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

Interesting Trial for Murder In Virginia.
SPECIAL TERM OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY
OF NORFOLK.
Commonwealth Of Virginia rs. John Decker, Of Sta.
ten Island, ". y, Charged Nth the Murder Of
John Murphy
Hon. Richard H. Baker, Judge.
MORE WITNESSES UPON THE sTAND-TEsTIMONY OF
OF YESTERDAY.
Q. Where is your house located? A. On Met
calf's lane. Q. How long have you lived there?
A. For two years. Q. Where did you see the prison
er first on the night Of the murder A. At Mr.
Rhea's bar, on Rheas lane, about or o'clock; I
get all my liquors, &C., from Rhea; the prisoner
asked me to drink with him and did 80. O. Was
he drunk at that time? A. He was somewhat ex.
cited BY liquor, but not drunk. Q. How long after
that it before the prisoner came to your house?
A. In about twenty minutes; don't know whether
he came alone; was at the bar, but don't know
whether be drank there. Q. Do not persons visit
ing your house generally drink there2 A. Yes, but
frequently do not; think nothing Of it when they
do not. Q. How long did the prisoner remain?
A. Not long-he soon went out; after a while he
returned to my house. Q. Was he drunk then,
A. No, he was not drunk, but had been drinking
@. When do you consider man drunk? A. think
u
he returned to my house about IL O'Clock; prisoner
was under the excitement Of liquor, but not drunk;
he offered to bet IS that he would whip any man in
the house, that did not weigh more than $50 lbs;
Vaughan asked me to loan him ss offered it to
him, but put it back in my pocket; Vaughan wanted
to bet on Patsey; Patsey came to my house drunk.
Q. Did you not say before the examining court
that there was Dutchman present also?
A. Yes; there was Dutchman there, but be came
to my house drunk, and was asleep on settee; he
did not get up until next morning. @ Was not
man named Holmes present? A. Yes Holmes was
there; he had been drinking Holmes and the pri-
soner squared of for fight; told them they
should not fight; saw no blow struck that night;
the squaring of between Holmes and Decker had no
connection with the other affair. q. Had Decker
ever been In your house before The night Of the
MURDER A. Yes; saw Decker IN ny house some
three OF -four weeks before the thing happened
had some conversation with him, aud asked him If
he knew Capt. Williamson Decker of Staten Island
Q. Did ] understand you 10 say that you keep pub
lie house, A. Yes; have a tavern license. Q. DO
You keep accommodation for fraveliersg A. Yes.
Q. How many stables have youl A. have no sta
bes on my lot, but have made arFan geInenss with
Mr.. Rhea to board twelve horses at his stable II me-
cessary. O. Have you ever entertained n man and
horseI A. Yes: some few months since n man APP
piled for board for himself and horse. and accom-
modated him 2 z. How long did he remain At your
house A.. The best part Of the day--long enough
to have his horse fed. Y. DO you have any perma.
ment boardersg A. Not always. q. DO YOU have
female boarders well male Yes sometimes.
O. Have you any female boarlers now A. Yes.
have four o. Are they respectable virtuous women
A. decline answering that question: YOU have
no right TO inquire into my private matters.
Counsel-But insist ON your replying ~ the ques.
fion. a. II u not a proper question aad will not
answer u. (Tbe counsel referred the question 20 the
Judge. who decided that IL was n proper one and
must I've answered.) Y. Now, then. will you tell me
If these female boarders Of your are respectable.
virtuous women A. Il is not for me TO know If
they are respectable; they pay their way. Y. DO
you ever have any dancing In your hou-eg A. Some.
times, but have not had any lately. O. DO the
as well - the men, engage IN dancing and drinking
at the bar7 A. Yes; they sometimes drink and
sometimes dance. Q. Does each Of these females
occupy separate roong A. Yes. Y What rate of
board do they pay A. From three % four dollar
week Y DO you consider your an orderly hoGse'
A. Yes livery seldom have any disturbance there.
z. How many persons visit your house Of q night
A. have seen ~ high a. three hundred there Of
night, when ship Of war has been paid on. " How
~ he m5rder, WEI WgIe ~ your h,h.e the night
teen probably, hundred. q. lid tie prisoner have
his coat on when he came into your hot1...s Ieant
say whether he had u on OF on; when he came for
his coat behind the bar, there were not more than
seven or eight persons in the room: the women mad
gone TO bed; am as satisfied that Il wa Decker'.
voice a. that am now alive believe he sald he
would have his hearts blood or satisfaction -.
lieve that | said both before the Mayor. I
think he said both; did not think anythnr
would come Of the threats, ~ | have frequently
heard them made by persons andeg tie excitement
of drink. Q. How long was IL after Vaughan and
Murphy left your house before Captain Gay carnes
A. II may have been half or three quarters OF an
hour before Captain Coy came, and said Murphy
vas stabbed; before Guy came Two waiohmen toll
me OF H. O. Can you not state distinctly slai time
Of the NIGHT L YNsg A. can't say carla aLr ashn,