Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-17
inquest.

AN inquest vas held before Coroner Robert
T. Wicker en- Saturday evening last, upon the
body OF Mary Cavenaueh, the laughter OF Mi
clarl Cavenaush, aged four years, who was
killed By William Hebden. The inquest vas
held at The house Of the father OF The lilie
girl, situate on Cary street, between 2ls, and "a
streets, aud just in rear Of The County Court
House, and near The residence Of Hebdcn, in
fron ri whose house he child was shot. The
following gentlemen, freehoders, were empan-
nel:ed on The Jury: John freeman, Goreman,)
John Hasan, O.ange Bennett, John N. Enbank,
William r. Gaines, L. Nj. Newbern, John W..
Claire, a. R. Timberake, Thomas Pemberton,
Neil McCurdy, and Peter McCabe. The follow
ing verdict, in substance, was returned by Inc
jury:
That one VIM Eebden. while at his residence,
at the corner of Cary and 22d streets, on the IAN
day of August, and while carelessly handling
double-barreled gun, being partially intoxicated
pointed said gum without any intention 10 Kill,
at Mary Cavenaugh, which accidentally dis
charged, inaicing severe wound, by blowing
off The upper portion Of The head OF SAID glrl
thereby causing her dealh.
MICHAEL CAvESAUGa, duly sworn, TESTIFIED, that
he Is HE father Of The deceased that about seven
o'clock in The evening h. was al bis house, TWO
doors from where Wm. Hehden lives; saw Heb
cen pass his door-it was not more than fifteen
minutes alter when he heard The report OF the
gun. a lille bog (son Of his wife by her fist
husband) ran into the house and said Mary Che
deccascd) vas killed Witness Immediately went
out and found her lying dead in front Of Hebdens
door, lew feet from it. The Top OF her head
was blown off lie took The body into his house,
then went 10 Hebden's house and asked Mis-.
Chapman il Hebden was al home. She saidycs.
A Young man from MIR. Roancs lumber yard
came up and told witness not 10 60 in he would
sec that Hebden was arrested. Saw Hebden in
the house. The chd's iee were towards the
door, some 3 or lee from il, and with its head
down The bill, iE front CT the door Never had
any difficulty with Hebden, nor have any OF his
family, So Tar as he Kaows
MARGARET CAyENAUGH, duly sworn, testified
| that she is The muher OF deceased-iha, she " "a
in her house making up the bed, when she hcald
the report OF the gun. Fer son, Thos. Kennedy,
ran in and said Mary was dead. Her husband
went out 10 Eeb6en's ,oor and brought the dead
body. This Occurred about sunset. Never
had any dispute VIII Hebccn or his family.
Ilebden would cali in sometimes and see them.
The deceased was tour years old.
| THOMAS KENNEDY, Il child, eight years old, duly
swofn, testified That he, with Mary, was stand
ing at Mr.. Hetcens door-lhat Mr.. Hetden shot
MARY with gun Her brains flew on his shin.
He ran home and told his mother Mary was
| dead. Mr.. Hetdrn, b, fore he shot, told Mary TO
60 away. He wanted 10 scare her. RE was
playing with her the time, aud she had thrown
rock in play al him before The gun was Fl ed.
They had been in the house, and were Accustomed
10 90 there. HeLden did not put The gun 10 n,
shoulder, but hel. il out from the centre Of his
body. A Ter lie fired he put The gun down. and
ai down IN bed There was no one in Heb.
den's house but his wife, The gun was a single
barrel gun.
kEBEccA CHAPMAN, duly sworn, testified that
abuu. o'clock On Saturday evening Mr. Heb
den came home When he came in he said he
was going off cunning next morning. He col the
gun (Which was double barrel eun) and asked
her 10 get cloth 10 wipe il of. She replied
'don't boiler me, put The gun down and quit
going cunning on Sunday" Ee said che was
only going down on an island 10 kill some black
birds" She replied, "don'ly you know il is against
The law 10 60 cunning OF Sunday" lie said he
was going TO start early in the morning and that
| he would ee; out OF The town soon. lie turned
| around and The gun struck box on she'll and
knocked il Down and al The time the gun went
| off, The gun vas not loaded that day-cou.d
| not say whe her the mu2zle Of the gun was turned
| towards The door or not when il went on, as her
| back was turned towards him. The deceased
and her Two brothers had been in the house, where
they were accustomed 10 come; they had gol
soue biscuit before Hebden came, and were al
The door when Hebden came into The house =
| Hebdsn was accustomed 10 play with them; asked
| the largest OF the boys il he was going 10 live
with him. He said Eyes" Witness does mol
know whether he said any thing 10 them wheE
the gun was f'ed The little girl, while playing
with him, threw small rock at him. Did not
say hat he wnud shoot il they did not co home
Did net point lie gun al he children. When he
gun went OF he dropped down on a chest and
said he did not know it was loaded. The gun
had moi been loaded during the week. Hebder
loaded ii last Sunday II was Standing hot Tar
from The door. Did not see him cock The gun
He was very "drammy." Never had any diff
Guilty or quarrel with The father Of deceased OF
any Of his family.
JOHN w ELAN, duly sworn, testified: He was
al Mr. Roanc's lumber yard; heard The report OF
the gun; came 10 Hehcen's house as soon as he
could get there. The lumber yard was $50 yards
Of. Just as he cot TO The house, the father lock
the child up. Saw Hebden sitting in chair in
the house opposite The door. Did not hear him
say any thing. This was about seven o'clock
The fa'her Of the child came back from his house
and was going in Hebdens, when wines. stopped
him and said he would see that I1ebden was ar
rested.
JULIUS A. HoBsoN, duly sworn, testified, that
the ia.her of The child informed him Of the mai
Ter while looking after an officer; that lie came
10 The Old Marke. house, where witness was stand
ing with MIR. Nuckols, one of The walchmen.-
They started Immediately for Hebden's house;
found 4 number OF per; ons about The house
Witness enquiIed for The murderer. Hebden
answered, II am The person!" Witness took
hold of him, as did also MIR. Nuckols; but Muck
o.s quit his hold and went into the house aler.he
gun. The prisoner seemed very much inioxica.
led Spoke very incohcrenly. Going along 10
the rage he said; III she is hurt it is PITY
would not hurt her,"
WIN Fl NICHOLS, Waterman, duly sworn, les
tilted that his testimony was The same in SUBJ
stance as MIR. nobsons When witness got 10
Hebden's house, a MIR. McCoul said The gun
was in tie house. GOT the gun and searched the
prisoner 10 sec il he had any weapon about him.
Found oil him pocket kniFe. Ms. Chapman
handed witness the gun, and stated that j; was The
gun villa which lie child had been killed. The
gun was loaded in tie right barrel and primed
aud cooked. The lett barrel was discharged
On the way 10 he watch house prisoner saId III
WAS some ploi laid for him." The cock OF The
left barrel was down and The pan open. The pr
soner was very much intcxcaIcj.
Tie evidence being ended. The jury then gave
in their verdict as above stated.
LATER from TAhPlCo.
The Schr. William e. Elizabeth, Capt. Beach
arrived Yesterday from Tampico, (says The New