The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-05

time Of the night II Was when Guy and the watch
came. Q. Did Decker seem angry with Murphy,
with him; they all seemed to be in q passion;
Holmes was at my house when Captain Guy came
he was lying down on the bench.
The examination Of this witness closed here, aud
he left the stand apparently much relieved and the
evening being advanced, the Court adjourned until
next morning at 10 IL clockthe Jury ayin0 been
put in charge of William X. Storrs, b. S., aud the
prisoner remanded to Jail.
WEDNESDAY, July rs, 1865.
Court met according to adjournment the court
room being throDged with anxious and excited spec
tators. The prisoner was brought in, and in few
minutes his mother came into court and took seat
by his side He shook hands with her. and bore evil
dent marks Of anxiety and agitation. The jury APP
peared fatgued, but were very attentive and Or
derby.
The witnesses ard jurors having been called. and
replied to their names,
Jerry Vaughan was brought to the stand aud sworn
He testified a. foows:-
On the night Of the murder Murphy came to my
house. between eight and nine o'clock. and proposed
to me to take walk; told him could not 60 at
that time; about ten or eleven o'clock we left my
house together, and went to the Virginia and North
Carolina Hotel, where We took drink; after walk.
Ing around for some time stopping occasionally to
j
late let's go home he replied mo, let's 90 around
to Harrisons. and see what's going on" went with
him to HarrisOn's, where we met the prisoner after
little talk, prisoner offered TO bet that he could
run q hundred yards in fifteen seconds; ! said
would take the bet, when he backed out but said he
would bet on seventeen seconds; ] told him would
not bet on that, for knew a young man that could
run it in sixteen and half seconds; was standing
in front of and leaning on the COUNTER Decker WAS
standing Immediately in front OF me. also leaning
on the counter; we were standing face to
face; Decker then offered to bet live dollars
that he could whip any man in the house that did
not weigh more than a hundred and fifty pounds.
Harrison then interfered aud said there should be
fighting in his house; Decker and Patsy wanted a
candle to go into the back yard and fight; bat Har.
rson refused it, and said there should be no fighting
on his premises after while Decker remarked TO
me, "Y0u are going to have an election here In Vir
ginia, shortly" / replied, Eyes, and think the
Know Nothings will give them beans" he then said.
ITO hell with the Know N0things and the vnginians
too, you all mongrels, and not the clean grit;
there's not man nor boy over twelve years OF age
that don't carry weapons" said "That amt 20. and
run my hand into my pocket and pulled out my
knife (the same knife that have now. showing a
small penknfe and said this is all the weapon that
! carry;" Decker then called me damned liar, and
| called him one; he then called me damned lying
son of a -, and struck me- knocking my hat of,
and making bruise on my nose Murphy. who was
at my back, then stepped to my right, and struck
Decker did not see any blood from the blow; Har-
rison then interfered and said that there should be
no fighting in his house, and the fuss was all over:
Decker then resumed the conversation about running
hundred yards in fifteen seconds just then Gose.
line came up and said to Murphy, what did you
strike him for?" (meaningD Murphy replied.
didn't strike you, did Iy' and then Decker exclaimed
I'm have revenge before morning." Decker and
Gasoline then left the house; in about ten or IF.
teen minutes Murphy and myself len, aud pro.
posed to go home; Murphy replied, "Let's go
down to Sam Rea's and get drink we went down
Main street. and when we got to Rea's lane looked
down and saw that his lamp before his door OUT
told Murphy that Rea was closed; he then said.
"Wel, let's go down to Pepper's' on our way down,
just as we got to Mckeevers lane, heard fOotstep
and saw Decker come out Of the lane; said TO him.
What do You want here!' he replied, Nothing much
nothing with you; but that damned son OF u -,
Ill have his hearts blood before morning." (mcan-
ing Murphy; Gasoline then came up and said, "Gvc
it to him now" he replied, "No LII give it to him
another time, when have better opportunity" /
then run my hand in my oyercoat pocket, thinking
to intimidate him, and said, "You had better go
aboard and go TO Sleep they then went down the
lane, and Murphy and myself walked down the street
together to Herman's corner, and stood talking few
minutes; Murphy told me that he was going TO sell
beer in the market again, and that Harrison was
going to loan him the money to start with: remark.
ed to him, "It's late and am going home, aud you
had better go too;' said, "Yoa had better not 90
mp town any more, for il you meet those fellows
(meaning Decker and Goselne) they II beat YOU like
tho dev;"I said, "You had better 90 through Talbot
street, and go home that way" he said he would;
replied, "Well, go on and III stand here and watch
YOU" watched him until he crossed the street and
turned down Freeman's corner; when he was out OF
sight immediately left, went straight home and
went to bed after was undressed looked at the
clock, 1t lacked three minutes of two o'clock;
that's oil know about the matter; heard nothing
Of it until was reused by the officer. O. Did
you gay that Decker went down Mckeever's lane :?
A. He went into the lane but how far down don't
know. Q. Are you certain that Decker is one Of
the men that met you at the head of the lane? A.
Yes; saw him and talked with him; there is
lamp at the head OF the lane. Q. What kind Of a
hat did he have on? A. A whitish hat, with black
ribbon around it. Q. Did you see Murphy after his
death A. Yes. Q. Did he have any bruise on
him. A. Yes; brnise over one Of his eyes, but /
don't remember which. q. Did you see any weapon
in Deckers hands A. No. e. How long were
you with Murphy, that night? A. From hafpast
ten to eleven o'clock until / parted with him at
Herman's corner. q. Do you remember how he was
dressed? A. He had on a brown coat. Q. DO you
think you could recognize the clothing if sou were
to see them A. think could. (The coat and
vest OF the unfortunate man were here produced,
and recognized by the Witness they were stained
with blood and cut in several places in the breast
and back.) Q. Did you drink at Harison's? A.
No. z. What time was it when Murphy and your.
self went to Harrison'si A. | think it was about
one o'clock Murphy proposed to go to Harrison's TO
see what was going on, and / agreed. Q. When
Decker struck YOU why did you not return the blow?
A. should have done so, but Harrison interfered,
and said there should be no fighting in his house.
between Holmes and Decker A. No. q.
How long was it after Decker struck you
before he left Harrisonsy A. II might have
have been ten or fifteen minutes; did not see them
when they left; Decker got his coat down from he.
hind the bar, and went out. Q. Did the blow that
Murphy gave Decker canse bruisey A. No,
think not, did not see any bruise. Y. Did you zee
. man living on settee at Harrison's! A. ! a
man lying there, but don't know who he was q.
When you met Decker at Mckeever's lane, who
spoke hrstf a. spoke first, Murphy did not speak
% all. y. Did yon think Decker intended to kill
Murphy a. No; thought he was going 70 beat
him only. q. What was the precise remark that he
made! A. He said !" That id son Of b-h, I'll
have his hearts blood before morning. q. Was this
said in an angry manner (The counsel for the
defence objected to the question: the ground that
the Commonwealth had only TO produce facts and
must not allow the witness to state what he thought
WAS the manner Of the accused. The Court thought
that tie manner Of the accused, when he made the
threat, was an important fact, and decided that the
question was correct one) a. This was sad in an
ted tnnn H.. At.o.