Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-16
Terrible Tragedy.-Man Shot and Instantly
Killed.

Terrible Tragedy.- Man Shot and Instantly
Killed.
On Saturday night last, about half-past seven
o'clock, our community was thrown into state
of intense excitement by the announcement that
the dead body of man had been found oy pass
ers by, lying on the pavement in front OF the res
idence of the Rev. Daniel Downey, Pastor OF the
Roman Catholic Church of this place. DR.. Dow
ney had recently purchased and re-fttsd the
brick building on Augusta street, nearly opposite
his Church, and has occupied it for several
weeks, his family consisting of two individuals
beside himself viz: young woman named
Margaret Leigh and her nephew, little boy
about ten years OF age. The man found
upon the pavement was at first supposed to be
intoxicated, but upon examination it was dis
covered that he had been,shot in the breast with
a pistol ball, and was dead. Lights were imme-
diately procured, and the dead man was recog-
nized as William Mullen, native of Ireland, a
stone-cutter by trade, who, so far as we can
learn, has borne good character in the commu-
nifty, for honesty, industry ard scbriety. The
poor man had been bleeding profusely, and upon
close examination the blood was traced to the
front door of DR.. Downeys residence. This fact,
together with rumors afoat in regard to Mullen
and the young woman Margaret Leigh, led to
the conviction in the minds of everybody that
the man had been murdered in the house and
subsequently dragged out and left on the pave
ment. Here it may be well to state that Mar
garet Leigh, who is now said to be eacients, had
instituted suit against Mullen some days before
for breach of marriage contract. Acting upon
the above facts the officers of the law determined
to enter the house. The front door was locked,
but an entrance was effected from the rear OF
the building. Blood was found at the front door
inside, and thence traced through the passage
and front room to small back room on the first
floor, in which room, near the hearth, there was
quite pool of blood. At this spot it was evil
dent the man had been shot, and upon searching
press in the corner of the room next the fire.
place, one of Colts fve-shooters was found, two
barrels loaded and three discharged. There were
but two individuals found in the house. Mrs.
Rose Ann Orchard, widow of the late Peter
Orchard, and DR.. Downey himself, the latter
PROSTATE on the floor ofthe front room, apparent
ly in profound slumber, the result, in the opn-
ion of Physicians present, of thorough intoxica-
ton.
A jury of inquest was Immediately summoned,
and the Coroner, A. ]. CARRIER, Esq, proceeded
to take such testimony as could be obtained. q.
P. Wood was first sworn and examined. He
knew nothing in regard to the death of Mullen.
He had seen the deceased Saturday morning aud
held some conversation with him in regard to
the girl Margaret Leigh. Mullen had told him
positively that he would not marry her. An.
other witness testified that Mullen told him he
intended to marry her. Michael Nc AlAa-, t--rh
IS r-s.i0A aunIear) was next examined. He
had gone with the deceased Saturday night in
company with Thomas Honihsn, to the residence
ofDr. Downey. DR.. Downey had requested him
to ask Mullen to come up, he did not know for
what purpose. When McAlear entered the house
DR.. Downey, 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 Mullen went into the back room.
In short time the former re-entered the front
room took what witness supposed to be book
from the bookcase and returned to the back
room. A few moments afterwards witness heard
the report of gun or pistol. He Immediately
entered the back chamber and saw Mullen in q
reclining position on the floor. Mullen held out
his hand to McAlear but did not speak. Wit
ness and Honihan then dragged the deceased
from the house and laid him on the pavement.
Witness remained with the body and Honihan
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 street. He did so, and informed the jury
where she could be found. She was subsequent
ly committed to Jail. What became of the little
boy did not appear from the evidence. McAlear
testified that DR.. Downey was sober and as
cheerful as he had ever seen him. He did not
see D. when he went into the room after the
shot.
Thomas Hsaihan testified substantially to the
same facts, except that he heard some converse
ton the back room. He heard the question
propounded 'will you marry the girla" Wit
ness did not recognize the voice, and coming in
later than McAlear, did not see DR.. Downey du-
ring the evening. Mullen replied to the PROPOSE
ton that "he was willing to go before Magis-
trate and make clean confession" Shortly
after this conversation witness heard the report
of the pistol.
Messrs. Cease, Risly, Smith &c were also ex-
smined but their evidence was in most respects
immaterial. Cease had put his ear to the win
dow before the officers entered the house, and
heard voice saying "Tell me all about it," &C.
compsnied with noise resembling the tapping
OF handkerchief. The only response was
grunt.
The jury brought in a verdict in accordance
with the above facts, and the evidence elected
being deemed sufficient to justify the arrest of
DR.. Downey, he was committed to jail about u
O'Clock, Saturday night, while still in state of
profound stupor. The witnesses were also COM
mitted.
On Sunday morning when DR.. Downey awoke
from his sumber and found himself in pris-
on, we learn that he promptly admitted that he
had shot Mullen; but denied that it was done
Intentionally. His statement, as reported to US
is to the following effect: That Mullen had in
jured the girl Margaret Leigh and after repeated
promises to marry her had failed to do so. That
Mullen had come to his house on Saturday night,