The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-27
THE DAILY DISPATCH
RIchmond Jane. ~. 1s53.

Z IL DAILY DISPATCH.
Richmond Jane. ~. 1888.
THE CASE OF M0NTAGUE.-MOTION
FOR NEW TRIAL oyERRULED-
THE PRISONERS SPEECH--srN.
: TENCE OF DEATH PRONOUNCED
Ia the Circuit Court Of Pe,ersb urg. on r;
day, Judge Nash gave his opinion a, sorae
length on each Of the grounds upon which ,he
motion for new trial Of Montague was based
After recountmg the circumstances connected
with the case, the Judge remarked that he
could not disturb the verdict ofthe jury which
had found the prisoner guilty., believing II to
be righteous and just one. The court then
stated that il would pause for while in order
to allow the counsel for the prisoner TO consult
whether or not they would spread the evidence
on the record, and reserve the point for re-
ference u another court. Messrs. Wallace,
Joynes, Meade and Rives, here held a short
consultation together, and then announced to
the Court that they had determined to do mo-
thing farther for the present, and il could pro
ceea TO pronounce sentrnee upon the prisoner.
The clerk then, says the Express, holding the
Indictment and verdict in his hand, said to the
prisoner:
aEEwIs MONTAGUE. You have been tried
and convicted Of murder 10 the Erst degree;
have you anything TO say there the prisoner
interrupted and spoke in loud and clear
tone, q CERTAINLY H4vE,J why the Court
should not now proceed TO pronounce sen,
tence on you." 80.
SPEECH OF THE PRISONER.
The clerk having taken his seat, the Or ison-
er in a very loud and clear voice, bar evi.
IDENTIFY much excited, spoke nearly as follows:
"b am innocent of the charge OF having viii.
fully and premeditatedly murdered Thorn psop.
On the day of the 18th Of June, 1859, went
down TO City Point on the Railroad to see
about selecting place for Pic Mic. While
down there, took several drinks, and when
returned must have been about ha.f drunk
If Arthur johnson was here he could tell
you got off the cays at City Point depot, and
started by my self up Bolingbrook street.
went to look for Mr.. Daniel, the carpenter, be-
cause wanted him TO make me couple of
Pic Mic tables. | went to Mr.. Edwards, at
the Cuckade House, but he was not there,
and then went across the street to Mr.. Peb-
worth's, to see if he was there. When came
Il
rhompson's, because saw Mr.. Allen, who
has testified in this cause. standing OUT at the
door, and knew if MIR. Daniel was in the
house, Nj. Allen would not have been stan o.
ing out at the door. then walked up and
Down the alley three or four times, and went
into Boiling brook street, and up 10 Sycamore
street, and from Sycamore street. 4 went down
10 my bar room, and won't behind the bar, and
took drink of brandy and water. l believe
ina.a kotf eba.x trlI
Michaels wanted 10 see Daniel, and if he
was in Petersburg, would see him that nigh,
before slept. As started out met McCar
thy, told him wanted to see Daniel, and ask
ed him ifhe would go with me. We started out
together, and walked up TO Hyman g. Davis
corner; we then crossed over 10 Todd &
Christians corner, where think / met DIR.
Ben. MAY. was on the inside Of the street,
and Mccarthy on the outside. There was not
more than one minute and halls elapsed from
the time of my leaving the bar-soom and the
shooting of Thompson. just as got to the
corner Of the barber shop, Thompson came up
the alley in a rapid manner, and brushed hsav.
lily up against my shouldeI,-ihis shoulder,
think, [the prisoner here placed his hand on
his left shoulder] and remarked, 'Moni! what
do you want with me- Says to him, do
you thus speak to and treat me, you d-n son
Of a b-h, after treating me as you have done
today, and treating my family as you have
done heretofore Th,n | struck him
He then sidled around the barber's pole and
ran towards me, and not from me, as Mr..
Eckles testified, and with one hand in his
pantalOons pocket (the prisoner here placed enc
hand in his pocket TO illustrate the attitude of
MIR. Th0mpson,) remarked in a threatening
manner, damn you. is that the game you are
playing ai?' when pulled out my pistol and
shot at him. When discoveredthe ball had
entered his body was herrof-siruck, so much
so, that Immediately lost all consciousness,
and recollected nothing more tina, occurred
from that moment, until came to my mind,
and found myselfover there in that jail, (point.
ing to the buildingl with Mr.. Friend and Mr..
Fem at my side. did not shoot Thompson
premediatedly. Heaven knows, and God
knows, did not. Lf
"There is one man who has testified in
this trial, and he has sworn to a falsehood.--
do not believe BelcheTs vas within 500 yards
of the when Thompson was shot. | mean
James Bechers-I never ga " him before saw
him in this court. He has told lie on me-
He has made my dear wife husbandless, and
made my poor little children orphans. lhave
laid in my lonely prison cell, and prayed for
him time afier time. forgive him and hope
son premediiatedly. l was always afraid Of
him. He used to live with me. But he in.
suited my wife and my family. and drove him
away. will not now tell what he said to my
wife, but Mccarthy knows, and begged Nc
Carthy when he testified at the Hastings court
to say nothing about my wife, because did
not want her name introduced. When paid
Thompson of. and drove him away from my
house, for insalting me and my family, he took
the money in his hands, and looked at me and
said, 4 have earned every cent Of that money
| said to him, 4 know you have, and ! have paid
you.' He then remarked, Il II either bre ak you,
or kill you.' He hated me as bad as be did a
rattesnake. Shortly after this, he, with the
assistance of some friends, took the house on
Boliingbrook street i used 10 have. could
hear from him every day. lie used to make
threats against me. He carried pistols for me,
and declared he would kill me. was ss afraid
Of him as if he had been q rattlesnake. never
saw him, ihatI did not cross the street TO avoid
him-l never mef him, that my heart did not
beat.aI knew be was q fighting man and car.
ried pistols for me. l am q coward, and 81.
ways was q coward from my infancy. This
| 10 the first time any charge was ever brought
against me. never before harmed any liv'
| ing being. Where's the man, woman Or child.
| that can come forward, and say Lewis Aonta.
Ii n -. II T.