The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-05
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
CHESTERFIELD CIRCUIT COURT.
SPRING TERN.
BEFORE JUDGE JOHN b. CLoPToN.
Commonwealth VS.. pormiey.
TRIAL CONTINUED
Aprd LIST Tenth Day Continued.

returned IN Alarch, 1891. tie came before |
went TO England. | wrote to him to come
home in February, 1850, as had made up my
mind to go 10 Europe on business, and re.
quested him to come home and attend to my
business there during my absence. In answer
to my first letter, he wrote word that he did not
know whether he could come or not, "a he eX-
pected TO be necessarily engaged in business
shorty in Baltimore. | wrote him again in
March. | leftm home for Europe on the first
day of MAY, 1851 on the I'd May left Rich
mond for Philadelphia. On the 10th May left
Philadelphia for Liverpool. Returned TO New
\ York the Sd day of August, and arrived here
on the 9th of August, 1851.
A. w. Irabne recalled for the defence.
By X. q. ScOn-During the life time of
RobIou were you ever informed of any threat
made by him in regard to yourself.
IFitness.-I was. | was So informed by
James Reid and others. Do not recoiect the
time exactly think it was in May, 1851. Ire
collect Reid telling me that Robiou said he
would kill me on the first opportunity; that he
had lead pill for me to take, or intended to
give me a led pill. Reid also said that Robiou
told him that had heard Of his (R.'s) threats,
and had changed my mode of travelling. No
thing was said about WormIey in that commu-
nicaaOn. | think this in the early part of
MAY.
Cross Eaamined.-I had not changed my
biOu frequently. Saw him about three times
in Richmond, and at Robinson's once or twice.
DO not recolect of meeting him articularly.
L never avoided hinI-do not know that he
avoided me. Never had quarrel with him af
ter that time. We met, but did not speak af-
ter May until his death. He never attempted
any violence TO hne after May, 1851, and never
threatened any violence 10 my face after that
time. The 2lst or 92d June, 1850, he invited
~ n
saying any thing to hin. 1t occurred in this
way: Robiou came 10 my house, spent day
with me, and sad all night /; and invited me,
with other gentlemen, 10 go and dine with him
on that dav. After dinner, as was sitting in
his porch, he came TO the door and said. shine
or not shine: | told him believed would get
drink of water. As rose from my seat, lie
said you id son of bitch, and struck at me
with all his force. | knocked off the lick, but
he struck me slightly on the breast. He made
two other blows at me afterwards, but did not
hit me, as | stepped one side. This was about
O'Clock in the latter part OF the evening; Ro-
blOu had been drinking enough 10 make him
lively. Mrs. Robou was not there. He wrote
me letter apologlsing for his conduct day
or Two afterwards. Our intercourse was never
friendly after / received that letter, because
from the way he had treated me, l wanted no.
thing to do with him. About month after
that he got TWO gentlemen IL. l.. Archer and E.
Brumallj to come to me and request me 70
make friends with him. BY their persuasion
we made friends and spoke. He walked by me
| two or three weeks after this, without speaking
| TO me. In June, 1850, he and his wife sepa-
| rated | saw them together afterwards al
Spring Creek-don't know when they parted
again. L do not recoliect whether they had
parted again when he walked by me without
speaking. | lived about two miles from Ro-
biou's, and about the same distance from
Wormley's.
By III. Rhodes.-Did James Reid, and
| form you why Robiou said he made these
| threats.
| Witness Yes. They said Robiou had
stated that | went 10 his house in his absence;
| that he had been informed SO by his negro wo-
man: once he said that | visited Mrs. r. in
his absence, and was with his wife in his cham
ber. After the final separation of Robiou and
| his wife. WAS never on good terms with Ro-
| bIou, nor for long time before that.
| Examination reSumed.-Thomas Nj. Bur-
| foot. VIM. E. Martin, and w. Tinsley were pre-.
sent at the time he struck at me i'll his house.
| Burfoot and Martin nteriered. There had ne
yer been any quarrel before between R0biou
and myself. Never was in his house after that
| whether he was at home or abroad. At the
| time we made fir ends, he said was an hon.
| orable, hieh-mnded gentleman, and he had no
| thing against me.
Thomas IL. Burfoot su0rn.-I was at Ro-
biou' S at the time alluded to by Mr.. Trabue.-
| Saw R1bou strike blr. +. without prosoca-
| lion. interfered. | think he said "Hngue-
not-shine or no shine | thought he was
drunk then. | thought him very drunk.
! think when he made al 1rabue, / was sitting
| on the bench. pushed him off he then made
second effort TO strike T don't remember
his calling i. id son of bitch-I saw 10
piov0caion given by Ttabue. Both Robiou
! and Irdbue claim 10 be Of Huguenot descent.
Jos Cotton deP0sed.-Never heard of any
| threats between Robiou and Wormley. Heard
| Robou say that his vile had told him her Ia
| lher intended 10 shoot him, and he was going
| to exchange the pistol he then had for better
| tember 1850. Mrs Robiou had separated al
| that time. Tie did not show me the pistol
| Conversation took place al Robnson's ore.
| Robiou said that he had understood Wormley
| had killed two men in Tennessee, and he
| thought he had better be prepared for him. Ro-
biou asked me if he was to kill Wormley if ne
would not get clear al the examining court,
aud laughed at him; that wns all that passed
| about Wormley. Then Rohion went on To
state certain things about his wite-ihe parting
cause of IL, &c. When he married bis wife
he said he was disposed 10 live friendly with
her, found ont he could not make wife of
her. aud had finally concluded to abandon her
altogether. Believed her TO be prostitute, and,
in fact had no doubt that was the case; was
confident she had had intercourse with negro
and was then pregnant by negro, and that
when the child was born il would be negio-
| said TO Robiou that was a serious charge.
R0biou said he truly believed il; and that lie
believed it would be coiored child when IT
was born, and we would see it. That wus all
that passed. Never saw Robou afterwards,
until | saw him dead--never heard any threat
| of Wormley against Robiou. Never had any
communication with Wormey.
James Reid, who was indicted with tWormley
| for the murder of Robion, was then sworn for
| the defence.
On Wednesday, the 10th of July, in the
morning, ! left home do not remember the
| precise hour. While passing Wormley's house,
! Mrs. Wornlley called me, and requested me 10
call at The Post Office and enquire for letters