Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-03-12
The Lee and Hume Difficulty
at WashingtOn..Death of Mr..
Hume.

Mr.. David Hume, ~ell-known citizen o.
Alexandria, attended the Presidents leree last
evening, in company with his daughter. While
slowly moving with the immense throng thai
literally filled the entire first floor of the Execu.
tive Mansion, gentleman Immediately in front
of him turned suddenly around, seized him by
the collar, and accused him of picking his pock-
ct. As might have been expected, very angry
words ensued, which resulted in an exchange Of
cards. the accusing party proving to be Col. d.
c. Lee, who has for several years held clerk
ship in the Pension Bureau.
About 9 o'clock this morning, Mr.. Hume, in
company with Mr.. Walker, the reading clerk Of
the House of Representatives, proceeded to the
Pension Office, and, as there was nothing in his
appearance indicative of a hostile errand, was.
on request, conducted to the room occupied BY
Col Lee and several other clerks Mr.. Hume
informed Colonel Lee who he was, briefly allud-
to his social and business position and after at
tempting to show the absurdity of connecting
him with pocket picking, demanded retraction
of the offensive charge which had been made on
the previous evening. This demand it is stated,
was made twice, if not three times. Col. Lee
refused to retract; whereupon Mr.. Hume struck
him several times with cane and while as
saulting him, Col. L. drew pistol and fred
Mr.. H. exclaimed 81 am shot," fell to the floor,
and expired in a few minutes.
The evidence adduced before the Coroner's
Jury developed the following additional facts:
King F. Page testified to being in an adIoin-
ing room, and hearing noise as of scuffling or
striking, and VI entering, deceased was falling;
assisted in laying him back and opening his
cloths: Col. Lee was walking back and forward,
and said, "You must not blame me gentlemen, 1
did it in self-defence;" saw no deadly weapon
in the hands of the deceased.
1.-THE Corner stated that no weapons were
found upon the person of the deeeased.]
Solomon G. Heaton saw the transaction at the
Presidents levee; was passing towards the East
Room with a lady, and near the doorway of
the Presidents reception room came up in the
rear of Col. Lee; noticed that he had one or two
ladies with him: stood there for moment, the
crowd being so great could not pass; gentle
man coming from the reception room met them
and seemed to be trying to pass and go out; de-
ceased was this gentleman; Col. Lee stood rath-
er facing deceased, and while in that position
saw Col. Lee put his hand on his pantaloons
pocket; he then spoke to deceased, and at the
same moment stepped up to him and collared
him, saying, "You have my pocket book" could
not say if deceased had lady with him or not;
Col Lee remarked further that he should not
let him go until he gave up the pocket-book,
and the Col. then called for assistance, turning
his head towards witness; deceased did not re-
ply Immediately, but looked surprised; his first
reply, that witness heard was: "For what rea-
son do you make this charge?" Mr. Lee did not
seem to be particularly excited; Lee said: "Sir,
felt your hand in my pocket, and saw you
take it OUT deceased replied that he had not
taken the pocket-book, and seemed surprised
at the charge, and Immediately inquired of Col.
Lee his name; Col. Lee gave his name, and
turning to witness said, "Here is gentleman
who knows me-" Col. Lee still retained his hold
upon his coat during this conversation; witness
said to deceased that he knew Colonel Lee; de-
ceased began to get little excited, manifesting
some feeling, and said to Col. Lee, "Come, go
with me;'' witness then passed Col. Lee, and that
is all that he saw of the occurrence then.
After the examination OF several other wit
nesses, the case was given to the jury, who, af-