New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-03-21
NEWS or THE CITY.

i FIRST DISTRICT CoURr.-Judge Robertson =
l Trial for Murder.--The trial of James Patton
for the murder of Col Walter Turnbull, on the
| 3D. Of December last, took place in this court
| yesterday. The Attorney General and District
1 Attorney conducted the prosecution, and AIessrs
John r. Grynes, Seth Barton and Judge Dun
| lap appeared for the defense. No material tes-
timony was addueed besides what appeared
4 upon the primary examination, and has been
i already published, to the effect that while Mr.
Turnbull and Mr.. Andrew Miller were walking
together near st. Mary's Market, on the day Of
| the occurrence, the former hailed passing ON
nibus, in which accused was seated and ap-
preached it for the purpose of entering he was
| accosted by Patton, who warned him to keep
away, and declared that if he attempted to en-
| ter the omnibus he would shoot him Turnbull
paid no attention to this threat, and accused i'm
mediately drewa revolver and fred two shots,
/ both taking effectin Turnbull's breast, and pro-
ducing mortal wounds. The Colonel staggered
1 back a few PAGES, placing his hands upon his
breast as if in pain, and Patton, stepping from
4 the omnibus, fired again upon his victim, who
made few steps and fell down dead with
scarcely groan or struggle Accused Hthen
4 surrendered himself and his pistol into the
hands of Mr.. Miller and requested to be taken
| to the police office These facts were established
/ by several witnesses, and the prosecution oecu-
| pied but short time.
Mr.. Grymes opened the defense by putting
forth the plea of insanity on the part of his
4 client, but he was interrupted by the latter
/ who solemnly declared that he was in the full
possession of his reason, and that if he was mad
at the time of the occurrence, there was
'smethod in his Madness He protested against
| any such plea being used in his behalf He
stated that he had received ample provoeation
\ for the deed he had committed, and if jury
| of his countrymen could pronounce him guilty
| OF murder, he was willing to atone for the act
with his life. He declared that his counsel
were in possession of the circumstances which
| brought about the affair, and that he had in
| structed them to ground his defense thereon,
| and he accused them of having betrayed for
4 the purpose Of running his cause. He CON
cluded by informing the court that he did not
wish his counsel to act for him further in the
| matter, and the case was submitted to the jury,
who returned a verdict Of g Guilty, without
capital punishment
| The RECORDERS Courts. THE several Police
Courts of the city presented most uninterrest-
ing array OF petty cases yesterday, nothing
more important than trihing assaults and plea
yune 1arcenies appearing on their dockets; and
the number Of arrests last night was wonder
fully small, considering that the 60 Stove pipe
Club" which claims to know everything, in
contradstinction to the Know Nothings," met
and had a Publication.
BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN Board
met last evening, DR.. Dalton in the Chair and
quorum present. On motion the reading of
the minutes Of the previous meeting was dis
pensed with, and a communication was read
from the Mayor, informing the Board that ex-
President Fillmore had left Louisville for New
Orleans, and would probably arrive here some
time during this week, and recommending that
the inequalities of the city be rendered him by
the Common Council; resolutions to that effect
were adopted and Committee appointed to ar
range the matter. His Honor also transmitted
a memorial from the trustees of the Seamen,s
Home, complaining of the opposition experienced
in the discharge Of their duties from the run
ners OF sailor landlords; number Of affidayits
from sailors and other, accompanied this docu-
ment, to the effect that Opponents on landing at
this port had been abused, assaulted and in
some instances cruelty beaten for taking lodg-
ings at the Seamens Home, and for even ex-
pressing intentions Of doing So The memorial
further sets forth that applications have fire.
quently been made to the Recorders of the CITY
and to the officers of the police, but that protec-
ton had invariably been withheld, and It thus
became necessary to seek justice from the City
Council.
Mr. Puryis offered q resolution authorizing
the Mayor to furnish vessels arriving here
sufficient police force to protect sailors and
others from violence in the exercise Of their
rights. This resolution was opposed by Messrs.
Wright and O'sullivan, the former having mis-
understood its import, and the latter stating
that he believed the sailors were able to protect
themselves
Mr. Purris rose to an explanation. He stated
that the resolution was only meant for the pro-
lection of the class of persons referred to, and
that he was astonished to see it meet with oppo-
sition. Was it possible that an appeal Of this
kind could be disregarded, when it was dis
tlnct1y asserted by numerous respectable citi- |
zens that the ordinary methods of obtaining
Justice had entirely failed in accomplishing that
end Did the Board wish to make itself a |
Laughing stock and incur the condemnation and I
scorn Of all sensible and right thinking men.
Would they, the members, for paltry political |
consideration, forego all sense of Justice, and I
close their eyes to a most abominable outrage |
upon personal rights and the laws of the land |
Several other members spoke warmly upon
the subject, and the resolution was afterwards /
amended SO as to deyolye the duty of furnishing
policemen upon the Recorders of the several |
Districts instead of the Mayor, and after many
attempts to lay it on the table, refer it to a
special committee, and to defeat it altogether
principally made by Messrs, ker, 0Sulliyan
and Latour-the resolution as amended was
adopted. A resolution was then adopted re-
questing the Police Committee to report whether
an increase Of the police force would be neces-
sary in order to carry out the arrangement re-
solved upon.
HSSohAeA Il,
alluding to the great fire which occurred some
days ago, and suggesting the propriety of the
Council taking some steps for the erection of
suitable monument to the memory of Daniel S.
Woodruff and William Mcleod, who lost their
lives at said fire. A resolution appropriating
the sum Of $1,000 to that purpose was, after
much discussion, adopted.
A communication from the Comptroller was
read, informing the Board of the adjudication
of contract for the construction Of an iron
railing around Annunciation Square, for the
sum Of 700. The communication was re-
ferred to the Committee on Streets and Land
ings. -
A message was received from the Upper Board
in regard to their action upon sundry resolu-
tions from this Board. The resolution requiring
the removal of wooden building at the corner
Of st. Charles and poydras streets within so
days was taken up and. the time extended to
90 days.
The Raard ooa,, ffa,s q a s,,,,, |