The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-16
THE srAUNToN HOMICIDE.


You nave ALREADY announced tHo Iact, tnot Ut.
DANal DowSKY has been arrested and committed to
the stanton Jail, on the charge Of shooting and
killing WILLIAM MuLLxSs, last Saturday night. DR..
Downsy Is tho resident Minister Of the Catholic
Church, In this place snd NJ such Il the spiritual
counsellor of tho Irish laborers employed on the
railroad and other public works Of this section Of
country. / understand that in times past. he has
rendered valuable service to the officers Of the law,
in putting down those occasional riots INDUCED in
by the laborers already alluded to and that but
for his exertions at time vast amount Of pro-
perty in this neighborhood might have been de-
stroyed aud many valuable lives sacrificed. Intel
ligent, liberal and sociable he has made many
friends here, who deeply lament the unfortunate
position he is now In.
William Mullens was an Irishman by birth. aud q
stone cutter by trade. lie Is said to have been a
steady industrious man, and, as Ear as can learn,
Was respected by those who knew him.
As yet, facts have been ELECTED to show the cir
cumstances under which the killing done, other
than the statement made by Downey on Sunday that
he did the deed in selEdefencs. OF course, there
are thousands OF rumors aiioat, and almost every
man has his own version Of the affair. Since my
arrival here, have talked with the friends and
enemies Of both parties and from all have been
abed to gather think the following statement will
prove a. nigh correct al any other that viii be
made, until the now excited public mind 10 quiet
Some years past Irish orphan girl named
MARGARET LEdH, came to this town, and was en-
ployed IS servant by Mr.. George A. Armantrout,
the jailer. Attentive, industrious ami modest,
MIR. A. thought very highly Of her, and spoke OF
her good qualities to his neighbors. Twelve or
eighteen months since Miss Leigh became acqusin-
ted with Mullens, and doubtless being pleased with
his appearance, sccepted him as q suit0r, and was
regularly visited BY him up to the time Of his
death.
About the first of October past, DIR. Downey, who
had purchased house on Augusta street, opposite
the Catholic Church, and RENTED it for his use,
needed housekeeper, and knowing the character
that Miss Leigh bore, engaged her services, with
the consent Of Mr., Arnantrout. Some short time
after this, friend of DR.. d. limited to him that
Miss Leigh Was on intimate terms with Mr.. Null
len, whersupon the Doctor denounced the insinu-
atoms in unmeasured terms, declaring that the
young lady was entirely virtuous, and had always
borne an unexceptionabe character. few days
after this occurrence, the same intimation was
made to D. relative to the girl coupled with the
sertion that she was eRciente. Fearing that some
thing wrong. Downey, on returning home,
questioned Miss Leigh as to the foundation for the
rumors he had heard, when she frankly confessed
to him that she had been seducsd by Mullens un-
der the solemn promise Of marriage, and that she
expected to be a mother In the course of three
months. Hoping to be able to save the young lady
from shame, Downey sought Mullens, apprised
him OF her situation, and urged him to marry her.
This Mullens promised to do, but continued to
postpone the event day after day, until Wedues-
day last, when Miss Leigh receiving an intimation
that he WAS about to desert her, secured the SER
vices Of Lawyers Hartman and Bell to bring q suit
against him for breach Of marriage contract" the
iuitatory steps to which were promptly taken.
Notwithstanding the fact that legal action had
been commenced, DR.. Downey again sought Null
lens, and urged him to comply with his engage
ment to Miss Leigh, and thus save her from shame
and infamy. Muliens again promised to do So
On Saturday morning last, Downey sent into the
country for Mrs. Rose A. ORCHARD, a member of
his congregation, and had her brought to his
house, in order that he might get Mullens there
and have the marriage rites performed That eve.
ming, short time after tea, the Doctor dispatched
Michael McAlear in search of Mullens, to invite
him to his house. McAlear found Mulens at Tho
mas Honihan's and. on delivering the Doctors
message, Mike agreed to go, getting Honihan to
accompany them The trio reached the Doctors
house, and found Downey, Mrs. Orchard, Miss
Leigh and Miss LIS nephew, nine years of age,
sitting in the parlor, in conversation. Downey
soon after invited Mullens into his bed chamber,
adjoining the parlor, where the two conversed to-
gether several minutes, but not in tones sufficient
ly distinct to be heard by those in the adjoining
room. Downey was next seen to return to the sit
ting room, 60 to his bookcase take out something,
which his visitors supposed to be book, return to
his chamber, and in short time thereafter Honi-
han heard some one PROFOUND the question, evil
you marry the girlf" Mullens reply was, 81 am
willing to 60 before a magistrate and make q
clean confession" What followed, the witness
could not say, but in short time he heard the re-
port Of pistol or gun. McA. and III. entered the
chamber Immediately after the report and saw
Mullens in a reclining position onl the floor. A
soon as NJ. saw them, he reached ont his hand to
Nc but did not speak. McAlear and Honihan
dragged Mullen out of the chamber, through the
sitting room and PASSAGE into the street, and
placed him on the sidewalk, where he after
wards found. As soon the officers srrived, they
entered Downey's house by the back way. traced
the blood into his chamber, and on searching q
press IN that room, discovered one of Colts five
shooters. three of the chambers to which had been
discharged, but two were loaded. There were then
but two persons in the house-Downey and Mrs.
Orchard Downey was lying on the floor in the
front room, apparently in profound slumber, the
result in the opinion Of the physicians in attend
ance, Of Thorough intoxication.
Soon after these discoveries, a jury of inquest
was summoned, and the Coroher proceeded to take
such testimony he could Obtain the substance OF
which has been kindly furnished me by the editor
OF the spectator, aud which here append:
Z. Wood was first sworn and examined He
knew nothing in regard to the death of Mullen
He had seen the deceased Saturday morning. and
held some conversation with him in regard TO the
girl Margaret Leigh. Mullen had told him posi-
lively that he would not marry her. Another wit
ness testified that Mullen had told him he intended
to marry her. Michael McAlear (neplew of Pat
rick McAlear) was next examined. He had gone
with the deceased Saturday night, in company
with Thomas Honihan, to the residence of DIR.
Downey. DR.. Downey had requested him to ask
Mullen to come up; he did not know for what pur-
pose. When McAlear entered the house, DR.. Dow
ney, Mrs Orchard, Miss Leigh and the little boy,
were in the front room. While he (McAlear) was
playing with the little boy, DR.. Downey and Null
len went into the back room. In short time the
former reentered the front room, took what wit
ness supposed to be book from the bookcase and
returned to the back room. A few moments after
wards witness heard the report of gun or pistol.
lie Immediately entered the back chamber and saw
Mullens in reclining position on the floor. Mul.
lens held out his hand 10 McAlear, but did not
ceased from the house and laid him on the pave
ment. Witness remained with the body and Honi-
han went for assistance. The young woman, Mar
garet Leigh, came out of the back gate of the yard
and requested McAlear to accompany her down the
street. He did SO, and informed the jury where
| she could be found. She was subsequently com.
mitted to Jail. What became of the little boy, did
not appear from the evidence. McAlear testified
that DIR. Downey was sober and as cheerful ss he
had ever seen him. He did not see D. when be
went into the room after the shot. .sa
Thomas Honihan testified substantially to the
same facts, except that he heard some converse
ton in the back room. He heard the question
propounded twill You marry the grip Wit
ness did not recognize the voice, and coming in
later than McAlear, did not see DR.. Downey du.
ring the evening. Mullens replied to the PROPOSE
ton that che was willing to go before Magis-
Gate and make clean confession" Shortly after
this conversation witness heard the report Of the
pistol.
Messrs. Cease, Risly, Smith, &C., were also ex.
amned, but their evidence was in most respects
immeterial. Cease had put bis ear to the win
W before the officers entered the house, and
heard voice saying Tell me all about it," &C
companied with noise resembling the Tapping
Of handkerchief The only response was grunt.
The jury brought in q verdict in accordance
with the above facts, and the evidence ELECTED be
ing deemed sufficient to justify the arrest Of DR..
Downey, he was committed to Jail about IL o'clock,
Saturday night, while still in state ofprofound stu
por. The witnesses were also committed.
On yn dow rsrep -har nr nn~ akaua