Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-03-05


tails Of the shocking homicide pcrpetrated in
thatcity on the morning Of thatday Us announced
by telegraph.
This morning, D. c. Lee, u 81 400 clerk in
the Pension Bureau who was appointed blythe
present Administration from Loudon county,
Va, killed David Hume, Esq, merchant Of
the firm of d. Hume T. Co., In Alexandria, Va.
The homicide took place in the room OF the
Pension Office occupied by Lee and others.
The circumstances Of the atlair are ~ follows
aaN the Presidents levee, last night, Lee felt
Tile hand Of some one in his pocket, in the crowd,
and supposing tito be that ofMr. Hume, whowas
standing very near him among others, charged
II. with endeavoring to pick his pocket, both
having ladies on their arms at the time, Lee
placed his hand On Hume's breast as he made
the charge. Hume replied, sSir, l should feel
myself dishonored If should pick the pocket
OF such a man AZ you are"
Lee repeated the charge, and Hume then
told him that having ladies' on his arms alone
prevented him from slapping his face. The
ladies chung around them to separate them, and
Maj, Lally and others, who were near by, inter-
posed and separated them. They then ex-
changed cards.
Immediately after the opening Of the office,
this morning, MIR. Hume, accompanied by Mr..
Walker, the reading clerk of the House Of Re-
representatives., went to the room Of Lee, Mr..
Cole, the clerk accompanying them.
Here it is proper that we should change our
account Of the case to q narrative Of what oc-
Cured before the Coroner's inquest.
The principal witness was Solomon q. Hun
ter, who testified as follows:
He saw the transaction last night at the Pre-
sident's leyee; was passing towards the east
room with lady, and near the doorway Of the
Presidents reception room, came up in the
rear of Col. Lee; noticed that he had one OF
two ladies with him stood there for moment,
| the crowd bang so great could not pass; u
gentleman coming from the reception room
met them, and seemed to be trying to pass us
and 60 out; deceased was this gentleman /;
Colonel Leo stood rather facing deceased, and
while in that position saw Colonel Lee put his
hand In 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 Colonel Leo re-
marked ttTther that he should not let him go
until he gave up the pocket book, and the
Colonel thea called for assistance, turning his
head towards witness; deceased did not reply
| Immediately, but looked surprised; his first
| reply, that witness heard, was For what
reason do You make this charge 2" Mr.. Lee
did not seem particularly excited; Lee said
'Sir, felt your hand in my pocket, and saw
| you take it ost;" deceased replied that ho had
| not tlkoN the pockat-b0ok, aud seemed sur
Of Col. Leo his name; Col. Leo gave his name
and turnisg to witness said here is gentleman
who k. ows lne Col. Lee still retained his hold
upon his soat during this conversation; wit
ness said to deceased that he knew Colonel
Leei deceased began to get little excited,
| manifesting some feeling, and said to Colonel
Lee "Come, go with me 4" witness then
passed. Col. Lee, and that is all he saw of the
occurrence then; came up to tho office about
ninr this morning., to room adjoining; soon
after came into this room found Col. Lee
made inquiry how tho affair terminated last
nights he was relating the circumstance the
chief clerk, Mr.. Cole, Of the Pension Office,
opened the door, came in, and inquired if Col.
Lee was I'M Immediately two gentlemen came
into tao loom Col. Leo was standing by his
desk ut She time; two OF three other gentle
men ware in the roomi recognized deceased
as one of the gennomen who enteTed Colonel
Lee passed. towards the door from his desk
advancing somewhat towards she gentleman
or In the direction of the door; think deceased
remarked 'tyou are the gentleman met last
night at the Presidents, and accused me Of
taking your pocket boolE," inqMring at the
same time if he recognized him; Col. Les ..
Piled that he did recog nize him distinctly
they entered into eenyers, zion, AID deceased
undertook to explain why he should not be
accused Of committing an act of thai kind
remarked that he had lived an uprightm,.u fcl
forty years, and had probably given away moro
money than Col. Lee was worth, and asked
what motive he could have III picking hi,
pocket--also, if he still reiterated Ills charge
Colonel Leo answered that he, did rGiterate hi,
charges they stood facing sch other at tha
tnne deceased had black cane with ben
handle in his hand; "a cane was identified b,
witness as the one y decease struck Lee oyel
the head as many as three TIMES; Colonel Lee
retreated, deceased at same t ime striking him
with the Gaze heard report of pistol after.
wards saw the pistol in the handy of Col. Lee
deceased tell over and exclaimed that he was
dead man; Col. Lee stood leaning forwa d al
the time he tired with his back towards the de-
ceased ! thinks he must have reached his hand
around and fired under hi. arm Col. Lee told
witness this m prning that after witness left hin
at the lovee, - gentleman touched lHim and said
"you have inistaken your man, telling hin
who deceash was, that he was a Mr.. Hume, o
| Alexandria.
| L. S.-2k 2. M.-Severai other witnesse.
have been examined, and the jury have brought
IN verdi ct that deceased came to his death
from the effect of a pistol ball from u pistol ii
the hanS4s Of Doddridge q. Lee, wkicL caused
MS deaEh IN less than ten minutes.