Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-09
Another Horrible Tragedy in Bafimore

Police Officer Rigdon Shot Dead at his Iesidence
Another terrible tragedy has been e,acted Mt
Baltimore. II is detailed as follows Ii lib Amer
lean Of Saturday:
Police officer Geo. W. Rigdon, the uipcipal
witness in the Gambril trial, was last nsht bru-
tally murdered in his own house, on Baltimore st.
few doors west of Pearl ST., where his Vie keeps
are as follows: At So'clock last eyenin. be lci,
the western Station house for his home, and was
cautioned by Capt Linewcaver not to % out, az
threats had been made against his life on account
of the testimony he had given in the cascof Gam
brill, to the effect that he should die onthe day
that Gambrill was convicted. These thr,ats hal
also reached the ears Of the deceased, bu he was
unable to trace them to any direct SQUIRE, aud
considered them as idle or drunken thre,ts. On
leaving the station house he proceeded directly 10
his home, and in his sitting room adjoining
the store. talking TO his wife at the tim, of his
death.
At the corner Of the sitting room u sunll win
dow opens into the yard, and Mr. Riplon
standing leaning on the mantel-piece, with his
back to the window, from which he was not two
feet distant. His wife was sitting on the other
side of the room, and little lost child, which he
had picked up in the streets, was sitting on the
carpet at his feet. The assassin went uI n small
alley at the side Of the house, and with large
horse pistol fred mt him through tho window: II
heavy load Of sugs entered bis right side causing
instant death. lie exclaimed, nly-"i am shot
and fell dead on the floor, having ceased breath
ing after heavy groan. large hose pistol
with which the deed was committed, was left ly
ing in the yard, Immediately under the window.
Police officer John Cook was on the opposite
side Of Baltimore St, and hearing the report of
the pistol, started across to Alr. Rigdons house,
when ,nan came running out of the side alley.
with revolver in his hand, aud rs officer Cook
started to arrest him he fired twice at him. neitl-
or Of which took effect The officer Immediately
drew his revolver, and started in pursuit, firing
twice ut the assassin Us he ran up Baltimore st.
On turning the corner Of Pine ST. the ASSASSIN and
the officer again exchanged shots without effect,
and continued the on to Penn st. when officer
& ,ok succeeded in Knocking him down with his
pi stol, and with tho assistance Of officer Jamlson
and Higgins, carried him to the station house.
1t proved to BIO Potter Coriie, butcher, residing
"a the Ilookstown road, and an associate Of Gam
RIP
II will be remembered that officer Ridgon tcsti-
fed on the Gambril trial that he had hold of Da-
yid louck, nlong with officer Benton, NJ the time
that t;ambrill came up and shot notwithstanding
positively to his Identification Of Gambri!l rs the
murderer lie had been Just two years the po-
Ii &c, was Il stout athletic man. and most excel
lent and fearless officer. lie leaves wife but no
children to mourn his loss He WAS 81 years of
%, and to-day would have been the seventh ami
vcrsary of his marriage, which he remarked to his
" iic yesterday.
The energetic and prompt action of officer Cook
in this ease leaves the impress ofihorongh efcicn-
3, aud is worthy of some substantial marx ofcom
iacuInton. lie started singly in pursuit of IA dos
,prratc aud armed man, without any knowledge
Of the crime he Ind ust committed, and determi-
acdly followed him TO his arrest, running several
sIuarcs before he accomplished his purposo.-
But for his activity and efficiency the murderer
Would have escaped, perhaps to pcrpctrae fur
I her deeds of bloody revenge. lie kept his eve on
him from the moment he escaped from the prem
j Sos, thus fixing the preparation Of the crime upon
linn.
1t should however, be stated that III is man
Corric WIS in the store pretending to look at
ome shirts few minutes before the fatal shot
was fired. his object being doubtless to ascertain
whether Mr. Ridgon was Tt home, and if so. in
what part of the house he would be likely to find
him.
Mayor Swami. accompanied by Mr.. Pinkney,
Immediately proceeded to the Western station,
where he found Marshal Herring actively engaged
in giving necessary orders. The Mayor imme-
diately ordered the prisoner Peter Corrc, to be
brought before him, when he made II full confess
sion Il his participation in the murder, declaring
however, that he did not commit the deed him
self Int that he remained at the mouth of the al
ley on baltimore street, whilst Marion Crops went
up the alley and fired the pistol. A warrant was
immediately issued for the arrest Of Crops, and
the Mayor committed Peter Corric, an accesso-
~ to the murder. and also charged with attempt
uig the life os officer Cook On examining the hat
of torrc, it was found that of the bullets fired
nj him 10y officer Cook, had passed through it, gra-
ling his head.
There was strong disposition at the Western
station. on the part ofthe neighbors and friends
oi officer Rigdon, who was highly esteemed rs an
officer and citizen to lynch Corric as soon rs he
arrested.
Officer Rdgon had frequently mentioned to his
wife that he feared he would be assussinated, on
account of his testimony in the Gnmbrll case,
Int asserted that he had done more than his
duty. and would have to stand the consequences.
The verdict of the Jury he regarded as mn endorse
mcnt of the truth Of his evidence against the ar
ray Of manufactured evidence that had been
brought to discrclit him, and he frequently ex-
pressed the wish thnt he might live at least hear
it rendered.
There were five bullets in the pistol, ali Of which
entered his shoulder and side, each about inch
apart.