The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-29
LOCAL MATTERS.

MURDER.-kebecca Chapman, charged
with aiding William Hebden to murder John Rich.
ards on Monday morning last was arr aligned be-
fore the Mayor yesterday for examination. The
prisoner Ia and old and infrm woman, and from
her countenance equal to any dark deed that the
human mind could conceive. When ali the cir.
cumstauces connected with the tragical act have
been brought to light, We think It more than proba.
BILE that she WAS the instigstor OF the murder. We
give below the substance Of the evidence elected
by the Mayor:
Edward w. Ferguson, sworn.-On Monday
morning last got up about o'clock, and was sit
ting by the fire putting my shoes and stockings
my wife being then engaged in preparing breakfast
for me to go 10 work, when heard very loud re.
port of a gun. | remarked to her that was tire.
mendous report-some one must be shooting beeCn
She made some reply, but we thought no more oft,
rs persons frequently fire guns in the neighborhood
After getting my breakfast started to my work,
and about o'clock met Mr.. Gaines who told me
that man had been killed not far off.
We Immediately went to the house OF the prison.
CIR, and seeing blood &C the front door, traced it
through the alley and garden into the old field,
where the dead body was lying. FROM the impress
sions made In the frost, the body seemed to have
been dragged from the front door east to the end of
the alley leading into the garden there taken and
carried south through the garden about twenty
yards where 1t was put down beyond the enclosure,
and afterwards dragged ten or fifteen yards 10 a
northeast direction, the base of the HILL
While tracing the blood along, some gentleman
picked up five cent piece On getting back to the
prisoners door we saw Mr.. English standing there
We knocked at the door twice, when Mrs. Chap
man opened it and asked what was the matter
Mr. Game told her she ought to know; that man
had been killed there. She replied If any one had
been killed. it must have been done on Saturday
night as son1e came there and attempted to fire
and burr the house. MIR Gaines and myself went
into the house, wuCn he discovered musket set
ting in the corner with the cock down on the pan,
and appeared to have been recently discharged
He picked it up and said, "this il the gun that did
the murder" Mr.. Gaines, in company with another
man. went up stairs, butt did not 20 with them
He called my attention to ashes on the sheet OF the
bed down stairs, which seemed to have been put
there by some ones foot There were also spots of
blood on the floor In the house, which appeared to
have been carried there by feet from without The
blood in the front yard and alley had been covered
with ashes but not sufficiently to be entirely
cealed. Prisoner denied all knowledge of the muir
der. On Monday night went to prisoner house,
and called her attention to some matter near the
tree at the front gate She said 1t was where she
had thrown water after boiling beefs head
then asked her if Richards screamed or groaned
when he was shot She answered that be did not.
James ~ Gaines, sworn.-Confirmed Mr.. Fer
gusons statement and described the position of the
house, alley, garden, and the track along which the
dead man was taken The prisoner had been iv-
ing with Hebden for ten years. The man when
shot was standing at front door, judging from
wound and marks of blood in yard.
Charles ]. Points, sworn.--Live short distance
from the prisoner. Heard report of gun between
and o'clock Monday morning. Saw the dead body
and traces OF blood between and O'Clock that
morning.
George Armstrong, acknowledgement the nue.
ket discovered in the prisoners house by Gaines as
the property of William Hebden.
Capt 4. HHkins0n, sworn.-Heard of murder
and went to prisoners house. Said she knew
nothing about it, Spots of blood on floor as II car
ried there by feet. Took prisoner into custody,
and deposited musket and her in cage.
Hcrp tho ayid e1O sod md tho nd.
ed her to prison to await an examination before q
called court to be held in the State Court House
Monday next, the 4th of December.
SToP THIEF.-On Monday night last, the
neighborhood of the first market the scene of
much merriment at the expense of very deserv-
ing citizen, who In addition to being robbed, had
his optics seriously damaged by the act Of sly
rogue. negro boy, named Henry, stepped into
Mr.. Isaac Bachrach's clothing store, about dark
and enquired the price of coat. Mr. b., ever rea
dy to serve his customers, all attention to the
darkey, who, having got possession of the coat,
threw handful of ashes into the merchants eyes,
and then dashed off at the top of his speed. MI B.
not feeling disposed to loose his goods in any such
manner put out after the fugitive, crying murder at
the top of his voice. The alarm soon started
number of other persons In the chase, and after
long run, Henry was overtaken and lodged in the
cage Yesterday morning, the Mayor, alter hear
ing the evidence, ordered the prisoner to be taken
to the Valley and there soundly fogged for his OAR
ing efforts to get new dress by such dirty means
BAD HousE.-John Thornton and Jane
Wright were before the Mayor, yesterday, to an
swer the charge of keeping a house of evil name
and fame, at the mouth of the alley leading from
Brooke Avenue TO Jefferson street. The parties
held to bail in the of 500 each to appear
at court this morning and answer the charge.
TIpPLING.--Henry Noting, grocery
keeper on Broad street, between 9TH and 9th, was
reported by officers Tyler and Seal, for permitting
an unlawful assembly Of negroes in his house, on
Saturday last, and for selling them liquor to be
drunk in his house, without license. The Mayor
fined him $500 for tippiing and S. for the unlawful
assembly
FALSE PRETENcEs.-Two men called on
Mr.. H. Shultz some few days since, and represent.
ing themselves as the employees OF Mr.. F. Cow.
ling, obtained quantity of ready made clothing
from him to be charged to their employer,
at the same time giving assumed names Mr. S.,
on learning that he had been done for called on
the Mayor Yesterday to procure warrant, and If
the accused parties have not fled the city, we pre-
sumo they will be caisd upon to answer the charge
at once
VIOLENT AgsAULT.-William Cooper, a
tree negro charged with assaulting and beating
with intent to kill, James Madison, free negro
was arrai gned before the Mayor YESTERDAY but
owing to the feebleness of the wounded man who
failed to answer when called the examination was
postponed until the oh of December, and the pri.
soner remanded to jail.
FLASH IN THE PAN.-Bernard Kipksr. a
youngster, appeared before the Mayor, yesterday,
to answer the charge OF stealing pair of boots
from Edward Enroughty on the ed inst. Mr.
f. boarded in the same house where the prisoper
employed, and becoming satisfied that his
boots had been taken by accident, and had been re-
turned to him. he not disposed to see the prose
cution continued. Kinker declared that he went
up to the room at night to get his boots, and acct
dentally got Mr.. Enroughty's leaving his own in
their stead The Mayor cautioned him against the
repetition Of such accidents, and then ordered his
discharge.
PHOENIX BALL.-This grand affair is ra-
pidly approaching, and we doubt not that the
young folk" OF the city all anxiety to witness
its opening. The managers as busy as bees In
perfecting their arrangements, and if the weather