American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-06-11
Reported fOl the Baltimore Clipper.
TRIAL FOR MURDER,


u
Reported ol the Baltimore Clipper.l
TRIAL FOR MURDER,
BALTIMORE CITY COURT-June 10th
Pescnt-Jtdges Brice. and Uorthingtom.
George r. Richardson, Esq, Attorney Gen.
eral, for the State; Robert Nj. McLane, and
VIM l.. Marshall Esq's., for the defence.
On the opening of the couIt this morning the
State took up the case Of the State u.s. John Dull
indicted for the murder of John w. Lednum.
The prisoner was a coed looking youth, but
seventeen years ofage. The following gentle
men were selected on the jury, Only four of
whom were from the regular pannel, the bal
anco being talosmen: John Clark, foreman, }
John Dutrow, Francis King, Hugh Kennedy,
John Freeburger, John w. Richardson, Elliott
o. d. Poor, Stephen Thornton, Edward Cock
ey, Charles A. Orem, George c. Addison, and
George Hartman.
After the jury had been sworn, Mr.. Gatchell,
the clerk of the court, read the indictment to
them, which charges the prisoner with having
killed John w. Lednum, by stabbing him in
the left side Of the breast, with knife, on the
18th day of May
Mr.. Richardson briefly stated to the Jury the
facts he expected 10 prove, in very impartial
manner
Mr.. McLane, for the defence, stated that
they expected to prove that the act was done
in iusti6able defence of his life, and that it was
an eXcusable homicide.
The State called the following witnesses,
| who testified as follows
John DoLore=, sworn. (The witness being
Spaniard, S. Teacle Wallis Esq, acted as IN
terPreter.) About 9 l-2 O'Clock he went tRo
4 house on the "Causeway," to seek for some
of his shipmates; did not find them, and COM
menced playing with some of the girls in the
honse, whom he was acquainted with; saw two
young men rise from their seats, and engage in
a scutiie, but saw no blows pass between them;
after scui1ing short time, he saw one strike
the other with knife; he, with companion,
immediately fled from the house; did not know
either OF the parties; saw no blows pass between
them while seated on the bench; the witness
the men, and several girls, were all in the same
room; did not see the deceased strike the pris-
oner he did not particularly notice the men
before they arose from the bench; the knife was
drawn within Il moment after they arose; there
was no active violence shown before the knife
was drawn.
! BY Mr.. McLane.-He was playing with the
girls up to the time of the drawing of the
knife; was not drinking at the bar at the time
the knife was drawn; the click ola knife first
attracted his attention.
BY Mr.. Marshall.-Did not think any thing
serious was going on until the knife was
drawn.
Joseph HigueS, SWorn.-Doorez came to his
fathers house, and asked his father to let him
90 to the vessel with him; he went with Doo-
rez to hunt for some Spanish Sailors they had
n dance in the house, and Dull and Lednum
were pulling at girl; they left the girl and
had a scut1le, when Dull pulled knife out and
struck Lednum; as soon as he saw them get up,
he wished to get out Of the house; did not see
Lednum strike Dull, only saw the passage of
hands.
By the Defence Was running out of the
room, when he saw the blow struck; did not
know whether Lednum and Dull had had
blows or not, before the knife was drawn; he
got out of the door about u minute before the
SpaniaEd came out.
Watchman Hague, SUorn.-Was about 90
feet from the house, and heard a ecufiie when
he ran to the door, and met Lednum coming
out, who called him by name and told him he
was stabbed by John Dull; arrested Dull who
said he had no knife, but heard the click of
knife shutting, and Dali dropped it on the
floor; Dull said as he was going to the watch
house, that he did cut Lednum, and would
serve any man so who would go after his
We; Lednum was taken to the watch house
by another Waterman; after he had lodged
Dull in the watch-house, he came out and saw
Lednum laying on bench in the chief room;
he died about 10 minutes after he was carried
there; about 80 minutes after the affair &C.
cured.
BY the defence.--Lednum was standing up
in the house where the affair occurred, when
witness first saw him.
Watchman adams, sworn. Was standing
outside OF the door when the affair occurred;
entered with Hague, and saw the Spaniards
run out; Dull was standing at the counter and
Lednum in the foor saw Hague pick up the
knife heard Dull say that he would cut any
man who went after his woman; started with
Lednum TO the watch-house; when they had
gone about 200 yards, Lednum said he was
sick, and fell on his knee; got the assistance of
several young men who carried him to the
watch-house, where he died in few moments.
by the defence. Did not think Lednum
much hurt when he first saw him.
By the Court. The affair occurred about
500 yards from the watch-house. (In house
IN Wiki, near Caroline street. kept by Michael
Germany
Dr.. BuSk, sworn. Was called to the watch
house to see Lednum; he had u small wound
in the left breast, about the second rib; was not
permitted to open the body, and could not give
any opinion of its effects.
The State having closed, the defence offered
the following testimony: .
INN Elisabeth Rose, sworn. Witness and
Susan Fillmore were playing with the Span
lard; the Spaniard pushed Susan Gilmore on
the setteo where Lcjaam was laying, who put