The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-19
LOCAL MATTERS.
EXAMINATION OF
NIMROD II. DICKINSON.
EEyoRE TIE HusTISas COURT or kicHNoyp,
CHARGED WITH TUg MURDER OF

| LrOHnus.
| Yesterday being the day fixed upon for the ex-
animation of SIaRoD b. Dickinson. charged with
the murder of JeHN G. HALkY, ON the 18th of 0cto-
Der last, at the State Agricultural Fair Grounds.
the Court room in the City hall was densely crosd
cd with spectators TO get glimpse at the prisoner
| and to hear the evidence in the cause. Some few
minutes before IL o'clock, the prisoner, attended
| by his friends, appeared in the Court room and
/ took his seat in the criminal dock.
As soon as the Court was organized the Recorder
presiding, Mr.. Daniel had the list of witnesses for
| the Common wealth called over and most OF them
answering to their names, he announced his resdi-
| ness to proceed with the prosecution. Messra
| Crump and August, counsel for the defence. had
their witnesses called. but none of them answered.
Col. August moved the Court to coutinne the ex-
animation until the January term. as his client
after using all due diligence, had failed to procure
| the attendance of his witnesses. lie assured the
Court that the prisoner was anxious to have the
examination gone into-that he had no disposition
/ to shrink from full and fair investigation into
| the unfortunate affair charged against him, or he
would not have voluntarily delivered himself into
/ the hands of the law Tor trial. The Cefasnon-
wealth could sustain no injury by the continuance,
as the Circuit Court did not sit until April; and
| examining Courts had been instituted tor the
especial beneht Of persons accused with crime, he
/ hoped that hissclicnt would be allowed reasona-
| BILE opportunity to get such witnesses were
deemed essential to the fair investigation of the
charge which not only involved the life of the
eused, but what was far dearer to him aud his
/ lations, his character as an honorable man aud
| good citizen. If an examination is now forced
| upon him, when he is not ready To make his de-
fence, one-sded statement will he sent forth ny
the representatives OF the press now IN ATTENDANCE
and that statement may have the effect of prejudg
| ing the accused by the very community in which
he is to be tried. The delay asked for, not 70
prejudice the Commonwealth or thwart the ends
of Justice but because the counsel of the accused
| knew that there were absent witnesses whose
presence were material to the defence.
Mr.. Daniel thought the counsel for the defence
had acted right in seeking delay it they desired
1t; but as an act OF Justice to tue CommonTe attn
he felt bound to oppose the motion. This was the
| second term in which this had been called,
| and yet the defence had not n witness in Court
lie madeno objection 10 the continuance before. be-
cause he thought the defence probably had not had
time to ascertain what witnesses were needed on
| that side.
Judge Crump hoped the motion would prevail.
| and that continuance would be granted. 1t he
were to listen to his client, who must go back to
| his dungeon suffering from i'll health and drag
ging after him endless chain of anxiety that is
now wearing away his life he would ask for no in-
| dugence, but knowing the nateriailty Of one OF
the witnesses, he could not consent to go on with
| the cause.
On taking the vote on the motion Of Col. August,
| the Recorder announced that a majority OF the
Court overrnled the motion; and that the exani-
| nation must proceed.
| The prisoners counsel then asked to be allowed
| a few moments conference with him, which was
granted. On their return into Court, Col. August
presented the following paper, which lie asked TO
| have entered upon the record:
| ''Nmrod b. Dickinson. who stands charged with
the murder of John T.. Haley, being, this day call
ed up for examination, and having submitted Il
motion TO continue the same upon the ground Of
the absence OF material witnesses, and whose at
tendance he had been unable to secure by the most
active diligence aided by the process OF the court,
| aud the court having overruied his motion for u
continuance and the decision being one to which
no bill Of exceptions eau be filed he hereby ten
| deTs his waiver of examination because his
| cannot now be fully and fairly heard, aud consents
TO be reIuanded without such examination for trial
to the Cireuit Court, aud he prays that this waiver
may be entered upon the records"
! DIR. Daniel did net object TO the 'waiver, being
| entered of record, but thought the Court wac
obliged 10 examine some of the witnesses, so as tu
be able to send u proper record to the Circui'
Court.
Messrs August and Crump argued at length t.
prove that the prisoner had the right to waive al
examination.
1he U5urt decided that the examination coult
not be legally waived; but that the witnesses mus
be heard.
Judge CrUmp then appealed to the Court T.
chang its decision aud give the prisoner unit
| the next term to get his witnesses. The Court h
felt assured, must be satisfied that the prisono
was not seeking to gain time, and rs the Common
wealth could sustain no injury by the delay, h'
thought 1t but act of justice to his client tha
| the time asked for should be given.
| The Recorder took the vote on reconsideration
| and majority of the Court refused 10 change il
first dec sion.
1he Clerk then called the following witnesses fol
the Commonwealth each OF whom answered to theii
| names Philip u. spindle, Thomas Rutherford
| Henry c. Neidt, Henry Dabuey, David B. Bridg
ford, j. Woodson Smith, Wiley f.Jackson, Richard
Z. MundIn and John Hitchcock.
| After the witnesses were sworn they were exam
ined in the following order
| Richard 1. MandtR-This thing occurred at the
Fair GrouRd5 on a Thursday. l SAW Dickinson and
Haley in scufiie, and left my bar and went be
tween them. ID. asked me if | had anything to dc
| with it.. | told him no, only didn want a fuss
iii the bar room. then left them To return TO the
bar. Haley and Dickinson were standing near The
end of the dining table, which ran along the mid
die of the boJth with each side OF 1t. Hale
| sat down on side and / think Dickinson sal
down on the other. / don't know how long they
| sat there. When the stabbiDg occurred, / weni
round to Haley. He said "Dick I'm stabbed
Tell my wife and my son by" When Dickinson
drew the knife out OF Haley, he raised it Up anc
| started off. / caught hold of him. lie said be
| would give himself up. The booth run from North
| to-South The bar was at the South end, and as
was tending it, l faced totne North, in the direc
tion of the dining table. Haley was attending Il
the snacks. Dickinson received blow, but die
not see it given heard no conversation between
Dickinson and Haley. When they both sat down Il
the table, l thought the difficulty between then
was ended. Dickinson got the knife I ON the sans
side of the table on which he sitting Did moi
see D. when he got the knife Cannot say how
long it was from the time the parties weie separat
ed, until the stab was given. A long bladed carv
ing knife was exhibited, which the witness identi
ned as ghe with which the stab was Inflicted.
IHiHp G. Spindle of HanoVer-0n the day ot til,
occurrence L stepped iuto the saloon to get drihk
OF water. While standing at the bar heard soult
Que behind HE say you are d--d rogue Thi'
attracted my attention, and turned around to sst
who il was. / then saw Haley aud heard him say
Il don't take that from no maG, at the same time
walking up and striking Dickinson. The tive
ciinched, but two gentlemen who were standing
by separated them. Haley then remarked to Dick
inson 'you ought not TO have come here To insult
me" Dickinson replied 'pay me the money
Haley then asked Smith if he would not go his Sc
curity for $3.50. Dickinson replied III is $3.50.
Haley remarked to Dickinson Il would have set
tied ii some other time Haley then turned of
when dickinson reached over seized knife, ano
with back handed blow plunged il into Haley
left breast. Dickinson had bruise under %
his eyes. Before he seized the knife. he seemed &
be sauttting against some panks, as II ftiAii
stunned by the blow The first blow Haley gas,
Dickinson did not seem very severe. Thsn they
seized each other, when Haley gave him the Sc
| eond blow, which appeared To be settler.
Dickinson did not fall wheI
struck. think the plank partition behind him
about four feet high, caught him. The first blow
was struck about the time left the bar. From
the tirae they were separated until the stab wa
Inflicted, could not have been more than three o.
tonr miputes As Ii. started of d. caught up tn
knife and stabbed him Did not see H. sit dowl
alter be struck ID. Did not know the two mel
| that SEPARATED H. and ID. Heard H. call q
them smith. Don't think slundin was one Of tn
two men that separated H. and ID. Heard that tn
other man WAS named Bridgtord After they wer
| separated a man 10 his shirt sleeves, sboat th
size Of Mundin, came up and was talking abou
the fuss. | saw one paJ Haley any Isoney =
Did not notice any near the place where th
difficulty occurred but Haley, Dickinson, omiil
and Bridgford. l walked up within three or foa
feet Of where the four were standing. When Il
struck ID. the first blow, they seized. III. thti
H. Ii-x0n talanS
tie him. aud then 1t was that the two men IL
J teriered a.d parted them. All that Dickinson sal
after they were separated was, "pay the mt
new" / am esrtain this said after the tw
| were separated. Don't know why ID. demaude
the money Of II. Don't know what passed betweel
them before the fight. Heard loud talking hear,
the remark, odd rogae," and looked around.
saw D. catch up the knife, but don't know whethe