Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-12-17
The Homicide Of Mullins.

The Stanton correspondent OF the Richmond
Dispatch gives some further particulars of the
tragic affair by which the young man Mullins tf
thiseity, lost his life:, - 4 n
Mr. Downey, he saws, is the resident minister
Of the Catholic Church, in Staunton and, as
such, Is the spiritual counsellor Of the Irish la
bore RS employed on the railroad and other pnbic
works Of that section Of country. Intelligent,
liberal and sociable, ne has made many warm
friends, who derply lament the unfortunate posi-
William Mullins was an ITishman by birth,
and stone cutter by trade. He is said to have
been steady. industrious man, and respected
by those who knew him.
Some years past an Irish orphan girl, named
Margaret Leigh, came 10 stanton, and was em
ployed as a servant bv George A. Armantrout, the
jailor. Attentive, industrious, and modest. Mr..
A. thought very high Of her, and spoke of her
good qualities TO his neighbors. Twelve or
eighteen months since Miss Leigh became &C.
Quainted with Mullins, and doubtless being
pleased with his appearance, accepted him as a
suitor, and was regularly visited by him up to
the time Of his death.
About the 1st of October past, DIR Downey, who
had purchased a house on Augusta street, oppO-
site the Catholic church, and rrfitted II for his
own use, needed a housekeeper, and knowing the
character that Miss Leigh bore, engaged her
vices, with the consent of Mr.. ArInantrout Some
short time after this, friend of DIR. ID limited to
him that Miss Leigh was on intimate terms with
Mr.. Mullins, whprenpon the Doctor denounced
the destinations i'm nnmeasured terms, declaring
that the young lady was entirely vrtuOus, and
had always borne an uncNceptiOuable character
few days after this occurrence. the same init
ma ton was made to Downey relative to the girl ,
coupled with the assertion that she was tncitats
Fearing that something was wrong, Downey, on
returning home, questioned Miss Leigh as to the
foundation of the rumors he had heard, when she
frankly confessed to him that she had been Sc
duced by Mullins, under the solemn promise of
marriage, and that she expected 10 be a mother
in the course Of three months Hoping to be able
to save the Young lady from shame, Downey
sought Mullins, apprized him of her situation,
aud urged him to m1rry her. This Mullins PROM
ised to do, but continued to postpone the event
day after day, until Wednesday last, when Miss
Leigh, receiving an intinatiOn that he was about
to desert her, secured the services Of Lawyers
Hartman and Bell to bring suit against him for
breach of marriage contract the initatory
steps to which were promptly taken.
Dr. Downey again sought Mullins, and urged
him to comply with his engagement to Miss
Leigh, and thus save her from shame and infa-
my. Mullins again promised to do so.
On Saturday morning last, Downcv sent for
Mullins and had the unfortunate girl ready with
witnesses in order to perform the marriage cere-
rnonY i'm case Mullins would consent Downey
invited Mullins into his bed chamber ad joining
the parlor, where the two conversed together for
several minutes but not in tones sufficiently dis
tinct To he heard by those in the adjoining room
Downey was next seen TO return to the sitting
room, 90 TO his bookcase, took out something
which his visitors supposed to be a book, return
to the chamber, and in a short time therea fter
Hohlhan heard some one PROFOUND the question,
"Wil you marry the girl 80 Mullins reply was
81 am willing to 90 before mag istrate and make
clean confession" What followed the witness
could not say, but in short time he heard the
report of pistol or gun. On entering the bed
chamber Mullins was found shot and he soon
after died.
Many rumors are ahoat i'm Staunton in regard
to the affair. Downey. though over fifty years of
age, is charged with being the seducer and de-
stroycr of Aiss Leigh. ana il is urged that he ex
prcted to compel Mullins to marry her through
HIS influence over him - spiritual confesSor-'
and TINS hide his own shame Finding that
Mullins could not be driven to such course, be
became cxasperated and killed him on the spot
The 4 lends Of Downey, in reply to this charge,
say II is utterly false, and reason thus Miss
Leigh had only been in his service eight weeks
III lie bad been her destroyer, he would have
known her situation, and, instead of taking her
To his own house, would have sent her of aud
thus held his own secret man of his sense
w"nid not have trapped himself by pursuing the
course he did