Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-11-13
THE DEsPERADOEs OF RALTIHORE..
CONVICTION OF a FELONz AND MURDRR OF
THE PRINCIPAL WITNESS
Is a Reisn a. T6rros. ~ s9
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE.

81 ~ - sssS> fsssT- SJl S.tu
Ss6ass EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE. as-
During the past week Baltimore has been the scene
of intense excitement growing out Of the trial of
one of the desperadoes so numerous in that city,
and the subsequent murder Of one of the witnesses
against the cuprit. The facts are simply that Hem
~ Gambrl committed the willful murder of police
officer Benjamin Benton, on the night of the 22d of
September last, at the corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Biddle street. by shooting him with pis-
tol in the right side of the neck causing immediate
death. The evidence was complete fixing the COM
mission of the murder on Gambrill beyond all
doubt. The principal witness was Robert w. Rig
don, another police officer. From the account con-
tanned in the Baltimore papers, it is apparent that
Gambrilps associates omitted no demonstration to
Brighten the witness and the jury and had threaten
ed officer Rigdon with assassination upon the day
that Gambrill should be convicted for murder
Late on Friday evening the jury brought in YER
dict against Gambril of murder in the first degree.
1t was evident from the movements of the crowd
present that rescue was contemplated Of the re-
moval of the prisoner we find the following parti-
culars in the Baltimore American of yesterday
morning:
1t was nearly o'clock when the court adjourned,
and, there being large of the friends of
the prisoner about the court house, he was placed
in the lookup until arrangements could be made by
Captain James for his removal to the jail Fearing
that an attempt might be made to rescue him, May
or Swami had kept over one hundred police officers
fully armed ut the courthouse all day, and they
were in readiness, under command of Marshal Her.
ring, to escort him to the Jail. Carriages were
placed on both sides of the courthouse so as to
divide the crowd, and the prisoner was finally
brought out and placed in the carriage on Calvert
street, and driven off, followed by crowd of men
and boys. The police also followed the carriage,
and Captain James, who was in with the prisoner,
with pistol in hand, menaced those who attempted
to approach him. There being evidences of a con-
rfoI To into fhovn fo
the Jail, Captain James directed the driver to pro-
coed down Saratoga street with all speed to the
Middle station, and the prisoner quickly lodged
in one of the cells. Marshal Herring Immediately
ordered fifty officers to prepare their muskets for
escort duty and at o'clock the prisoner was con-
veyed to the Jail without further interruption.
In regard to the attempt to rescue the prisoner
the following additional facts stated: Two
hacks had been procured, to divide the atten-
ton of the crowd. One was placed on Lexington
street and the other Calvert street. in front of
the Gilmor House. The main portion of the crowd
gathered in Lexington street, and it determined
to place the prisoner in the other carriage This
was successfully done, but not without an attempt
to create disturbance. Officer McComas
pushed aside by Marion Crops, and David Houck
cried out shoot him. shoot him." meaning it was
supposed, the hackman Captain James and Capt
Owens, warden and deputy warden of the Jail, got
into the carriage anddirected the driver to proceed
directly to the jail The driver. either confused
intmidated, drove down Calvert street to Little
Water, when Captain Owens menaccd him with his
pistol threatening to shoot him unless he changed
his course. He then drove up South to Second
street. through Second to Gay street, and out the
latter street to Saratoga Capt James fearing from
the circuitous route taken that he might be inter-
cepted on his way to the Jail, determined to take
his prisoner to the central police station, from
whence he was removed as stated above in charge
Of an escort that rendered any attempt at rescue
futile.
of the subsequent tragedy we compile the follow
ing account from the Baltimore papers of yesterday
morning.
Police Officer George W. Ridgon, the principal
witness in the Gambr trial. was last night brutally
murdered in his own house, Baltimore street,
few doors west of Pearl street. where his wife keeps
a small dry-gOOds store. The facts of the case
follows At 8 o'clock last evening he left the
Western station-house for his home and was eau
toned by Captain Lineweaver not to go out, as
threats had been made against his life account of
the testimony he had given in the case of Gambrill
to the effect that he should die on the day that
Gambr was convicted. These threats had also
reached the of the deceased but he was unable
to trace them to any direct source, and considered
them idle drunken threats. On leaving the
Station-housc he proceeded direct to his home, and
was in his sitting ROOM adjoining the store talking
to his wife, at the time of his death At the corner
of the sitting-rOom small window opens into the
yard, and Mr.. Rigdon was standing leaning on the
mantel-picce with his back to the window, from
which he was not two feet distant His wife was
sitting the other side of the room, and little
lost child which he had picked up in the street.
sitting on the carpet at his feet The assassin went
up small alley at the side of the house. and with a
large horsc-pstol fired at him through the window,
heavy load of slugs entering his right side and
causing instant death. He exclaimed only II am
shot, and fell dead on the floor, having ceased
breathing after one heavy groan. A large horse
pistol with which the deed was committed, was left
lying in the yard, Immediately under the window.
Police Officer John Cook was on the opposite side
of Baltimore street. and hearing the report of the
pistol started across to Mr.. Rigdon's house, when
came running out of the side alley, with a
volver in his hand, and, officer Cook started to
arrest him. he fired twice at him, neither of which
took effect. The officer Immediately drew his re-
volver and started in pursuit. firing twice at the as
sassn as he ran up Baltimore street. On turning
the corner of Pine street. the assassin and the Off
Ger again exchanged shots without effect, and con-
tinued the race on to Penn street, when officer
Cook succeeded in knocking him down with his pis-
toll and, with the assistance of officers Jamson and
Higgins, carried him to the station house. 1t prov
ed to be Peter Cory, butcher residing on the
Hookstown road, and an associate of Gambrills.
1t will be remembered that officer Rigdon testif-
ed the Gambrill trial that he had hold of David
Houck along with officer Benton, at the time that
Gambrill came up and shot Benton, testifyng posi-
lively to his Identification of Gambrill as the
derer. He had been just two years on the police,
was stout athletic man. and a most excellent and
fearless officer He leaves wife, but no children,
to mourn his loss. He 35 years of age and
to-day would have been the seventh anniversary
of his marriage which he remarked to his wife yes
terday.
The people, as well as the police, insisted as soon
Cory was brought to the police station hang
ing him without delay, and were about to proceed
to the work, when he pleaded for his life, and said
he would tell all he knew of the murder. He then
stated that Marion Crops and himself went to the
house of Rigdon, and going up the side alley found
the back door open, when Crops fired the fatal
shot
Information of the completely of those parties was