The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-08
L Ii E DISPATC II.
Tragedy in Baltimore --- Assass. .na-
ton of a Witness.

In the Criminal Court of Baltimore, Friday,
Henry GambriIl, was convicted of the murder OF
tjsmin Benton, a policeman, on the I'd of Sep
tember last. The prisoner was q member of one
of the gangs of rowdies that infest that city, and
an attempt was N ade to rescue him. whe sun
says:
The prisoner received the verdict with little or
no outward manifestation Of feeling. When he
came in 20 the court in the morning. he had a
broad smile on his Countenanee; he did not autici-
pate such verdict. The reality had taken all
color from his face, yet he bore up with an iron
nerve 1t had been generally circulated about
town for several days, that if Gambri WAS cou Vict.
cd, an attempt would be made TO rescue him iron.
the officers of the law by gang of desper ADDE'S
who had hung about the court during the whole
trial. The sheriff and his deputies, and a very
large police force, detailed for the purpore were
oD hand to prevent such an act being accomplish
ed.
Instantly on the rendition of the verdict pecu.
liar whistle was heard from various parts Of the
lobby, and parties began to crowd out into the
hail of the courthouse. The signs sufficient
to place the officers on the alert.
Ii had been usual to bring the prisoner into
court and to take bin out through the north door,
on Lexington street, he being conveyed TO aud
| from the Jail in a hack. A large part of the
crowd had gone out that door to await his com x
| there, and attempt the rescue. hack had been
placed quietly, however, at Court House laue aud
attempted by the officers, to got the prison
or out that way.
1t was nearly dark ia the streets, on account of
| the cloudy weather. Suddenly, the prisoner in
charge of the warden of the Jail and deputies the
sheriff aud police, passed out the court room and
out tue eouth door of the court house to the lane,
and to the hack at the "Giimor House" coraer-
| The Iuse discovered and with cry Of Here
| ne is,' a rush made from all quarters to the
hack. Gambrill was placed in it, with the warden
| of the jail deputy Owens aud others, the police
force surrounding the carriage aud endeayornR to
keep the crowd back.
Several hundred nfuriated men had rushed I'D
| to attempt the rescue. As the hack started down
Calvert street there were cries of "Shoot him
shoot him." but whether applied to the driver of
the hack, the officers in charge of the prisoner or
whom, could not be determined. During the rush
and in the meelee some one snapped the cap of II
pistol, but it could not be seen who it aimed
at. There was intense excitement in the vicinity
The hack was rapidly driven down Calvert
street, the crowd following with imprecations to
Baltimore street.
The hack proceeded down Calvert street, to Wa
ter street, where it was stopped by Capt. Owens
springing out aud presenting pistol at the driver
threatening TO shoot him. 1t is alleged that the
driver, either from fright or design, was proceed
ing to Federal Hill with the prisoner.
The hack WAS uow turned down Water to Souih
street. thence into SecoLd street, thence TO tie Y
street, along Gay to Saraioga, and up sarato. u
street to the midue station-hu u,e aud the priso
er safely secured.
1t was stated that large body of persons had
pFUCGeueu TO tue Ufiuk6 hL MaulS0E street, TO
tercept the officers on the way to the Jail with IT,
prisoner great crowd had, in a very short
time, assembled at and surrounded the police sta
ton.
A large body of the police. some eighty in nxm-
her, OF the night and day force, was collected in
tie station house and armed with loaded III uskets
under the direction Of Marshal Herring. They
were formed in a hollow square at the front en-
france. and Sheriff Creamar, Marshal Herring and
Capt. Brashers, brought Gambrlll out, and took a
ipp in at Eo'p loci thnS
start ed for the Jail, walking between the files of
armed police. large crowd followed, but made
40 attempt at rescue, merely giving vent to hoet-
ing and curses.
In due time Gambrill arrived at the Jail and was
safely lodged in cell. There being appreheEsious
that the Jail might be attacked, a body of police
left there to guard the place during last night
Friday night about O'Clock, Robt. w. Rigdor,
a policeman who one of the witnesses against
Gambrill, was shot dead in his house. The same
paper says:
The bloody deed was perpetrated by party of
men who approached by alley in the rear OF
the house. kiedon, warned by threats made
against his life, had retired 10 his home after roll
caI, and was standing with his coag off conyers.
iug with his wife, When several shots fired.
ard several heavy balls or sugs entered his side
about the kidneys, aud one above the shoulder
blade in the neck. RigdDn, who was leaning
against the mant piece, moved several PAGES, and
falling the feet of his wife, died before medical
aid could be summoned.
officers j. Cook and Hudgins, attracted by the
sports readily orjectured the cause, and running
10 the house, encountered man named Peter Cur
ry with others. The officers attempted TO arrest
Curry, when he fired two shots from a revolver at
Cook, without effect. lie arrested aud con-
fined in the station. The rumor of the shooting
Immediately spread though every quarter of the
city, and large crowd assembled ut the house,
where the body lay, and around the station house
on Green street.
Marshal Herring was soon at the station house
uony in Gambrl's case, had made themselves OBJ
nox GUS to his friends, to ba recalled from their
beats.
The people as well as the police insisted as soon
as Curry was brought to the police station, on
hanging him without delay, and were abont to
proceed TO the work, when lie pleaded for his life
aud saif ne would tell all he knew of the murder.
He then stated that Marion Crops, and himself,
wen. to the house Of Rigd0n, and going up the side
alley found the back door open, when Crops
fired the fatal shot.
Information OF the completely of these parties
was at once sent to the middle district police sta
zion and Lieut.. Carmichael and Sergeant McComas
taIted in search of the parties. They found
Groups at drinking house Holiday street, and
at once took him into custody, and conveyed him
to the middle district police station, where he was
pursuit of the parties charged, and they arrested
q man named VIM. Befeltt, at the corner of Fay-
site and Holiday streets. and he too was taken to
the middle district police station.
considerable crowd of persons assembled and
there we're strong murmuiiUgs of at once visiting
vengeance upon them. Throughout the city the
most intense excitement prevailed, aud everybody
seemed appalled, at so cold b!ooded murder.
while their Indignation reached well near up to
violence.