The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-05-13
LOCAL MATTERS.

l u >
| William Weldon, musician In Fortress Monroe,
| on the 26th Of February last, commenced In this
court yesterday. A large number OF spectators
| were In at ,ndance At l2 o'clock, the prisoner
| was brought into court. He 10, we understand, a
native of Caroline county, about 90 years of age,
of average height firm ssd attractive features well
built and of courteous department Messrs Rob.
ert G. Scott Sr, and John 8. Caskie, of this city,
aud W. I. Hendren of Norfolk, appeared as counsel
for the prisoner. j. NJ. Gregory, attorney for the
United States. The prisoner was then arragned
and pleaded not guilty. The veLire was called and
| the following gentlemen empannelled Tyler,
A Elicit, Tyler, G II Powell, Il G Banks, Fl
Whiting. Randolph, Latssmoor, Latta
moor, Baker, F w Gett and T Peake The pr.
soner having been charged the witnesses We're
called for the United States.
Major w. A. Nichols was first sworn On the
10th OF February last, between 12 and o'clock as
was passing near the hospital, saw soldier in
the oct OF being carried to the quarters at the hos
pital In the course of minute or two went into
| the hospital and found Weldon very seriously
stabbed in several places. He was lying on the
floor of the hospital room. As he had been soldier
| under my command, asked him what was the
cause OF the MISUNDERSTANDING no names-he
replied "nothing whatever" Had no further con-
versation with him. Saw him two or three times
after that during the day. Saw him between and
o'clock, when his wounds were dressed, and he
was lying in another room. Heard him make some
complaint against the hospital steward. Said he
felt heat coming on in his left side. Saw Gould.
man fortnight before in store in Hampton,
aiming pistol and knife. Examined the knife
which Gouldman purchased, and asked him play.
fully, if he had purchased it to kill any one-he
answered that he had no such intention. (The
knife was here exhibited. 1t was a spring back
knife the blade about 81 inches in lengthy Believe
this the knife. Ipurehased knife similar to it
| at the same time. Have known Gouldman for
several years at Old Point. SO far as l know, his
department has been very correct and character
very good. He was he'd in big esteem ia the gar
rison. Have founu him an obedient good soldier.
| Have seen no undue exhibition of temper on the
part of the prisoner. He was Sergeant in the gar
rison.
Mrs Christiana Leach deposed: l heared my
husband called on the Goth February, and was
alarmed | went into the prisoners house and
found the deceased lying on his back and Gould
man stabbing him. then went out and gave the
alarm. was close upon them when saw Gould
man stabbine the deceased with an instrument
Saw the blade only.
Cross Examined By Mr.. Scott Il went for my
mother as gave the alarm. She was in a
house two doors off. A man named John Evans
was the first to come to the body of the deceased
where it was lying. l occupied house right Op-
posite to the prisoners house at the time. Went
for my mother first and then for my husband
When | saw the stabbing, neither the wife or child
of the prisoner was in the room. Saw wife of the
prisoner after that, with her child in her She
was between my house and her own. When
came back from making the alarm, saw the de-
ceased lying in the door of my house. Do not
know how he got to my house. Saw him taken out
oft. There were several persons there when he
was taken out. Sergeant Evans was engaged in
taking the knife out of the prisoners hard when
| came back. The prisoner was near my door. |
was married the Oath January decline telling
when my child was born. Was not examined
before at Fortress Monroe This 10 the first time
| have been examined. Do not remember telling
| Mrs Robbins that would hang the prisoner any
| how have said would hang him. told Lieut..
De Lagne, in conversation, II at would hang him
if could-but did not say, would hang him any
how. This was in answer to a question if had
made such remark. answered the question in
as good hunor as | am now. (Witness spoke
calmly Lieut.. De Lagnel, on hearing my state.
ment, demonstrated with me for making the remark
did. He said l ought not to have said it. Told
him could not hep it, that it was because of q
family quarrel. quarrel had taken place between
my husband and myself after the death of Weldon,
and had separated from him.
While the examination was going on at Fortress
Monroe was there. told Mrs Scott and Mrs
Jones that | saw prisoner stab the deceased, not
ten minutes after the difficulty occurred. Told
many people. Did not inform the Comm andant
Major Bankhesd Did not tell my husband, be-
cause he was not with me at the time saw Wei
don stabbed He did not think proper to ask NE
anything about the matter afterwards and did
not think proper to tell him of it.
DR. w Semple, Surgeon at the Fort, Yves then
examined. He dressed the wounds of the deceas
ed, and had no doubt that his death was caused by
wound he received in the lower part of the abdo
men cutting the intestines and producing strong
hemorrage of blood. The deceased had several
wounds upon the breast leg, side, back and neck
pital, had recovered his sensibity, some one re.
marked, "You will be better SOON" and Weldon
replied, ooh no am done for now and it's all
right-its ell right. One of the soldiers then told
him that if he had taken his advice he would not
have been there. Weldon replied, "If you had
done as told you should not have been here."-
Thought the remarks had reference to the diff
Guilty.
Did not hear deceased say anything farther about
the difficulty, or how he came to be cut He died
the next morning. He was very stout, muscu
lar, fle looking man-should think about equal to
| the Prisoner in strens.h b. Gouldman was generally
conceded to be one of the best men among the sol
d'ers at the Point.
| Private John Evans swoia.-Heard that tneIe
" as fight, while sitting up in my quarters
Wen, down and saw Weldon going from Sergeant
Gouldm ans house to Sergeant Leach's de Tell
on the floor instantly as he got into MIR Leach s.
He cried out, "Help me, Mary, help me- Mary
Sergeant Gouidman's wife, who was in the room
assisted him-hlting up his head. He then said &c
Ioha lad H.