Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

V. el,fU u,
who was appointed by the present Administers
ton, from Loudon county, Va killed David
Hume ESQ a merchant, Of the firm Of D.
Hume & Co. in Alexandria, Va. The homi.
eide took place in the room Of the Pension
Office occupied by Lee and others. The cir
cumstances of the affair are as follows At
the Presidents levee, last night, Lee felt the
hand of some one in his pocket, in the crowd,
and supposipg ii to be that of Mr.. Hume, who
was standing very near him among others,
charged ii. with endesyor.ng to pick his pocket,
both having ladies on their arms at the time.
Lee placed his hand on Hume's breast as he
made the charge. Hume replied, "Sir, /
should feel 10 yself dishOnored if / should pick
the pocket of such a man as you are" Lee
repeated the charge, and Hume then told him
that having ladies on his arms alone prevented
him from slapping his face. The ladies chung
around them to separate them, and Maj Lslly
and others, who were near by, interposed and
separated them. They then exchanged cards.
Immediately after the opening of the Office
this morning, Mr.. Hume accompanied by Mr..
Walker, the reading clerk Of the House Of
Representatives,, went to the room Of Lee, Mr..
Cole, the chief clerk, accompanying them.
Here il is proper that we should changAa1S
RcoOunt Of the case to a narrative of what oc-
CURED before the Coroner's inquest.
On the arrival of Coroner Wood ward, at
about III p III tie following jury was en-
paDeled:
C. II. Foster, VIM Finn, David NJ. Bull,
Thaddeus E Sands, VIM b Malcolm, Newell
KeInon, John NJ Crawford, Mason Campbell
AbsalOm Ii MARYLAND, Jonas Keller, ThOs.
J. M4ssy-
King (. Page testified to being in an ai-
joining TocIC, and hearing noise of scuf-
ding or striking, and on entering deceased
was falling; assisted in laying him back and
opening his Clothes Col. Lee was walking
back and forward and said " You must not
blame me, gentlemen, L did it in self de-
fence" saw no deadly weapon in the hands
Of the deceased
The Coroner here stated that no yeapons
were found upon the person of deceased
Nh Daniel McCook testified that b, was sit
ting in room No. 90; heard the dischere, of a
pistol, aid entering this room, saw deceased
in the act of falling, Supported by DR. Miller
and Mr. Page; the pulse Of the deceased was
extinct In few minutes witness bad had
possession Of the booy since the death Of the
deceased, and is certain that no deadly weapon
was upon bis person
Solomon G. HeatOn saw the transaction last
night at the Presidents IeYee was passing
towards the East room with lady and near
the doorway Of the Presidents rece ptiop room
came up in the rear Of Col. Lee /; noticed that
he had one or two ladies with him stood
there for a moment, the crowd being so great
could net pass; gentleman coming from the
reception room met them and seemed to be try
ing TO pass Us and 90 out; deceased was this
gentleman; Col. Lee stood rather facing de-
ceased, and while in that position saw Col. Lee
put his hand on his pantaloons pocket; he
then spoke to deceased, and at the same
moment stepped up to him and collared him
saying, "You have my pocket book ;" could
not say if deceased had q lady with him or
not; Col. Lee remarked further that he
should not let him 20 until he gave up the
pocket book, and the Colonel then called
for assistance, turning his head towards wit
ness; deceased did not reply immediately but
looked surprised; his first reply, that witness
heard, was: "For what reason do you make
this charge" Mr. Lee did not seem partic-
ularly excited; Lee said I" Sir, / felt your
hand in my pocket and saw you take it out"
deceased replied that be had not taken the
POcket-book, and seemed surprised at the
charge, and immediately enquired Of Col Lee
his name; Col L.e gave his name and turning
TO witness said here is q gentleman who knows
me: Col Lee still retained his hold upon his coat
during this conversation; witness said 10 de-
ceased that he knsw Col. Lee; deceased began
togst little excited, manifesting some feeling,
AID said to Col. Lee, "Come, 60 with me-"
witness then passed Col. Lee, and that is all he
saw of the occurrence then; came up to the of.
nee about this morning, to room adjoining
soon sitter came into this room found Colonel
Lee; made inquiry how the affair terminated
last night; ne was relating the circumstance:
the chief clerk, Mr.. Cole, Of the Pension Office,
opened the door, came in, and inquired il Col
Lee was in Immediately two gentlemen came
into the room; Col. Lee was standing by his
desk al the time two or three other gentlem q
were IN the room; recognised deceased as one Of
the gentlemen who entered; Col Lee passed to-
wards the door from his desk advancing some
what towards the gentlemen or in the direc-
ton Of the door; thinks deceased remarked
you are the gentleman / met last night
az the Presidents, and accused me of
taking your pocket book" enquiriDg at
the same time if he recognized him
Col Lee replied that he did recognize him
distinctly; they entered into Conversation,
and deceased undertook to explain why he
should net be accused of committing an act of
that kind; remarked that he had lived an
upright man for forty five years, and had
PROBABLY given away more money than Col
Ls' was worth, and asked what motive
ne toald have in picking his pocket
also II ne still reiterated his charge; Col.
Lee answered that be did reiterate his
enaIge; they stood facing each other at that
tnlmei deceashd bad black cane, with
bent handle, in his hand; "a cane was identi-
1ed by witness as the Ore;) deceased struck
Lee over the head as many as three times;
Io.- Lee retreated, deceased at same time
striking him with cane; heard report of pistol;
St'erWsrds saw the pistol in hands of
Colonel Lee; deceased fell over and ex.
claimed that he was a dead man; Colonel
Lee stood leaning forward at the time be
nred, with his back towards the deceased;
Ininks he must have reached his hand around
and hred under his arm Col Lee told wit
ness this morning that after witness left him
tine levee "a gentleman touched him and
s.d You have mistaken your man." telling
nm nm who deceased was, that he was q Mr.
hume Of Alexandria
F.s:-2i p. N Several other witnesses
nave been examined, and the Jury have
brought In verdict that deceased came 10
Als death from the effect of pistol ball from
pistol in the hands Of Doddridge c. Ice,
which caused his death in less than ten min.
utes
Ds Storrow and Berry IN ade an examina.
uon OF the body, and testified to the effect,
mar the ball entered the abdomen one inch
from the medium line and three inches below
Ihe umbilcus. passing inHards and down.