Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-26
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.


We vent to press yesterday another Juror was
obtained from the list Of talesmen summoned.
as follows:
Thomas B. Brown, George W. Spencer. MI.
chael Coembs Elijah Edmonston. Gee W
Bray, Thomas Riggles, VIM. A Ksnnsdv
Thomss7k. Brightwell, Reuben Brown. IA,
E. Myers. eN0 n'
The court room was filed with snectator.
Prlor to the opening Of the court, though, from
osu sIrsneement OF the room the opportu.
MY aor seeing ana hearing the proceedings is
Shortly after ten O'Clock the prisoner wa.
Drought IN and placed in the docket tempora.
my constructed for the purpose on the south
side Of the chamber.
The following witnesses for the Government
we're called and sworn: Solomon G.. Heatou.
D A Storrow, II. G. Potter, Jos Rawlings
Jas Q. Walker, Lafayette Brown, Robert Git.
tngs, Thos ]. Miller.
Mr.. Bradley opened for Government. Stain,
briefly the la. applicable TO the case, and the
evidence which the United States expeotea 70
produce. He proceeded to give the definition
of murder and manslaug hter, and of the term
malice" concerning which he said no two
agreed.
Mr.. Bradley narrated the circumstances Of
the COLLISION between prisoner and deceased at
the levee. They should show that At that
time gentleman of character, a SON of Bishon
Potter Oh Psnnsylvania, told the prisoner III ut
he was mistaken in the character of Mr..
hume-that the latter was a gentleman of
high standing in Alsxandria.
Inc occurrences at the Pension Once next
morning were touched upon, and Mr. Bradley
said they expected TO show clearly that the
prisoner had prepared himself with n dsadIv
weapon Tor the occasion. If proved that he
had prepared himself without warning de.
ceased ana provoked quarrel with him and
shot bim dead, his crime was murder
Mr. Chiffon replied for the defence. Pursu.
ing the course of Mr.. Brsdley, he applied
himself first to the law of the case and next
the facts They believed on their side that
without shadow of doubt they could relieve
their client OF the charge against him.
de entered upon the question whether the
prisoner at tho bar was in danger of serious
bodily harm at the time he fred the pistol If
ne was In such danger, the law justified him
IN killing his assailant- He maintained that
whenever a case arises where a mans life is
put IN danger by an unjustifable assault, he
sJus1hsble in taking the life of the person at
lacking him, and malice is out of the question
He preceded to state facts which he claimed
were unquestionable. That deceased went to
the room OF the prisoner at the place to which
he beloDged-st his desk. Deceased abused
Leo, to which the latter did not renly by OF
fensive words, save to reiterate his belief in
the charge. Ga turRing, he was struck with
heavy blows, and at the time be fred the pis
toI, the oludgeon was appraised over his head
for another blow.
No words justify one man in violence upon
anotner; the law repeats this over and over
again, and if q man, under the guidance of bis
passions, takes the law into his own hands no
does 80 at the risk Of his own life
Mr.. G. proceeded 70 narrate the facts of
the case as understood by the defence. He
claimed that the pistol was the prisoner own,
and one that had been in his house for months;
that deceased went down the Avenue on the
morning after the sfair at the levee and pur-
chased q heavy hickory stick; that be went
to the Pension Office with Walker; that Mr.
Heaton, fellow clerk, in conversation with
Lee prior to the arrival of deceased gave it
as his belief that Hume did really pick his
(Lee's) pocket, and that he showed indica-
items Of guilt; that directly upon this CONVEX
sstion Hume was introduced to the room by
Mr. Cole who supposed Hume to be some &C.
quaintance of Lees.
Mr. Chiffon went on to narrate what trans
spired, and claimed that they should be able
to show that Mr. Hume, large sized, power.
fQl man, was striking with ali the force he was
able the prisoner At the bar, q sickly man,
weighing only 40 pounds at the time the pis,
tol was fred.
Mr.: C. proceeded to read from th. Law az
laid down by this Court in the Herbert case,
upon "justifsble homicide" and from the
law upon 'malice," as laid down by the same
Court in the Sims (Georgetown) case, and on
concluding, expressed his confident belief
that the jury would find no difficulty in bring
ing in q verdict Of aequittal
The Court here, on request Of the jury, took
recess Of fifteen minutes, meeting az ain at
half past IL o'clock.
DR. 5. A. Storrov, sworn.-Examined the
wound upon deceased; the direction of the
wound indicated that the track Of the ball
was downward and slightly inward This evil
dence was as elected upon the Coroner's in
quest and already given in the Star.
Solomon G. Heaton was called to the stand.
Was At the Presidents on the evening of the
9th; in passing from the reception rom he
came up behind Mr.. Lee who stood facing q
gentleman who witness did not know; they
appeared to have met there; saw Lee look up
In this gentleman's face and say, Sir. you
have taken my pocket-book,'' at the sane
time taking hold Of the lappels of Hume's
coat with his left hand and said that he
"Should cot let him go till he gave it up;
deceased did Dot reply Immediately, and
seemed very much amazed and astonished; his
first reply IVES, why do you accuse me of
taking your pocket book )" Lee replied. 81
saw you put your hand in my poe et and take
II ont from under my coat" Hume inq uired
who Lee was; Lee gave his name, and referred
TO witness as gentleman who know him; wit
ness replied that he knew Mr.. Lee Lee In.
sisted that deceased had picked his pocket
and called for assistance; Hume began to
manifest more excitement; put his hand on
Lees shoulder and said, ''come 20 with
me and let's have this matter settled ~
witness passed on and saw notbiog more of the
occurrence that night; about o O'Clock ne 1t
morning saw Lee at bis room in the Pension |
Ofice; HuEe entered the room about ave min. |
ates after, accompanied BY another gentle. |
NAB; there we're in the room Mr. Lee, Mr.
Miller, Mr.. Brown, Mr. Geddis, M Thomas,
also, o messenger boy of the Once, by
the name Of william; Mr.. Lee was stand. |
n IN hA fzi1 81 .
the door at which Hume entered was at the
southeast corner Of the room; after they en-
tered Mr.. Lee advanced to very near where
they Stood does not know that anything was
said By either party until Mr. Lee approach
ed them; Mr. Hume enquired Of Lee if he
recognised him as the gentlen an be CHARGED
the night before with picking his pocket: Lee
replied that be did recognize him di,t;nctI,.