Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-08-18
ALEXANDRIA.
Correspo~denes Of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, August Is, 1859.
further examination of the facts concerning
the murder Of the sailor VIM King by a shipmate
was had by Justice Price at hts Office yesterday AZ
ternoon when the following evidence was ELECTED
WV. Madison, sworn.-s a seafsring man, and
was boarding at the house where the homicide
occurred; about half past O'Clock on Wednesday
morning Riley came to Petfey's house, and Meet
ing witness at the front door of the darkroom
asked him II King was there; witness fearing
difficulty started 10 warn King, who was In the
back yard washing his face, that Riley was search
ing for him; Riley followed witness through the
house, and meeting King at the back door leading
to the yard Riley drew a sheath knife and made
pass with II at King, but missed him; he made
second attempt TO stab him, and cut himself in
the right leg King then attempted to retreat, and
said Don't, Joe," when Riley Immediately
thrust the knife into Kings breast and walked
away; King lived but a short time; the knife was
sheath knife, such are generally used by sail
orsi did not hear Riley say why he intended to
At the conclusion of this witness's evidence.
the prisoner, who seemed to be laboring under
great mental excitement. addressed few remar ks
to the magistrate. He acknowledged his guilt,
but protested that he did not intead to kill King
but only to mark him in revenge for the wounds
be (king) had inflicted upon him with a sluny.
shot the night previous. He represented the de-
ceased as being man Of an overbesring tyran-
meal spirit, and WIS considered such by all bis
shipmates, who tried to keep aloof from him az
much as possible, to avoid difficulty. The pris
oner had also tried to shun him. and had not had
a serious quarrel with him until Tuesday mig hit
when they all went on shore and got drunk
King then beat the prisoner, striking him with
slung-s several times. Had deceased whipped
him fairly he would not have sought such re.
venge. but deceased was much larger man thar
the prisoner, and he thought he had been grossly
1 Imposed upon. He was sorry that he had taken
life, but was willing to abide the conseq uences
After the prisoner had finished his remarks
during which he alluded to his willingness Il
submit to an examination into his character a,
compared with that Of deceased, much sympathy
was expressed in his behalf by persons present
The magistrate then called the next witness
| VIM Shut, sworn.-Was appointed watchmar
on board the ship Chas. Ward; about TO- o'cloc
on Tuesday night, Riley with three or four of hi.
| shiPmates, came on board, seemingly intoxicated
witness noticed that Riley was bleeding profusel,
| from the nose and mouth; called the mate of tins
SHIP who procured some waite for the prisoner Il
wash ms face; witness left the ship at five O'Clock
ana walked , over to the house Of Captain Pettey
| while there, Riley came up and said 'sWhere il
| the Id Irish son OF a b-h,'' Prisoner ther
passed through the house. toward the yard; wit
ness heard anoise, and some one cried out-think
II was female voice; did not see the prisoner Gu
| deceased; Riley came out in few momcnts witt
a bloody knife in his hand and said 1--we killed
the Irish son of b-h; there Is no law for killing
| ADD Irish son of b-h." The prisoner seemed
much excited, and Immediately walked in tn,
direction of the ship. Witness is a resident o
| Alexandria.
| Officer Padgeu testified to having arrested tn,
| PASoutiS hlicy was sODeI al the witness ar
rested him. but was much excited; told witness b,
was sorry he had killed him, but he had rid tn,
world of bully.
| Justice Price then committed the prisoner t.
| jail TO await a further examination at Septembe
| Court. VIM. Madison was also committed IN de
fault OF 500 bail to appear a witness for tn,
| commonwealth. Shut, the other witness, en-
| tered bail for his appearance.
| The prisoner shows unmstakable signs o
having received a most unmerciful beat mo-, sew
eral Of his teeth being knocked out and one sid,
OF his face was black and blue and much swollen
| and presented shoe king appearance. The wounc
| In bis leg, inflicted by his own hand during tn,
melee, is also severe, and il with difficult,
he was enabled to walk. The officer procured al
omnibus and conveyed him TO the Jail at the clos.
| OF the examination. The prisoner is about 3
/ years OF age, and a native of Liverpool, England
but has been in this country for eighteen years
| He says he has an uncle living in the State o
| Delaware. He shipped in the Charles Ward a
| Callao, together with deceased, but had neve
| seen him until then.
| During the examination large crowd gathered
IN and about the Office Of the mag istrate, curiou
| to get glimpse at the prisoner.
Our thanks are due Justice Price for afordi n,
us the facilities for reporting the evidence in Ia
| examination. CARLOS