Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-11
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

WITH MuRDER--The sueIoined letter, giving
the initial proceedings in the trial Of Jas p. Don
nelly, late Of this city, charge Of murder, will
be read with interest
IL will be remembered that on the morning Of
the lst Of August, the keeper OF the Sea View
House, Nevasink, N. j., named Albert 5. Moses
was heard crying murder, and was found in his
bed with his throat cut and bleeding profusey.
He died soon after, but previously stated that
James p. Donnelly-then acting book keeper
OF the hOuse-had killed him that during the
night they had been gambling together; that the
deceased had won money of Donnellv and that
the assassination was the result Of desperate
resolution on the part of DOnnelly to recover the
money. 1t was, however, cOntended by the
friends of DOnnelly that the blows inflicted were
not such as would have been delivered by one
quainted with surgery, as Donnelly was, and the
direct accusation made by Moses was accounted
for by suppOsing that he greatly excited and
seeing Donnelly first after receiving the wounds
accused him. 1t was also claimed that the man
might have committed suicide while temporarily
deranged and that under Authorization he attrib-
uted the deed to DOnnelly:
FREEHOLD, Monmouth Co, MD
August ith, 1851.
Editor Of the Star Having no doubt that the
many friends Of - Doc, - p. Donnelly of Wash
ingtOn ID. c., who is about to be tried for murder
are anxious to know how he conducts himself
trNlDG ana desperate circumstances in
which he Is placed, / take the liberty of sending
the hrSt days proceedings in his trial.
The September term of Monmouth court COM
menced on Tuesday, Judge Vudenburgh presi-
ding, assisted by Judges ThOckmorton. Fourm
and Clifford.
On Thursday, the court room was crowded with
people from all parts of the State and Union, at
tracted by sympathy for the accused, and to
witness one of the greatest trials that has ever
taken place in this State. The clerk calls
SGoTder !" all ewes are on one doc. II opens and
man cd in deem lack ontp he
room; he is accompanied by the sheriff and dep
uty; he walked with unfatering steps to the bar
Of the court. Having reached the bar, he stops
and bows to the digntaries of the court That
bow could not be initiated; it was dignifed and
expressive, as much as TO say, g. am here. judge
me as | am, not as they make men
The indictment having been read by Joel Par
ker, the District Attorney-whose trembling was
noticed by all-Mr. Donnelly was required to
plead to the Question-Guilty or not guilty. Rails
ing himself to his full height and throwing back
his head, he said i am not guilty, sir!
Having been asked II he was ready for trial. he
responded in clear, decided, and unhesitating
.'May it please the honorable court cannot
state definitely this morning when shall be Tea-
dy for nv trial. am here a stranger, in a strange
community far from nv home, my relatives and
my friends; and it is my wish and desire to have
them here. There are many of them travelling
through the different States, and from whom |
have not yet heard; and il is highly necessary in
Justice to them and myself that should hear
from them know that the honorable gentlemen
would not ask for the delay were il not necessary.
crave for nothing, demand justice. have not
yet seen portion of my counsel; and il is also
important for me that should have interview
with them before | can give definite answer as 10
when ! shall be ready for trial. | am more anx-
iOus, than any one here, that my trial should be
proceeded with as soon "a possible | wish to be
returned to the bosom of my family, and to be
freed from the caprices Of that which seems
mysteTiOusly to haunt me l ask for a stay in the
proceedings, and will give the Court a definite
answer tomorrow morning"
His counsel, Hon. Amazi c. Mclean, said that
important witnesses Were absent-that others had
been sent out of the State, and that every thing
has been done to injure Mr.. Donnelly's cause that
could be-yet, Notwithstanding all this, Mr.. DON
nelly was more anxious for his trial than any
in that room, but il would be unjust to the pris-
oner to proceed at once.
The prosecutor, Joel Parker, said: alt is a
delicate thing to press such matter; but il is
better. both for the prisoner and the state, that
such cases should be determined soon as pos
sible after the Transportation Of the event"
Judge The prisoner shall have until 10
O'Clock, a. m, Tomorrow, to make answer when
be shall be ready for trial. The case must pro-
coed this term. At that time the court will de-
teTmine the day, unless the defendant fixes his
own time. and il is acceptable to the cOurt.'
Mr.. DOnnelly bowed again; and, turning left
the room.
FRIDAY morning the court room was II possible
even more densely crowded than the day pre-
vious-it having been whispered abroad that
Donnelly would again appear and address the
Court He entered precisely at 10 O'Clock, and
informed the Court, through his counsel, that he
could answer the Courts question definitely.
Tuesday, sept Is, 10 a. IN, was fixed as the
day of trial. Bowling, he left the Court. Young
Donnelly appears pale and carewOrn but con-
Quoted himself with tirmneSs and dignity during
the reading Of the indictment and the subsequent
proceed ngS-appeaTing an earnest listener. We
have met him in many different positions before.
but never did he appear to such advantage as
when addressing the Court. His department
anly-marked, but not studied-unmiS-
takably Indicating by his manner and style of
speaking that he possesses superior education
and hail he has Vplpd with adj anta1R
His counsel are the Hon. A. G.. NJ. Pennington,
Hon. J. p. Brady, Hon \. G. Mclean. and two
others. Counsel for the state, Hon. w. l.. Day
ton, Attorney General Of this State, and Joel
Parker, States Attorney.
The great legal learning engaged in this trial.
the past character and high standing of the ac-
cusetl. and the peculiar features Of the murder
are circumstances that tend TO draw an immense
crowd TO this place.
tied the Jail. We found Donnelly engaged In an
earnest conversation with some friends He APP
pears most cheerful, and we heard him say,
- hen am in that court room feel more like
myself fear nOthing-all rests with God" His
cell is well and comfortably furnished, and his
meals are procured from the hotel. He uses 10
stimulants, and sieePs-to use the jailOr's term
81 like top"
There were but few dry eyes when he was adj
dressing the court and, though the details of the
bloody affair are still fresh in the minds Of the
people, he is rapidly gaining their sympalhies
il Is hard 10 believe that he committed the mur-
der-l never will. IL he did, it most assuredly
not with malice afoTethOught. We truSt
again TO see his nimble tread on the avenue
and meet him in his old familia: haun's in Wash
in2ton.
The hotels are all crowded by persons from
Long Branch, Cape May, and other parts-all
congregated to witness the trial. Many are disap-
pointed, as they understood il was Tuesday next.
instead Of Tuesday, the 18Th; still, they deter
mined TO wait. p w
The CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS are progressing
with an uniform celebrity in all the various
branches of the work likely to bewilder any one
who does not visit the scene Of the works every
day and note the changes made about the place
One visits the new House of Represe natives and
sees the busy workmen engaged in putting the
finishing strokes 10 the beautiful iron gallery
which surrounds the new hall in a few DAYS a
chance visit exhibits the new hall with the gal
leTy completed and the floor of the House laid
The sewer which Is being built to drain the cap
ttol was commenced some nineteen DAYS ago and
Is to be 200 feet in length, with a fall OF about