Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-21
g 3 ORGET TOWN AFFAIKS
Correspondence of the Star.

So'eSfo"ee"Se " tHe Stdf.
GIoReRrowN, Jan. 81, 1855
Doubtless one Of the most diabolical and In
human murders that ever stained the annals Of
our city's history, was perpetrated YESTERDAY al
ternoon, by an Individual by the name OF Ben
Ogie. few minutes after four O'Clock. the pu-
pills OF the school near Trinity Church were dis
missed for the afternoon, and as they passed
down First street they were playing as they weat
aiong-one of them threw a stone which struck
against the front porch Of Ogle's house, where
upon he came to the door, muskrt in hand, took
aim at boy by the name of John Webb, about
ten years OF age, Aired upon him, and killed him
dead on the spot the charge, fourth ball.
taking effect In the back part of the head, pass
ing through the brain and lodging against the
frontal bone. Ogle was Immediately arrested In
his own house by officer Trunnell. taken before
Justice Reaver, who committed him to Jail to
await the action of the Criminal Court.
Coroner Woodward summoned a jury, com
posed of the following gentlemen. and held an
inquest in view Of the body: H. Reaver. John
Paxton, J. l.. KidwelI, II. Howes, III. NJ Hurdle
James Hurdle, w. X. Hurdle, Alfred Hurdle,
Edward Mankin, Jesse w. Kitchen, w. A. King
and w. w. Charlton.
Some eight or ten witnesses were sworn, nearly
all of whom testified to the facts we have given
them above.
Officer Trunnel testified that he found in the
house OF ogie, at the time he made the arrest, a
mnsket, which appeared to have been recently
fred Oft
DIR. Snyder was called in at the request of the
jury, and performed post mortem examination,
which resulted In the finding of the ball at the
point before mentioned. and enabling him TO
give 1t as his opinion: that the death of the boy
was caused by it.
The house of Ogie was also searched by the
Coroner and officer Kitchen, and another ball
found corresponding in size with the one taken
from the head of the murdered boy.
After hearing all the testimony and witnessing
the autopsy, and hearing the opinion of DR.
Snyder, the jury rendered the following verdict
" That the said John Webb, while on his way
from school down First street, and when near
the corner of Frederick and said First street was
shot by one Benjamin Ogle with musket loaded
with balls, and that one of said balls, which wa,
leaden ball, penetrated the head of said John
WeDb, In The back part, passing entirely through
the brain and lodging against the frontal hone,
which caused his instantaneous death /; and the
! jury believe from the evidence that the said de-
ceased gave no provocation to the said Ogle; and
the jury further say that the parents of said de-
ceased are in INDECENT circumstances
After the inquest the remains Of the boy were
taken to the home of his afflicted parents, JEFF
ferson street.
among large mass Of our people that we incline
to the belief that had not the offender been hur-
r1eu on 10 prison as soon as ne was he would
have suffered violence at the hands of the excited
and apparently exasperated crowds that gathered
about the scene of the bloody deed.
Ogle is painter by trade, and is said to have
| been somewhat intoxicated at the time he com.
mitted the deed
We would advise the readers of the Star both
| in your city and our own, not to forget the con.
cert Of the pupils of the Dumbarton street NJ f.
sabbath School this evening. We will guarantee
| to all who may patronize them great deal more
than the worth of their money.
| The weather continues unusually mild for thu
season. Not scintilla of ice is anywhere to be
seen about the canal or river. Vessels are agar
beginning to make their appearance at ou
wharves, and during the last several days severa
bay and river crafts have arrived with coal wood
oysters, grain, &c /; among them the schr. Mar,
Adeline, Jenkins, with 40 cords wood to Bogu,
| d Donnelly, and the Pioneer, from Philadel phia
| with cargo of coal to Barron d Slower
| No change has occurred i'm the price of grain o
| hour since our last Grain appears to be comins
| in rather more freely. SPECTATOR