The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-12-28
MURDER OF THE U. S. MAaSIiAL.

One of the most cQwardly and heartiess acts
Of murder that we have been called uioa to re-
cord was committed Saturday evening in pub
lie ihoroughfarp in one Of the most frrGueatPd
sections Of the city. The victim, William Fl.
Richardson, was gentleman highly esteemed
hy large circle of friends in tins city, and oc-
cupird high official position in the State
From all we are able TO gather il appears that
Mr. Richardson had some trifiine difficulty with
a man. named Charles Cora. Mutual friends
nterlered in the matter and it was supposed
that the diffc9ty had been amicabIy adjusted.
About s O'Clock last evening. Mtssrs. Rich
arls0n and Cora were noticed standing in front
Of McAlster's building on Clay street, below
Montgomery. Several persons, 10 whom both
parties were known, werr Standing near by, and
presently Mr. Richardson was heard To remark :;
swell, is it all right" Cora replied =
s'Yes." They continued TO coHVersr in a low
tone for some minutes, and hy this time Cora
had taken hold of the coat collar OF the other
With the left hand. Richardson suddenly ex-
claimed sfWhat are von going to DO Don't
shoot me: am unarmpd' At this, Cora pro-
duced a small sjagIe-barreled pistol, aud before
he could be prevented, shot Richardson through
the heart.
The acton was so sudden and unexpected,
that the witnesses were for a moment pqraIy-
Zrd, and Cora held his victim against the wall
otthe house for the space OF few seconds, and
then suddenly relaxed his grasp, walked away,
bat was arrested and placed in the custody of
officer Russell, who hastened with him TO the
Police station. Richardson was taken into the
drug store of hIessrS Keith x Co. at the cor
ner OF Montgomery and Clay streets, where he
expired almost immediately. An immense
crowd immediately congrtgated in that yiclnI-
ty, and it was found necessary to take the body
OF the murdered man to some more secluded
place, and 1t was finally taken to the private
olhce Of the Clerk of the L. S. District Court.
BY this time very large and excited crowd
bad assembled, completely blocking up the pas
sage Of Montgomery street, for distance of two
blocks
Atthis time there could not be less than three
thousand persons present. The utmost excite
ment prevailed. The fearful cry Of Chang
hIm. hang him" was raised. The public
pulse beat at a leveriSh rate, and it is more
lhaa probable that if the enlprt had been with
IN reach, be would have been executed on the
spot, Several persons addressed the assembIage
N iavor of hanging Cora at once, while others
counseled submission to the laws, and spoke ~
Avor OF the maintenance Of law and order. 1t
was hnaIIy put to the yote-a storm Of ayes and
noes followed 1t was found impossible to de-
eide whether there bad been a majority in favor
o. o. or against hanging without recourse to law.
le assembly shortly afterwards broke up into
little knots, in which the enorm;ty Of the crime
which had just been committed was discussed in
very excited manner. Others rushed to the
Aation-housp in order to ascertain what disPo-
fllon had been made of the prisoner.
IN The meantIme, Cora was conveyed to the
station house, and on being searched, two Der
myers were found on his person, ore Of which
"ao but recently been discharged. When the
CFo~d began to gather about the station house,
'le Officers became alarmed for the safety OF their
prisoner, and determined upon placing him in
me county jail, for greater security. He was
Ie'oTdngly removed there. During the whole
u 'n'se proceedings, Cora displayed the utmost
''''hFSs, and seemed never 10 have lost his pres
r"ce ol mind. During the walk from the sta
''oa house 20 the county Jail, he appeared some
|'at agItated, and apprebended that he might
oe taken out Of the hands otthe officers by the
.Ac'ted people, frequently looking back TO ascef-
TAN II be was pursued.
De coroner's jury. which subsequently, sat
upon the body. returned verdict of prcmelita-