Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-11-09
S1xrs a w. NEE
MAYORS COURTs
NOVEMBER 7th, 1856.

this morning arragned and examined upon the charge
of assauting in his own house, the morning Of the
Both September last, elderly white man. Ia halter
by trade named Joseph Chldress who occupied por-
ton of the tenement which Hastings lives and then and
there ncting certain wounds upon the said Chidress
which caused his death on the night Of the 4h Nov,
instant.
Messrs R. G. Scott and w. w. Day appeared for
the prisoner, and Mr.. Joseph Mayo for the Common
wealth.
Ca olne Childress (wife Of the deceased being sworn
testified follows: On the night Of the 18th Of Sep
tember Mr.. Childress went out, and absent some
length of timewhen he returned she (wtness) had re-
tired to bed but awake and discovered that he
intoxicated. The following morning Childress rose
put clean clothes, and into the city; he
returned however, shortly afterwards, and entered the
house from the rear yard Witness went out into the
back yard to the of the house, for the purpose of
performing some household dues shortly afterwards
cooured on the lot called out to witness, and
remarked that they were numbering Mr. Chidress in the
house. Witness Immediately ran in and saw her hus-
band sitting on the first flight of steps leading up stairs
covered with blood, and calling upon Mr. Hastings not
to kill him. Hastings was standing near him, beating
him the head with his (ChiIdress) walking
that is with half OF the cane, for would seem that he
had broken the cane Cs. head before witness got
into the house. Saw Hastings strike him over the
head repeatedy-implored him to desis which he fin
ally did, Childress went up stairs and alter while lay
down. He got up during the day, however, but felt so
badly few days afterwards that he sent for DR.. Boil
ton; and notwithstanding he walked about some ten
days alter receiving the beating, had been well
since.
Cross egamined.-Mr Childress came in from spree
Sunday night 18th OF Sept after witness had retired to
bed. Heard no conversation between Hastings and her
husband before Hastings struck him, theioowng Mon
day morning. Had never said she had not Has
tings strike her husband. Mr.. II. knew she him.
Was acquainted with Mrs Owen-went to see her,
to learn whether she would not take the rooms in
Hastings house. off our hands after ChIdress had receiy
ed the beating; told Mrs o. that H. had beaten Chill
dress almost to death; expressed much surprise upon
learning from from Mrs Owen that she had not heard
OF the beating Chldress was confined to his bed some
time; Immediately after Hastings had beat him, he
changed his linen and went to bed He was in the
habit OF getting intoxicated and disposed t. be
noisy when drnking-would sometimes shout and hal
loo. The stick used by Hastings belonged my hus-
band, and a medium sized walking cane Have
known Chdress TO fall down the steps, but recol
lected that he had thus hurt himseecollect5 he fell
down stairs about three years ago. but did not nure him
self When witness first her husband, The morn
ing of the atfray he was sitting the steps covered
with blood He came up stairs, followed BY Hastings,
who beat MIN again most numerically over the head
and back With the piece OF cane.
Fcnddtt A. Btankinshp sworn.-knew very little
about the matter and nothing about the beating. Some
five six days after the affair." Chidress came into my
use-is eyes black, and he had handkerchief
tied over his head-asked him what the matter?
He said ii witness would walk back in the store he would
show hn-upon reaching the back OF the store, Chill
dress took the handkerchief OFT his head aud showed
d
matter with me- In reply to all inquiry how he recev
ed the injury he said Sam Hastings had done it with
stick. Knew Childiess we'll ana knew him to be noisy
and troublesome when drinking Had been compelled
on one occasion 10 slap his jaws himself.
Mrs lIooSaEa Hastings sworn.-Was the prisoners
moher.-Don't know what day Of the month the diff
Guilty between her son and Chidress occurred. Reco-
lects hearing her son e Chdress that he must move
out-that he could not stand his noise any longer
Chldress said he mad made noise, and that er son
lied If he said he had made any. Witness said she then
went to breakfast, and did hear fuss the passage,
but did not see her son strike Chdress-hearda rum
bling noise the steps, and heard some one ia against
the door at the foot of the stepsran TO the door and
opened saw Chdress get up but did not see her son,
and did not know " here he waS-SaW no one but Chill
dress Recolscts seeing Cbildress some days alter this
occurrence-it may have been week afier-thinks he
was carrying bucket OF wafer.
Mrs. Elizabeth Cru1ap sWorn.kneW nothing OF the
aairhad never, to the best OF her recollection
Mr.. Childress-havngN only recently moved into the
neighborhood.
the Sd day Of October-ound serious wound upon the
left side OF the head, but upon probing it found that it
did not penetrate to the bone. The wound appeared
have been made with blunt instrument, but did not
penetrate the perecranum. Also found bruises about
the head and face and at once that he had been
badly injured From the irregular habits oil the pa
tient feared the wound might prove fatal Enq9lled
how he received the injureste patient answered, by
SAYING that Samuel Hastings had inflicted them the
morning OF the Both September Dressed the wound
and visited the patient up to the hour OF MS death
labouring under enieebng symptoms. short time
afterwards the patient removed to Union Hil-thnks
he was consulted and advised his removal Continued
to visit hin, on Union Hl-the wound supyurated but
would not heal, and haG never given any favourable
symptom. Last Ihursday-hree weeks alter receiving
the woundfound the patient abourng under shortness
OF breath--though nothing OF the symptom, his pulse
being regplar-dressed the wound and retired. About
three hours afterwards sent tor and called TO
the patient. Found him abouring under congestion of
the lungs, with all its attendant symptoms Treated the
case by eeching, bleeding, &c-thought, however 1.-The
patient could not survive many hours The leechng
relieved him sensiby and upon calling next day, found
him better, though extremely feeble This improve
ment continued till Saturday, when ne found him low |
and feeble, with constant inclination to slumber- |
thought him hopelessy low, as 1t was evident
gestion of The brain had ensued Found the actoniof
his heart very irregular, and called in Dr. Snead on
Sunday as consulting physician. The un9vourabe |
symptoms continued till the patient died. His heart
gave forth an irregular bellows sound during the first
stages Of the congestion After the patient died, DIS.
Snead Parker and witness, made poet n0rten exam-
nation. The wound on the head had not heaed--it
measured fUe inches one way, and three the other.
Found an abscess had formed under the scalp Upon
opening the skull, found the bleed vessels congested
the SinuSeS OF the brain gorged with blood and the
membrane which covers the brain filled with fluid On
cutting into the brain found it sound, but the venr
Giles were distended with fluid. Examined the chest
found the lungs entirely healthythe heart also pre-
sened healthy appearance, with this exception, that
some ossicatlon had taken place near the main orkce,
though not sufficient TO cause DEATH asst did not inter-
Iere Win lle Valves Nn OlIer bruised
spots beside the main wound. Our opinion ,odS, and
is, that the patient, Joseph Childress came TO has
death from the mound in the head In reply TO ques-
ton from the prisoners counsel, Dr. b. remarked that
he should notthink it possible that tall could produce
wound similar to the one described Chidress head
He then entered into an explanation of the nature of
wounds produced by falling and striking and expressed
the opinion that the wound question had been given
by some rapidly-moving blunt weapon. |
Dr.. Snead 'swom-Sunday morning last, visited |
Chidress in company with DIR. Bolton and at his re- !
quest Found the condition of the patient eminently |
dangerous, being nearly insensble Discovered MUIR
murng noise about the heart, which usually attends or
denotes inflammation OF the inner membrane of the |
heart. Next day called again to him, and though
somewhat better still thought him hopelessly i'll. Saw
him no till after death. Assisted in the post
oriem examination and found all the evidences STA
ted by Dr. Bolton, existing. Found dlscoouraton of
the sku near the wound and discovered that the dis
penetrated the skull His opinion was and
is that Chdress death produced by the blow upon
the head. Did not think the slight osshcaton of the
main artery Of the heart produced the murmur ing
sound, because it sufficient to impede the ope-
ration Of the valves.
Dr.. Parker swoln-Saw the patient the day before
his death-examned his heart with stethescope, and
found that the bellows sound had then ceased. He
likewise attended the post norton examination, and