The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-18
TRIAL OF PETER CORRIE
AT TOWSONTOWN.
FOR TIE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGDON.
FOURTH DAY.

defence.
State rs Peter Cnre indicted for the murder of police
officer Robert NJ. Rigdon, by shooting him with pistol
; on the 9Th of November last
On the opening of the Court to day the examination Of
witnesses for the State resumed. The first witness
called was
Henry Champagne sworn.-Witness recoects the eve
ming of the murder of Rigon about that eve
ming witness saw Crops and Corre in Cherrys
minutes after this Adam Goddess Hy Smith fry
ana witness were standing Cherry when Crops
and Corrie from Porters corner Corre asked
if 6amb had been conviced witness answered that he
had been convicted of murder in the first degree Crops
to Adam Goddess and struck him the breast Ged
desS told crops not to do that again else he would hit
him; Crops then drew out large pistol, when Mr. Hill
bert told him to put it up; Mr. Rigdon then came along
from the watch house, when of them said sis Ri
don p? somebody said it Corre over d
agonay to Perkins corner, and when he oppo
site side Of the he wstled Crops proceeded
down the street in the direction Rgdon taking;
witness did not them after that the pistol Crops had
looked like gun cut of tpistol shown it looked like
| that.
THE testimony of Mr.. Champagne substantially the
same as given in Cropps' trial
Cross examined by Mr.. Preston.-Wtness was in the
front part of Cherry store witness does recoec
present then; did not hear any then
about GambrPs trial; witness Corre attempt to 90
in the back of Cherrys store and Cherry make
objections to Corrie going back.
Mr.. Preston-"What did Cherry say to Corrie at that
time 90
Mr.. Gitngs.-"Stop Witness don't answer that; we
object to the question: please the Court The
sci wants to admit the declaration of third party in
! favor of the prisoner
Mr. Preston conended that all that took place in Cher
rvs at that time part of the whole transaction and
should TO the jury evidence. The declaration of
third party he argued could he admtted State had
right to isolate the declaration The defence wants
show that while Corre in Cherrys Cherry pushed
him back and said he did not allow drunken men to go
among his customers.
The Court ruled that the declarations of Cherry at this
time not competent testimony.
. Witness continued-Does not recollect who were in
Cherrys store then; witness did any thing said
then about Gambr1ll being convi ted; witness Mr.
Cherry go and shut the door of the back room To
Corre from going into it, that is the pistol
my recollection the pistol found at Rgdon's again
shown;l witness saw part of it sticking ont Of Cropns
| iVplV IN itnaS t;..l
that had something like wire tied around barrel
had known Crops three or four years thinks Corrie
into Cherrys store first; witness had speaking ac
quantance with Crops; don't know where Courtney's
tavern is
on the North side; as soon Corre whisted Crops
started after him the side of the street, witness
noticed Corrie going down on the side.
BY Mr.. Preston-There are great MANY persons mass
ing in that neighbOrhood at that time the evening wit
ness don't recoect seeing omnibuses passing that
moment
By a Juror.-Did not any with Corrie when he
whistled.
Adam Geddes, swornon the night of the murder wit
ness was standing on Cherrys with Mr. Cham
payne Mr.. Geddes, and Mr. Hilbert: about 90 minutes
Of eight O'Clock Crops and Corre to the
corner. and Corie asked what the verdict in Gam
brill's case; answered at first Mr. Smith then
spoke and said Gambrll convicted Of murder in
the first degree; Crops up witness struck
him the breast wtnss told Crops do that else
he would hit him and witness put his hand pocket to
draw something to hit him with Crops then drew pistol
and witness pushed aside when Mr. Hilbert told Cropps
put it mp; Rgdon came along after that and Corie
asked ''iS that Rgdon? was:'' Corre
then crossed over to Perkins corner and made a signal
when told Crops that Corie was calling him
Crops then followed after Rgdon was large pistol
which Crops drew, but witness can't identify it. The
testimony of this witness about the as that
Cross examined by Mr.. Preson.-Have known Cropps
about eight years
pocket to get something to hit Crops with What was
It, you were going to strike Crops with ?"
witness.-''I decline answering that question"
Mr. Glttngs.-"Well you needn't answer it, if you
don't to-
Witness to Mr.. Preson.-''WeI if YOU want to know 7
going to hit him with a billy"
No facts elected in the examination of
this witness
Henry Halbert sworn.-The testimony of this witness
exactly the that given upon Cropps trial and
corroborated that given by Champagne and Geddes.
Cross examined by Mr.. PrestonAfter Cropps put the
pistol away Rgdon passed along; Corrie
more street and then Green street to Perkins corner
witness is there kind of signal given by
Corre; witness thinks there not at that time as
many persons passing along as is usual have known
Crops FIVE six years; know where Courtneys is
never was in it never CoTie before that night
BY Juror.-Am certain that it Corrie who gave
the signal.
Henry Smith, sworn-Witness was on Cherry's corner
when he first Rigdon that night Rgdon was on Por
ters corner, in company with officer Snchcomb witness
saw Crops and Corrie the corner; they came
from towards Pearl street. they
Amey 5; they came out of Amey's and went into Cher
rys: after they out of Cherry's they over
wards Clouds; when they out of Clouds they
out Baltimore street in about ten minutes they
Cherry's corner where witness standing. with Ged
des, Champagne and Hilbert.
THE witness then related what on Cherry's
and Hilbertl
Cross examined by Mr. Preston-Saw Crops and Cor
rie first that evening about twenty after seven
O'Clock; did not testify the former trial that it was
seven o'clock; witness has known Crops three or
four years; witness four five feet off Crops
when he drew the pistol Gedde witness resides in R
borg street Fremont knows where Courneys
is; in it election day; used Cronps
ten; used to him at night; witness thinks there
more whites than blacks residing Raborg between
Pine and Pearl Streets noticed
Courney's and Rigdons; can't say if Courneys the
headquarters of the Rip Rap Club witness believes it s
witness never took notice there large gap in the
fence between Rigdons and Trpps the negros yard did
not know Corrie.
Officer Dehrng, sworn-Saw Rigdon at the station
house the night of the CALL it was half
past o'clock witness left the station house
twenty minutes of eight O'Clock went towards
Baltimore street. witness Crops Cherrys corner
and him lay his hand upon young man. then cross
street going west Cropps the street
looking south when he crossing street. witness
went on behind Crops towards Rgdon's house. and
tced Crops looking back several times when witness
got to Rgdons house he Crops stop and look
in and when witness got opposite the house Cropps turn
ed his back towards the house and put his hands up to
the back of his head; he then standing under the
lamp witness then went five six houses further
turned and saw Crops still standing there witness
known Crops about three years.
Mr.. Gittings-"Did Crops know you 81
Mr. Preston-"l object to that, how can the witness
whether Crops knew him. he tell what was pass
ing in Crops mind at that time ?"
Judge Prce-"rhe witness say if Crops
quanted with him. not that he knew him at that par
Mr.. Preston-"The Court draws very proper distinc
ton can't object to him answering whether Crops
acquainted with him
| Mr.. Gitngs-"That was my question:"
Mr. Preston-"No SIR
Mr. Gittings-''I beg your pardon, asked the witness
| if Crops was acquainted with him.
Judge Prce-"That was theinenton of the question at
all events. Proceed with the examination
Witness continued-Cropps was acquainted with wit
ness This witness reiterated the testimony given by
| him upon the trial of Crops
| Crossexamined by Mr.. Preston.-witness thinks
Crops had on drab cap that night witness does
there club in that section of the city called
! hear ,ras Sunh cub Init
does not know them witness supposes about
five minutes after he left tie station house saw
Crops standing in front o Rgdons; witness
Corre to his recollection until he him in the
house at Baltimore; witness beat is the same as that
which Rigdon had previous to his murder witness had
his star on that night he substitute officer then.
! Thomas Kennard, sworn-Mr. Kennard related that
upon the night Of the murder he passing out Bat
street and after passing Rigdon's
doors he saw person. who the prisoner standing
cellar door this called witness him asked
him about somebody witness don't know who; witness
then turned and saw Cropps standing awning
post near Kigdons Crops came up and struck witness
on the breast crops said they have convicted Hen
Gambr his friends say what they will do but | will do
more than any of them will into the court when
they sentence him, and take him prisoners
box Corrie then spoke and said, "No, by Cd they
shall never hang Hen GambrilI."
| The witness went and reiterated the testimony
given by him on Crops trial, in every particular
Cross examined by Mr. Preson.-Witness leaves his
Office at different times it was O'Clock when he left
upon this night witness heard the verdict in Gambris
trial before he left the Office witness could
| what Corre said to him when he first stopped him.
By Juror-Witness does not consider the blow given
him by Crops assault
Mr.. Preston-"Wasnt it friendly, familiar kind of
| slap
Witness'My friends are not in the habit of approach
| ing Inc that way.n
Witness continued-Have known Crops three or four
years. had speaking acquaintance with him. used
him often about in the summer time witness used to
Crops almost every Saturday morning in Court lane;
witness could look out his office window and see him. wit
| ness was not examined before the Mayor before
the Coroner; was summoned here the week before
the trlai OF Crops; witness divulged his
testimony before he gave it here Crops trial;
witness heard the first report when he in the book
store ana when he came out he heard five six shots
more; the last shots witness thinks as the
frst. because witness them; witness don
recoilect hearing shots fired after he saw Core
down zine street, witness don't recolect seeing Crops
standing the of Pine Baltimore
re did not know witness and when he asked witness
go IN and tell Rgdon to out he said lyon in he
put an emphasis on the word you because he did moi
know witness name, as he supposes; many times as
witness was interrupted it took him eight o'clock tt
get to Graham's.
Mr. Preston to the time you left the office
which you say was seven o'clock, and allowing fol
the interruptions on your and the time spent in Ora
hams, you heard the shot before eight o'clock"
| Witness.-"Fhats what you make it"
There no new facts ELECTED in Mr. Kennard
1t being two O'Clock the Court took recess FIR three
quarters of an hour
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On the re-assembing of the Court the examination
witnesses continued
Miss Sarah Hal, sworn-Knew Mr. Rigdon resided il
his family at the time of his death present in tn
room at the time of his death; about II O'Clock tn
night OF the 9th OF November young man who had or
dered some SHIRTS came in, and being an acquaintance
witness asked him in the back room about 25 minutes al
ter, Mr.. Rigdon came home and sat down 10 the bac
room witness seeing the lamp wanted filing asked Mrs
kgdon, II there any oil in the house; Mrs. Rigdo