The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-23
HORRIBLE AFFAIR-sHooTING OF A

The Branch then adjourned until tomorrow after
noon at o'clock.
HORRIBLE AFFAIR-SHOOTING OF A
LAMPLIGHTER.
ARREST AND EXAMINATION OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERERs
Yesterday morning between twelve and one
o'clock man named Joseph B. Richardson a street
lampEghter in the western section of the city, was
shot through the body, while in the discharge Of
his duty. The wound was inflicted by one of party
of young men standing in front of restaurant kept
by JAS B. McAbee, the southeast corner of Oregon
and Baltimore streets. 1t appears that when he
received the hct Richardson had Just extinguished
lamp on the southwest corner, opposite to where
the party of young men were standing, and was
proceeding with his ladder on his shoulder to the
next lamp at Dewberry alley. He proceeded on
until within few feet of the residence of Dr. Hels
by, on the south side of Baltimore street. near the
alley, when he staggered and fell PROSTATE upon
the door steps, where he was found some few min
utes afterwards by officer, and taken into the
house of the Docto. ,who,upo examining the wound
discovered that the ball had entered the back
OF the unfortunate man inch from the spinal col
umn, and passing through the ntestines had i'm
bedded itself under the skin OF the stomach near
the naval. From DR.. Helsby's residence the suf-
ferer soon after removed in a wagon to his
own house, No. 10 St. Peter street, near Scott
street. and the medical assistance of Drs. II. W.
Coburn and Richards called in. They Immediately
set 10 Wofh To dress the wound and find the ball,
winch proved to be OF a pistol size The doctors
think it impossible for the wounded man to survive
as the intestnes cut through by the passage of
the bullet. Richardson has wife and three small
children c depending entirely on him for support
de is tailor by trade, and mas not long been in
the service of the city in the capacity of lamp
lighter. 1t is gratifying to learn that number of
our citizens are subscribing to fund placed in the
hands of Sergeant A. j. Bartholow, at the Western
district station house. for the relief of the desti-
tute family OF the unfortunate man.
Soon alter the shot was fired officers Horarth
and Murray arrested Thomas A. Kennard, Edward
Bell, Nelson Holland and John Mallory, and took
them to the Western district station house, where
they were held for an examination before the Nav
or. kennard is the only one against whom there
is any evidence. He is young man about 23 years
or age, and with wife and family resides in Holins
street, near Oregon His occupation is that of a
deputy clerk in the Superior Court From all ac
counts he has hitherto borne most excellent char
acter. lie is the same person who was witness in
the case OF the State Crops and Corrie indicted
for the murder of Rigdon. At the examination he
gave no reason for shooting Richardson but it is
alleged that be had previously ascribed it to acc-
dent. lie also said that he never bore the unfortu-
nate man any malice and did not even know he was
shot till arrested
At nine O'Clock Kennard and his companions
were carried to the Marshal's Office and in the alb
sence OF the Mayor, examined before Justice Meal
lister, when the following testimony was elected:
Officer Hogarth testified that between fifteen and
twenty minutes before II O'Clock, he heard two
shots fired Baltimore street near Oregon: and
proceeding towards the direction of the sound on
countered crowd OF young men circulating about
after minute or so had elapsed, heard double
rap given and went towards the spot; on the way
met officer Trigg, who told witness that some one
| had been shot: went towards McAbee's tavern ON
the corner of Oregon and Baltimore streets, and ar
! rested Thos. A kennard and Others
officer John Freeman testified to the fact of hav-
ing heard the pistol firing and that he found Rich
| ardson lying on the door steps of Dr. HaIsbv,s
| residence: lp thOupht h,t,r
undeceived by the wounded man, who told the wit
ness that he had been shot.
James b. McAbee, sworn-keeps a restaurant
on the southeast corner of Oregon and Baltimore
streets, and resides at the same place. about /.
o'clock on Monday night witness closed up his bar
and retired to rest and shortly before II o'clock
was awakened by party of young men who wished
| to get something to drink; got up and went down
stairs to let them in; before wi ness could get down
pistol was fired OFT on the corner; on opening the
door saw kennard and four or five others; thew en-
| tered and ordered something, when officer Murray
also cane In; he said that man had been shot and
1T necessary for him to arrest the whole partv.
he and another officer then proceeded towards
the door; the young men following in the rear;
hennard also followed, and as he passed out laid a
revolver on the bar, without saving anytbing: 1.-THE
pistol was here produced and identified by the wit
ness; 1t was Warrens revolver, with two barrels
discharged, and cap on third nipple indicated
that 1t had been snapped the barrel of the weapon
bore evident traces OF recent discharge; the bal
which was taken from the wound was also produced
and found to fit the barrel of kennard's
weapon exactly. The witness continued-after
lne oIncerS went away with hennard and the
rest In custody; witness hitched up his horse anC
wagon and conveyed the wounded man from DR.
Helsby's, to his own house on St Peter street anC
during his absence, Captain Lineweaver and Sar
geant Bartholow came to his bar room and obtained
the pistol that kennard had left; the bar keeper
gave it to them; he was in ignorance that it haC
been left till he looked around and found it.
Richard Harris, sworn.-Reside in Boyd street
, he woe Spbp op5 i
his way home from work about IL % o'clock Mon
day night, when he met with kennard and a party
OF young men who were on the corner of Baltimore
and Oregon Streets they were in front of tn,
door Of McAbee's restaurant trying to get in to OBJ
tain something to drink Kennard as well as 9th
ers asked witness to stop and take something; h
refused and said he must be Off towards home
they detained him a moment in conversation; saw
lamplighter extinguish the light in street lam,
on one "t the opposite corners, and cross over to
wards another corner; while so doing he was shot
at this time kennard was standing near the side en-
trance to the restaurant; he stood some three fee
from witness; saw a pistol in his hand, immedi
ately after the explosion; did not see the prisone
fire it off would not say he fired it; Kennard was il
lquor at the time and talking to the bows whe,
it went Off there was no person in the street a
the time except the party on the corner and th
lampghter crossing over.
Officer Jesse H. Murray, sworn-About twenty
minutes TO Il o'clock witness was on the southwes
corner of Baltimore and Oregon streets: heard
pistol report, apparently Republican street
went down there, and the fash and heard tn
report of another pistol met an officer and pro
ceeded IN search OF those who fired; when nea
Mr. w mans residence overlook Kennard and three
Others they spoke to witness, and said all wa
right; thought all was not right, and concluded t.
follow and watch them; did so by taking a 'bacl
track and doubling on them;' soon after, it strucl
II O'Clock, and witness went up towards Nc
Abees; saw the same party, before encountered, a
the door; they asked witness to drink; refused ant
went on; had not proceeded far when another sho
was fred; went back and told the young men the,
must stop that-they had carried it far enough
they replied that the pistol had gone off by acci
dent; after warning them to put the weapon up ant
take 1t out no more, witness went awav; in a mo
ment or so after, heard that man had been sho
on the corner; went back and arrested the part,
at McAbee's.
Sergeant A. j. Barthoow, sworn.-Heard tn
pistol fired and the double rap given; saw the off
GERS bring. the young man out of McAbee's and wen
with them to the station house; after the sun wa
up repaired to the house of Richard Harris to az
rest nm; be was anxious to know for what
witness gave him no satisfaction but questioned hin
concerning the shooting; he said that Kennard hat
! hallooed to him across the street, (when he frs
saw hlm) that ii be did not come over he (kennard
would shoot him (Iiarris;) this was done, as Har
rs alleged in jocuar manner; he also said tn
lamplighter was on Republican street. three or fou
doors from the corner, when he was shot at.
Harris was at this juncture re-called-He SAT-
that when kennard threatened to kin him he di
1t in Jocuar way; he, however, had pistol in hi
hand when witness crossed over to him.
On being asked if he had any witnesses to pro
duce, kennard signifed that he had not wher
Frederick Plnckney, Esq, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, remarked that it painful duty hl
had to perform in the present instance. He said HI
had known Mr.. Kennard long time, and that he
was young man of the highest responsibility
BY drink he had gotten himself into what coulC
not but be termed serious difficulty. He coult
not think the act premeditated, but it was Ger
talnly wanton and may put the accused in DANCE
OF his life. The law is explicit in its definition 0
and provisions for the punishment of a crime lik
the present When party on an open highwa,
needlessly shoots and kills passer it is considered
manslaughter. If he knew that any one wa
in the way, and the ball should kill tina
case the crime whatever it may be, is not yet con
summated. The party wounded is yet alive. In tn
meantime-he would ask for a committaI of the ac
saulting with intent to kill Joseph B. Richardson
Justice McAllister then committed Kennard-
He fixed the bail at 81 0O0 which he said he woult
leave with the Court to take or not-as it pleased
For himself the Justice refused bail, although i
was offered. The remainder of the young men ar
rested with kennard were recognized for their fll
ture appearance witnesses in the case.
Richardson has retained his consciousness eve
since he received the wound He SAYS that he saw
the party of young men on the corner OPPOSITE
him, and that they all dressed in dark clothes
The man who shot him, he AYERS, deliberatel
stretched his arm towards himself but not dream
ing of any harm, he did not know what to make O
it till he received the shot. He further states tha
the man who did so shoot was,ta, habited in black
and a biUh crowned silk hat