New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-22
MURDER BY A CATHOLIC PRIEST.

this eursIy age is that recently committed by the
Rev. Daniel Downey, Catholic priest at Stsuntou Va,
on the body of William Mullens, also Catholic resi-
dent Of that place. The Richmond Dispatch hiss the
following account Of this sad tragedy:
THE STANTON HOMICIDE.
SrAUsros Va, Dec II 1857.
You have slready announced the fsctthat DIR. Daniel
Downey has been arrested aud committed to the
Ssunton Jail on the charge Of shooting and killing
William Aullens last Saturday night. Or. Downey is
The r, sideDt Minister Of the Catholic Church in this
place. and os such is the spiritual counselor OF the
ifh laborers employed on the railroad and other pup
lie works of this section of country understand thst
in times past he has rendered valuable service to the
officers of the law in putting down those occasional
riots INDUCED in by the lsborers already alluded to-
ard that but for bis exeons at one time vasi amount
of property in this neighborhood might have been de-
.troyed ard many valuable lives sacrificed. lntsl-
CERT liberal and socisble, he has made many warm
friends here who deeply lament the unfortunate posi-
ton be is now in.
Willism Muens was an Irishman by birth, and
onecutter by trade. He Is said to have been steady
industrious man, aud, far as can learn, was re-
spected by those who knew him.
AS vet no facts have been ELECTED to show the cir
cumsiances under which the killing was done, other
than the statement made by Downey on Sunday, thst
be did the deed in self defense. or couee there are
thousands of rumors shoat and almoet every man
has bis own version of the affair Since my srrval
here have talked with the friends and enemies OF
both parties, and from all have been enabled to
gather think the following statement will prove as
nigh correct &c any other that will be made until the
aow e1sted public mind Is quoted and legal invesn'
cation had.
Some years pest Irish orphan girl named Margaret
Leigh came to this tOwr, and was employed as ser
want by MIR. George A. Armsntrout, the Jsilor. At
tentive industrious and modest Mr. A. thought very
highly Of her, and spoke Of ner good qualities to his
peiebbors. Twelve OF eighteen months since Mis-,
Leigh became acquainted with Mulens, and doubtless
being pleased with bis appearance, accepted him as
suitor and regularly visited by him up to the nme
of his death.
About The frat Of October past, DR.. Downey, who
bad purchase house Augusta street. opposite the
Catholic Church, and reftted 1t for his own use,
needed hou.skeeper, and knowing the character
that Miss Leigh bore engaged her services, with the
consent of Mr.. AImantrout Some short time after
this, FIJI. nd of DR.. ID. limited 70 him that Miss
Leigh wat intimate terms with Mr.. Muens, where
upon the doctor denounced the irsinuaions in I'M
meas ured teIms declaring that the young lady wss
81 trely virtuous, and had always borne an unsxcep
tior able character few days after this occurrence
the same intmstion was MADE to ID. relative to the
girl coupled with the assertion that she was encente
Fearing that something was wrong, Downey, on re.
turning home questioned Miss Leigh ss to the Pounds
ton for the rumoIs he had heard when she frankly
confessed to him that she had been seduced by Null
lens under the eoemn promise Of marriage, and that
she expected to be mother in the course Of three
months. Hoping to be able to cave the young lady
from slsme, Downey sought hullens, spprised MIN
Of her situation, and urged hin to marry her. inns
the event day after day, until Wednesday last when
Mis- Leigh receiving an ntmatiOn that he was about
to desert her. secured the services OF lawyers Hartman
and Bell to bring a iuit against him tor oreaoh OF
marriage contract" the inatory steps to which were
Notwithstanding the fact that legal action had been
comm nced, DR.. Downey again sought Mullens, and
urged him TO comply with his engagement to Miss
Leigh and thus save her from ehame and infsmy.
Mullens again promised 70 do So On Saturday NOM
irg last Downty sent into the county for Mrs. Rose
A. Cricksrd, member Of his congregation, and hsd
her brought to his house. in order that he might get
Muens there and have the marriage rites performed
That evening" short time after tea, the Doctor dis
patched Michael McAlear in search OF Mullens to
invite him TO his house. McAlesr found Muens at
Thomas Honihan's; and, on delivering ire Doctors
message, Mike agreed to 60, getting Honihsn TO &C
company them. The trio reached the Doctors house.
and found Downey Mrs. Cricksrd, Miss Leigh. snd
M L 1pSw mime ysss o. as
Mullens into bis bed-chamber, adjoining the
parlor, where the two converted together sew
eral minutes, but not in tones sufficiently dis
DOwney was next seen to return to the sitting
room, 70 to bis bookcase, take out something
which his visitors supposed to be book return to his
chamber, and in short time thereafter ,! Honiaan
he ard some one PROFOUND the question, OWN you
marry the gil" Mullens reply was: " am willing
b" to 20 before magistrate and make clean confes
&" SION" Whist followed, the witnesses could not say
but In short time he heard the report Of pistol or
after the report, and Mallens in . reclining posi-
ton en- the floor. As a.. saw them, he reached
out his hand to McA. but did not speak. M ,Alesr
and HoEihsn dragged Mullen out Of the chamber,
through the sitting room and passage, into the street.
and placed him on the sidewalk where he was after.
wala found. As soon as the officers arrived, they
tered Downeys house by the back way, traced the
blood into bis chamber ard. on searching press in
Of the chambers Of which had been discharged, but
two were loaded. There were then but two persons
IN the house-Downey and Mrs. Orchard. Downey
lying the floor in the front room, apparently In
profound sumber-ihe result, in the opinion Of the
physicians in attendance, of thorough nto1cation.
Soon after these discoveries, Jury Of inquest was
summoned, and the Coroner proceeded TO take such
testimony he could obtain the substance OF which
has been kindly furnished me by the editor Of The
Spectator, and Which here append:
p. Wood wa first sworn and examined. lie know
nothing in regard TO the death Of uens he had seen
the de- ceased Saturday morning, and held some con-
versstion with BIN in regard to the girl Margaret
Leigh; Mullen had told bin positively tina. he would
not mary her. Another witness tes fied that 4alen
McAlear nephew Of Patrick McAlesf) was next e1
aminsd. He had gone with the deceased Saturday
night in company with Thomas Honihsn, to the resi-
dence Of DIR. Downey; DR.. Dovney had requested him
purpose; when McAlesr entered the house, DR.. Dow.
ley, Mrs. Cickard, Miss Leigh AID the little boy
were in the front loom; while be McAlear wss play.
irg with the little boy, DR.. Downey and Mullen
Wenb INTO sn0It tluio IOfmtr re-
enertd the fri Mt room, took what witness suppose to
be book from the book case, and returned to the
back room; few momens afterward witness heard
the report Of gun or pistol he mmee isey entered
the chamber, and saw N ulens In reclining position
on the hoor Hullens held out his hand to McAlear
but did rOt speaki witness and Hor Than then dragged
the deceased from the house, ard laid him on the
psvenen emit with ess remained With the body and Hon.
Than went for sssistsncs the young woman Margaret
Leigh, came out Of the back gate Of the yard, and
r. quesed McAear TO ACCOMPANY her down the street,
he do 90 and informed the jury where abe could be