Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-07-23
DREADFUL AFFAIR IN GEORGEToWN,
ONE MAN KILLED.,
GEORGETOWN, July q

UEohGEToWS, jay 70.
Scarcely had the ink dried on our letter OF
yesterday, in which we took occasion to &C m
mend the political scions Of our city for their
quiet and lamb-like department for the last
week or so, before the moral ssnsibilities of
the entire community were shocked and hor-
rihed by most disgraceful riot which re-
suited in the death of one of the parties en-.
gagged in it The facts, as far as we could
gather them from some of the jurors of in
quest and others, eye witnesses, are as follows
1t appears that a misunderstanding has ex.
listed for some time between an individual by
the name of James Semmes and another named
bernard Magee Yesterday evening, about
o clock, Semmes mustered a party in the
lower part of the town to cut down the Demo.
Sratic pole, which stands at the crossing of
Market and Fourth streets. and in the imme-
date neighborhOod of Magee's dwelling.
Opon the arrival Of the party at the MOLE.
Magee, in whose charge it had been placed
warned them against interfering with it, as
did also E. Wright, ESQ, before thew
reached the ground. Neither warning nor
persuasion, however, was sufficient to induce
enem 70 desist from their mischievous conduct
"A young man by the name of Hillary
hutching advanced to the pole and commenced
| cutting it down with an axe while Semmes
remained near them with loaded gun in hand
to protect him while committing the act
Magee, who was standing in his own house.
seeing Semmes looking very suspiciously TO.
wards him, holding his gun in an attitude "a
tnough about to raise it to his face for the DUR
pose of discharging it in that direction, fred
| from his dwelling, and a portion Of the shot
| took effect in Semmes' face and body. Sem.
mes and several of his companions, armed
WITH the gun, pistols, and knives, made a rush
Tor Magee S house Semmes entered e rst and
as ne did so, Magee fired another shot at him,
which took effect also Magee then retreated
up stairs, pursued by Semmes and his party,
ana just as he lSemmes) reached the landing
killing him dead on the spot Magee then
made his escape out of his house through a
back window, still pursued by the mob and
after running some distance, took refupe in
the store of Mr.. Uriah ACCT, who protected
him from the violence of his pursuers until he
found an opportunity to 60 out to Washington
Marshal. - 'n'
Coroner Thos. Woodward held an ;nouss,
| over the body Of Semmes, and the iurv after
nearing all the facts In the case, as far "a
facts could be had. rendered a verdict that
ne came to his death by three shots firsd
IRON gun or guns in the hands of one Der.
nard Magee.'
This is the second attempt which has been
| made by some Of the same parties engaged in
the riot last night to cut down this pole. On
| or about the Sd of July a similar attempt was
made, but those engaged in it were deferred
from carrying out their design by force of SUI.
periOr numbers.
1t may be proper for us to remark here that
Semmes, although acting in concert with mem.
| Ders OF the Know Nothing party, by guarding
the Individual with a loaded gun who was
cutting the pole, is not, as far as we can learn.
member of their councils The dif6cnJty
between him and Magee grew out of some ri.
valry In business, and the hatred thus epeen-
dered caused Semmes to muster the partV tn
destroy the pole, which was, as we before re.
marked, In charge of Magee Both of them
Magee and Semmes, are natives of George.
town. Sp,c.e
Note'-Another account says that Magee' q
| first shot was directed far above the heads Of
the party engaged in destroying the pole, and
that thereupon Semmes went over to Maaee's
house and entering the door snapped his gun
twice at Magee in two efforts to shoot him.
Whereupon, Magee fred the second shot, Ia.
king effect on Semmes' face, and very shortly
afterwards the third shot which killed Semmes.
Ssmmes had been in the penitentiary.