The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-03

RE-ARREsr AND EXAMINATION OF Fer.
| GUsos As soon as John L. Ferguson was dscharg
| ed by the Henrico County Court yesterday on
| account of informally In the committing warrant
he was taken before Justice George III Savage and
| examined on the charge Of stabbing Henry L God
| din, on the Goth OF December last. Messrs Crump
| and August appeared tor the defence, and Mr.
| Young for the Commonw ealth. We give below the
| evidence.
| HearyI GoadiH, sworn.-Durng the State Agri.
cultural Fair, did some work for Ferguson as a
| carpenter Three weeks ago last Saturday step
ped into his barber shop, when he asked me tor my
bl remarking that other men were in the habit OF
| sending ia their claims as soon as the work was
| completed while had waited to be sent for
| then gave him the bill for my work, amounting to
| $40, which he looked at and remarked that he
| would not pay it | asked him what | should do,
| and il should have my work measured. He re-
| piled ayes" I Immediately called on Mr. a. l..
| West to measure the JOB, and on the following
Wedne sday he did making the cost OF the work
| amount TO $33.16 The bill for this amount sent
to Ferguson, which he refused to pay, and which
gave to Constable Childrey for collection. From
| that time until Friday afternoon last, had no
| turtle conversation with Ferguson. On that af-
| ternoon between the hours of 3 and o'clock, the
prisoner came 70 my back are, on 3lst ST., Church
| Ifil and pulled at il, which started my dogs who
i flew at him and would have prevented his entering
| the yard if he had designed doing So He then
| went to my front gate and knocked, when my wife
| looked out and informed me that some one wanted
| to me. | was sitting in my up stairs room at
| the time reading newspaper, but Immediately laid
| it down and went to the door. Ferguson said he
had called to settle with me, and supposing that he
intended paying my bill, walked out in the street
to him. He then offered me $50 Tor what he owed
me. told him | would not take it-that he had
| put me to great deal of trouble about it. and that
| | must have the whole or none. With this he re-
| marked, that before got IT. would have to spend
| one or two hundred dollars. Considering this i'm
pertinent said to him, you are not white man,
and hOr11H mats an n N Ia face fur cd
red, but he made no reply
| We were both walking along together, the pri-
| souer being two feet in advance OF me, and had
| gone half square, when saw him put his RIG hit
hand in his pocket but suspecting attack thought
nothing OF is The first thing knew he threw his
coat from hs right shoulder TO his left, and turing
suddedly around, made cut at me, which warded
off with my left hand AS Mr.. FrOman had lust
passed u.s. and was but short distance of, went
| 10 him and got him to accompany to DIR. Smell.
| ngs' Office, My fingers were nearly severed, and
| from the loss OF blood became quite sick While
| at Dr. SIS Office, Ferguson came up aud asked me
| if WAS cut. told him he had ruined me. He
then went off about seventy five yards and returned
to the ofce remarkng that il there any shoot
| ing to be done, he could do his part | had said
| nothing about shooting. He made but one blow at
me. had used no threat TO him ia language, tone
or manner, and 81 far from striking him had not
| laid my hand on him.
J. II Froman, sworn.-P Passed Mr. Goddins
| house Friday afternoon. The prisoner and G were
|
| AS did SO heard Ferguson say, 80 you contend
| for the whole bill Without stopping, heard Fer
guson reply to some remark OF Goddin's :" it will
cost you hundred or two to get it." GOddin then
said you are no white man and shall not talk to
me 500 continued to walk on and both parties
followed me. When got to the of the street
| | stopped and looked towards them. AS did so, |
| saw the prisoners am going down, as II making a
blow, and Goddin's arm move, as if to end il off,
| Ferguson Immediately came TO me and said Goddin
had struck at him and cut his hand. went with
| GtoDrS While there Ferguson came up and
| asked G. il he cut. q told him he WAS ruined
Ferguson went of, but returned in a short time and
said if any shooting was to be done, he could do his
| part Saw give F. no blow They were in TWEEN
| ty yards of When +. where was he
| seemed sorry. F. had knife in hand in stabbing
position when he came where was.
| james Lindsay, sworn-Heard of accident, and
| pursued Ferguson. +. told him Goddin cut himself
Went with F. to DR.. s. Heard r. tell G. he cut his
ing his nails with the knife when g. gave the blow
Goddn told prisoner to away, he wanted nothins
to do with him. Ferguson seemed to misund ersrand
the remark. and replied - II any shooting is to be
| done can do some, too" r. seemed sorry the acct
| dout happened.
Drs William o. Seedlings and Tho,n as Johnson de.
scribed the wound as severe, and possibly might lie ad
| to the loss of the of one finger. DR. johnson
thought both parties had been taking Christmas DR.
S said he had given G. two stiff drinks before DR.. j
/ saw him.
| The Commonwealth being through with the evi.
| dence, the defence introduced Messrs I'll L. Kent
l.. N Elicit, John NJ. Gregory, n. c. Eggeston, Jno
Brooks, Dr.. John Dove, an a number of other gen.
tlemen, all of whom gave the prisoner the hghes,
character for honesty sobrety industry, aniabeness
| OF temper &c Each of the witnesses looked upon
Ferguson as q man of excellent and irreproachable
character.
As soon the defence was through the counsel on
both sides submitted the Justice Savage with
out argument, when he promptly discharged the &C
cused believing the cutting to have been purely acc
| dental.