut streets Shortly after he had gone
to bed negro slave named Madison to the door,
knocked and was admitted Soon after being admit
ted Madison exclaimed, F" Cd d-n the luck, and
on an inquiry why he stated 81 have done more muir
der 10 night than ever did BEFORE and have not been
paid for it," and after remarking that there would be
an alarm Of fire shortly, he stated IN substance that
he and three yellow men, viz: James Seward, alias
Sewell, Warrck and Brown had gone on that night to
MIR. Petus counting room that the door was unlock
ed Madison entered alone; MIR. Baker was sitting
down with his boots off, reading newspaper; NudI-
son walked up and presented bank bill TO him, and
asked him If it good, and as Baker turned 10 look
at the bill, he struck him over the head with short
bar of iron which he had concealed under his ARM the
tod tba m
til he was quite dead his skull and side Of the head
completely mashed After searching the body for the
keys they rolled up the bed clothes and placed It
| in the bed.
They secured the door and went to work on the vault
| to omen it, Whilst at this work, Mr. Weaver came TO
the door and knocked and called Jesse, (Mr Baker,
to let HIM in. Some dispute ensued between Brown
and Madison which should kill Weaver and 1t was IN
sisted that Madison should he had killed Baker, but
he refused, saying that he had done his share and
would do no more Brown opened the door and placed
himself behind it, and as Weaver passed into the room,
struck him over the head with the bar of iron the
second blow he fell, and attempting TO rise, Brown
thrust sharp iron bar through ms head. Ennis IN his
statement, does not confirm the report of the firing OF
the pistols but says, that having heard that Weaver
was shot, he asked Madison about it, and he told him
that pistol had been fired and that they had no wea
pons but the bar of iron mentioned From the statement
il would seem that all of them had beaten Weaver.
After some further effort at the vault finding they
could not get into it, Madison left. Warrck, Sewell
and Brown remained short time, then fired the house
in FIVE different places, out, locked the door and
went up the alley north from the house. and threw the
key away. Brown took with him gold watch and q
blue coat which he said lie had thrown away for fear
Of detection.
1t seems from the statements, that Ennis, the
morning following in company with all of them,
and many of the facts he got from others besides Mad
son. Warrck and Sewell said but little about it, Ma
olson had with him. the morning following the bar
Of iron with which the deed was executed, and Ennis
having learned the office it had performed took it and
threw it into prvy in the rear of Leahs house. The
vault was yesterday searched and the bar found. We
understand it proves to be instrument used in open
ing dry goods boxes chisel end and claws on
the other, of the claws partly broken, agreeing
| fully with Enniss description.
There many other minor statements but the above
is the substance. The communication Of Madison ap
pears to have been made without solicitation and with
out any injunction TO secresy.
i Leah and her husband confirm Ennis statement as tc
the time he home and the time that Madison came
in. They heard the conversation, but not sufficiently
distinct to understand it. il may be WELL however, to
remark further confirmation of Ennis statement
that yesterday Madison's coat found in the loft
Of Leah shouse besmeared with blood. From all thai
we can gather it does not appear that the scheme had
been long concocted that they had very well maturec