Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-18

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INDICTMENT ON A CHARGE FOR THE MURDER OF
CADET THOMAS BLACKBURN, on THE 18TH OF
JANUARY LAST. ~
= Circuit Court Of RockbriaseJuAss r. Thoa p.on
Pre.idax
hridsnee eiren 10 the jury the iR day (Sh Of aprih
on 6ehaf Of the Commonwealth.
The Grand Jury on yesterday. having brought into
Court an Indictment against the prisoner the Court ad
journed with the understanding that this would be
taken up this morning The prisoner brought the
bar aud the following counsel appeared for the parties
For the Commonw David f. Moore, States Attorney
and Thomas Mchc Of Stauntou, employed assist
prosecution. For the prisoner Hon. A. H. H. Stuart Of
Ssuntou: Charles L. Mosby, Of Lynchburg aud Rober,
L. DOYLE, James B. Dorman Samuel H. Letcher and John
d. Sterrett of Lexington.
The following persons elected sworn and empan-
neled as Jury, to wit Moses j. Ludwick, David Whit
more, John A. Renolds John r Brown James +. Hanil
ton, Joseph w. kelso, WIN. L. Ayres Joseph G. w.
Bell Wm. ". Stewart Zschsriah j. McChesney, Alfred
Douglas and James +. Bell.
The Court then discharged the other venres summon.
cd in the cases Of tho Commonwealth VIM. j. VIM,
the Commonwealth James Robertson until Tuesday
nest The Jury summoned for the trial of civil causes
wefe discharged for the term. The prisoner then
raigned and plead guilty. The following witnesses
examined on behalf OF the Commonwealth, who
tilted follows
last coming along the leading from Mr.
McCleand's house TO the main street, the pavement
McoIeand's house, beard the opposite side
of the noise pair of hay scales that thought
some whipping negro. As approached heard
two persons across the street and little in front Of
me, and my left towards the church, scuing They
made noise as though whipping the other With
stick switch. When had passed them about fifteen
yards they fell in the locked close In each Others
arms opposite the Presbyterian church. but ~, OF the
light from the windows. Nothing said by either.
handed book which had in my hand to a gentleman
wth me, and advanced towards the parties. They
a. advanced, and when got within abou, yard OF
the nearest-they still seemed have hold Of each other
arms length the gave the other a push
from him He fell kimberly like intoxicated across
the street towards the Presbyterian church and towards
Main street. The other party, who low, heavy
dressed genteely in black suit sprang side or
the pavement and stood there short time. advanced
to the person on the ground. He making singular
suuthng noise. al first thought thsI he drunk
When got up TO him say that be Vas a white man !
thought that he might be hurt BY the fall he Law so
still took hold OF his and attempted raise him
up, but he seemed 10 have power OF exertion aud
could do nothing with him. In pulling him discover.
ed that he had Cadets looked his face
aud thought that it wa Cadet Blackburn vhom knew.
then called out that this nearly killed.
his face at first what thought vhskers but which
afterwards found blood. When called out for as
si.tsnce Cadet came up and said that IL Cadet
Blickouru, and knecing down called Mr. Blackburn TO
which he said nothing. Other gentlemen same up and
pulled him CO the hay scales and Que went off
fJr Physicians. We carried hr, the street into
In.
tlin arrived directly and il few inaes ssd he was gone
asked who could have done IT, Some one ssid that the
arsoR bad run down the main street into McDoTes ho
tel called - Wm JoEdsn the Mayor of the town. and
meeting With him with MIN I'D sone others down
10 McDJwels hotel syns that the man who did IL nsI
blood him. We vent through the Office Of the Hotel
aud up the stsirs and then into Mr. Christmas roo-Mr
J0r:an In the meantime having heard that Mr. c. wished
70 give himself up We found Mr. O. there Ill. hair was
Uugn su5 his lace had the appe Of being just wash
cd When Mr. Jordan INTO &r. Christians ROOM Mr.
remarked him that th. ugs scr4pe that have
GOT into, but could rot help it. asked him apologize
ut he would not told hi that he gentleman.
Nr. Jordan then told him his clothes and with
nim-l then left before the ended On the
morning returned the spot where the rencUuuter
mad taken place the previous ughtE saw, the point
here the parties FIRST down, considerable quantity
1 blood on the ground OF an elPtical form. At the
Jcilt where Mr.. Bnckourn vas lying when got him.
here also considerable quantity Of blood The
place about fifteen feet from the first, and the
layscales There no blows after tbs parties
together. Mr.. Christian 10 when they arose
and Mr. B. the opposite side when theJ arose.
that suppose that Christian under d. when on the
ground They were not down more than fifteen seconds
and seemed to be quiet the ground FROM their ST.
ienCe, supposed that they fighting and not scUf-
Org. The pavement McClei4nds side and on the op
side from the church. liz up from the windows
of said church. Il was very dark night-Ihe ground
damp. The boEs Inflicted before the parties TO
the ground quick and rapid though they
Inflicted by switch. When first them they were
on the ground. There vas short time after them,
that attention taken from them in sending lady
to the church by the other gentleman with me- I could
not tell the point the morning, exactly, where
they had been down. but seeing the blood supposed that
the place. knew both Mr. b. and Mr.. O. knew
Mr.. b very we'll. Mr.. Christian habituaiy wore nous.
ache when saw him before but il off that night
II be had had mous;ache that night think that
would have recognized him when he sprang aside on the
pavement B. larger heavier and taller man than
Mr.. G. suppose that Mr. b. would weigh loo pounds
aud Mr.. c. about 40 pounds. Mr.. B was very well
made man, thick set, and little desby There did not
appear TO be much blood the point where the parties
down together, where Blackburn last fell near the
hsyscses; but at the first point il several days after
and after considerable rain that there been
| good deal there.
CROSS EIANISATIoS.