The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-12

with, or can throw any light on this matte
let him speak.
Coroner Come, little fellow, let us hear
what you know of the matter.
Henry terguson-W When on my way tt
take the marketing home this morning,
met negro boy from the hotel, who asked
me where Mrs. Moore's millinery shop was.
pointed it out to him and then asked him
1t they had found out who stabbed Virgil
MUS. He said he wasn't stabbed, but was shot
in the neck-that was about 8 o'clock this
morning.
| George, recalled
A Juror-How did you KIN ow this morn
ing that Virginius was shot!
George-l heard some gentlemen say go
in the office laat night.
| prior to this George had been confronted
with Henry Ferguson and had admitted
that he had held this conversation ]
DR. Andreaos and other Physicians.-These
gent emen now reported to the jury that
the child had come to his death by gun
shot wound.
Mr.. Barry, Juror, addressing himself
to DR.. Andrews-Do you think it possible
that the child could have shot himself.
DR.. Andre'os-Could not say; he thought
persons accustomed to sporting could an
swer that better than himself He thought
that it might have been the result of acct
dent.
Mr.. Barry-Can either of the physicians
account for the marks of violence on the
chin
DR.. Holmes-I think that he fell after he
was shot and struck his chin against the
muzzle in the fall.
The jury then Slammed the the matter up
in the following words, and signed in the or
der as given below.
City of Norfolk-An acquisition, taken at
the National Hotel in the City of Norfolk
on the 10th day Of December, the year 1859,
before f. I. Summers, Coroner OF said city,
upon the body of Virginius Leonard then iy.
Jag dead; the Jury .swern to inquire when,
how, " here and by what m cans the said Virgi,
MUS Leonard came to his death, the jurors
upno their tbs do say that he came to his
deathbetween the hours and o'clock, on
the afternoon of Friday, the 9th OF Decem-
Der, by the accidental discharge of a gun in
his own hands
Signed-E Summers. Coroner; Thomas
Newton, L d Toy, j. Barry, A 7 NJ
Rowland, j Bloodgood, John E Doyle, Jno
B Whitehead, Vickery, 8 Hartshorn.
Great praise ia due DR.. G alt for the perse-
verencs he manifested in this matter, for at
one time the other physicians had decided
that the woand was inflicted with sharp
instrument, and one OF them said that he
was as certain OF il as if he had seen it done,
or had done it himself. DR.. Gait, however,
did not think so, and continued his labors
alone until he fouad the charge of shot as
above mentioned.
This of course, relieved the minds of the
Jurors and fastened the verdict. 1t also
relieved the minds of the friends of Mr. Wal
ters, the proprietor of the National Hotel, |
who was weighed down with grief at the
idea of such a diabelical crime as child MUIR
der having been SO mysterioasly committed
in his house and no clue to the perpetrator. |
The lends and relatives also feel indebted
to this promising young physician for re-
moving from their minds the painful thought
that this innocent child had been thus bru-
tally murde red in cold blood; and indeed the
whole community are indebted to him for
thus removing all suspicion and quieting all
the thousand and one idle though painful
rumors which had been put in circulation in
connection with this sad and fatal affair.
The remains of the innocent little fellow
who had thus been swept into an early grave,
was inferred yesterday afternoon. His flu
neral took place from Christ Church, at the
corner of Freemasoa and Cumberland sts.,
and was attended by a large circle of rela-
tives and friends; number of his little play
mates, and numerous throng of citizens,
all Of whom were smitten with grief at his
untimely end. He was the pride and darling
of his parents, the pet and hope OF his rela-
tives; the favorite of his school fellows, and
a general favorite in the Hotel where he
boarded. His death cast a gloom over the
whole circle OF his family and acquaintance,
and left can aching void which time can
never FILL" 1t is matter of serious cor
graduation that DR.. Gait differed with the
other physicians on the post mortem exami-
nation, for by so doing he has been enabled
to wipe away all suspicion, and ease the
minds OF the childs father and friends of
the painful idea that he was murdered. All
honor to DR.. Gait for thus clearing up this
mystery and quoting an excitement which
had spread over the whole community, and
which might have excited them to violence
for there was an intense excitement, and had
the slightest suspicion of guilt rested on any
particular person, we know not what would
have been the consequence.
ACCIDENTAL youth, 9 years old, named Al.
bert, the son of Mr.. Nathan Baum, OF this city,
met with the misfortune on Saturday evening
to break his leg. 1t appears from what we can
learn, that he was riding in his fathers wagon
and the axle-tree breaking caused him to fall
over to the ground, the wheels of the wagon
passing over his leg, Just below the knee break
ina the hone He 1pas arriad intn the drug