The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-27
fFRoM OUR SPECIAL REroRTER.
The Case of Montague Charged 'cih the
Hu,Her of T'bomDSon

The Case of Montague Charged acth the
Murder of Thompson.
From a very correct report Of this deplorable
affair, and of the tesiim ony in the case, report.
ed in the Petersburg Express, we make the fol-
lowing statement, in order that the memory OF
our readers may be refreshed in regard TO the
particulars. The shooting occurred on the
evening of the l7th of June. On Friday, the
18th, an examination was had before Mayor
Dodson; and Messrs. r. Il. Eckles and X. l..
Childrey testified very clearly as to the identity
Of the prisoner, and The circumstances attend
ing the shooting. The testimony was not gone
4 into at that time in full as the final condition
| of Thompson was desired to be ascertained.-
| The counsel for Montague then declined inter-
rogating Witnesses. On Saturday morning, the
18th June, Thompson died, and Coroner's in
quest was held. At that inquest j. r. Eckles
| testified to seeing Montague knock Thompson
nearly to the ground, and afterwards pursue
Thompson, crying 81 will shoot YOU
Thompson inquired "Why do you want to
shoot me 2" Montague replied g You drew a
pistol on me-" Thompson then saidhe did not
draw pistol, when Montague shot him.
DR.. Thomas Withers, Thompson attending
physician, stated that Thompson told him that
| Montague sent for him, and he Immediately
put on his cont and went around TO Montague's
house. He met Montague on the way, and re.
| marked, Mont, do you want to see me?'-
Montague replied i" Yes, you damn son Of a
Bitch" He then struck and shot Thompson
Thompson further said that he did not have a
chance to strike Montague; and swore to this
statement on his dying bed.
DIR. Whitehead was also present with DR..
! Withers, and confirmed DIR. WIS statement.
| DR.. w. A. Dudley also heard the same state
| ment from Thompson.
| r. L. Childress also saw the occurrence, and
| gave testimony precisely identical TO that of
| Mr.. Eckles. Neither Mr.. Eckles or Mr.. Chill
| dress saw Thompson have pistol. No testi-
mony in favor of the prisoner was given in at
this inquest.
On the 25h of June, the Mayor held Sc.
cond examination. The testimony for the Com
nonwealth was the same.
For the defence, Lorenzo d. Michaels, bar.
keeper for Montague, was first sworn. He de-
posed that on Thursday, the 18th June, about
II o'clock at noon, Thompson came up into the
billiard room drunk, and said that he had been
down stairs giving Montague hell; and la .sau
called him a damn rascal and liar; and that
what he said then, he meant when he was So
Der. Michaels knew nothing at all about the
shooting affair al the evening.
,hn Gop 10 rI
room for Montague, deposed that on the even
ing of the 17th June, he was walking with Mon
tague in Back street to a Mr.. Daniels to see
about some tables for pic mic, when they met
Thompson, who rubbed up against Montague,
and said something which he (alcC.l did ret
understand. He (McCl kept on till he got
near the middle of the alley, thir.king that
Thompson and Montague had some private
matters to talk about. He lheE turned round
| and discovered that blow had been struck
| Saw Thompson staggering, and heard him say
damn you is this the game you are at?''-
| Thompson then moved round, and witness saw
q pistol in Thompson's hand distinctly. He
was afraid that L. would shoot, and if the ball
missed Montague thought it might hit witness,
and therefore jumped out of the way. Wit
ness then heard pistol fire, jumped out of the
| alley, and discovered that Thompson had fall
len. He did not know what became of Thomp-
sons pistol. I'VE now give the testimony of
this witness in his own language, as reported
by Mr.. Crutchfeld which certainly exhibits
his action in very strange light, to say the
least) Saw Montague going down towards
Sycamore street. Did not go to the rounded
man because the people were coming in all d.
rections after the pistol fired. Started down
to Nr. Montague's my sell. Met MIR. Hair near
Todd g. Christians corner. He asked me
what was the matter. Told him didn't kn0r.
Told him so because l did not want to be tell
ing every body the particulars. Never divulg.
ed it until last Monday morning, when told
Messrs. Joynes and Wallace all knew about
| il. Have had but one interview with Mr.. Mon
tague since, and that was last Friday morn
ing, the 18th, in the Jail.
1t will thus be seen from this digest of the
testimony, that Mccarthy is the only witness to
Offset the testimony Of Eckles and Chldress,
who swore positively to the fac, that Thomp-
son had no pistol in his hand. In addition to
the whence of Eckles and Childress, we have
the dying affdavits of Thompson himself,
which contradict McCarthy's statement posi-
lively. 1t is very singular that if Thompson
had pistol it could not be found. No pistol
has ever yet been found, and yet Thompson
was picked up Immediately after he was shot.
Ii he had had one would it not have been IT,
Ing near him 7 Ii was because Of the absence
Of this witness, Mccarthy, who it is said is in
fh'iade'phia, that the Trial has been postponed
z An ARRAY occurred recently in the vii.
iage oil frankinton, Washington Parish, La.
between two gentlemen named Kemp and Ca i:
penter, in which the latter was stabbed through
, the body with sword cane. He was alive i
J | last accounts.