The North-Carolina standard., 1843-04-19
From the Old Dominion.

1t is painful duty resting upon us to make
a faithful record of the tale of horror connected
with the sad event,-the death of the worthy and
talented Editor of this paper. From the moment
OF the occurrence up to the present period we have
passed through scenes of the most exciting cha
racter. We ourselves have been completely un-
manned. Now, we can hardly compose ourselves
to prepare brief narrative of this most revolving
occurrence. But high obligation rests upon us
the memory of the martyred GARDNER
truth and justice-responded to by the one voice
OF deeply affected community, calls US to the
task The evasive statement (not to say more) of
the Norfolk papers which have been copied into
other papers, also demand that the matter should
be faithfully presented
10 make our statement connected and fully un-
derstood, especially by our distant readers, it is
necessary to state here that on Thursday last Mr.
Gardner, having gone to Norfolk on business,
had returned to the Ferry wharf and was waiting
the arrival of the boat from this place. On her
reaching the wharf MIR. Mordecai Cooke, jun of
Norfolk Borough, left her, and coming up to Mr..
Gardner, demanded an apology for some remarks
he had made in his paper, occasioned by an at
tack of Mr.. Cooke upon Mr. Gardner at public
meeting in this place lin the course of this ar
hcle we shall advert more fully upon those
marks and their connecting circumstances) MIR.
Gardner said he could not do so unless Mr.
Cooke would first withdraw his offensive remarks.
Instantly MIR. G. raised his cane to strike Mr..
G. upon which the latter drew pistol from his
pocket evidently for the purpose of defending
himself against the attack Mr.. G. seeing this,
dropped his cane and seized the pistol with one
hand and Mr. G. arm with the other, and being
man of considerable muscular power, while Mr..
| G. had hardly the strength of a child he mana
ged him with apparent ease, and wrenched the
pistol from him. Having him completely in his
power, stated in the testimony ofseveral witness
es, 'with the pistol in his right hand, and his left
" arm around the body of Mr. G.. with the hand
/" clenched upon Mr.. G's left arm, placed the pis-
tol at his left side, and pulled the trigger when
I: the explosion of a cap was distinctly heard
" Immediately the trigger was again pulled and
/" the pistol was discharged" shooting Mr.. G. i'm
mediately through the heart, and in few mo-
ments he ceased TO breathe, never having spoken,
unless, as is thought by some, he exclaimed 80!
God" The weapon was one of"Allen's Revolv-
ing Pistols"
An individual present, 1--WE have it from gen.
tleman who and heard it distinctly put his
hand upon Mr.. Cooke saying-"Sir, you must
I" be arrested-you have committed mpurder, j.
" Cooke replied.-"DAMN HIM, LET HIM LAY, l
" AM SATISFIED" After using this express
sion he left the spot, apparently truly satisfied"
The report Of the deed convulsed the whole
community with horror at the enormity commit
ted with the deepest regret at the loss of so truly
great and excellent man, and with bursting SYM
pathies for his more than widowed wife, and or
phaned children. Save one or two, who we thus
pass over the event came to all with force which
cannot be imagined.
warrant was issued, and Mr. c. was arrest
ed in the afternoon of that day. On the next morn
ing he was brought before John P. Leigh, Esq. a
magistrate of Norfolk Borough, and tried upon
the question of his commitment to Jail. The is
sue of the examination was his discGarge-yes, to
fbn of fO Ia
and usage, the prisoner was discharged. We
have called it trial, and print in the Borough
has abored to make it appear as imposing and
satisfactory but it is our conviction that more
solemn piece of mockery was never enacted.
Never have we seen an event move commu-
nifty with such Indignation did the result of
this manifestly partial trial The people were i'm
PEELED to act on the subject After meetings
had been held for the purpose of expressing the
general feeling of the community, special meet
ing was called, with view TO pursue a course
which should secure an impartial and rigid inves- !
tigation. The solemn resolution was formed,
worthy Of freemen, and the lovers of law and or
der. A committee was appointed to proceed to
Norfolk and obtain the re-apprehension of Cooke,
preparatory to a proper examination. With the
assistance of two of our able lawyers warrant
was procured, upon the opinion of the Honorable
Judge of this circuit in regard to the improperly
of the former trial. and the accused is in Jail,
awaiting his examination before called Court,
which we are informed, will be held on the lth
instant.
With reference to this position of the matter,
we shall forbear saying any thing more in refer
ence to the testimony in this We are will
ling to abide the result of an impartial trial.
Though we are aware that the family of Mr..
Cooke, and their influence in the community may
have effect, yet there is power in truth, and in
fexibity in JUSTICE and we shall be content they
are allowed to exert their proper influence.
The inquiry may be made by the distant reader,
what was the origin of this sad affair? We briefly
answer this, and for this purpose we shall "begin
at the beginning"
During the month of January last, while many
of our feI1ow-citizens honest though poor, were
without employment, correspondent of the Nor
folk Herald suggested through that paper: the
propriety of white labor being substituted in the
Navy Yard f,r slave labor, thereby giving en-
ployment to our industrious citizens, who had
long been turned out from other departments in
the Yard and without the means of subsistence for
their families The editor of the Herald warmly
approved the measure proposed by his corresPon-
- C.