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

HOfEL.-At eleven CLOCK, OaLuEuay, Wv"
ner Summers, assisted by officer Miles y Cox,
summoned jury to examine into the sup
posed murder Of Virginus Leonard, whose
lielsss body hal been found by Lieut.. Muir
ply in No. 81, ational Hotel, the aftern Don
before. The jury Gas named beow) was
composedkf twelve as stable, reliable and
intelligent gentlemen as any community can
produce, the officer having expressed s de-
termination tha night before to have none
other. About halfpast eleven, they we're
conducted to No. 81, where, in presence OF
the mangled remains of the innocent victim,
they were duly sworn to diligently investi-
gate how, why, where and when the deceas-
ed came to his death. This solemn oath
having been administered by Coroner sum
msrs, the cloth was removed, and the pale
features and CHASTITY wound OF the youthful
dead was exposed to their view. The inves-
figa alton then commenced and the first wit
ness was produced
lieut.. Murphy, U. s. Navy, s'0orn.-l am
a hoarder at the National Hotel. and occupy
Froom No. 81, where the body OF Virginius
Leonard now lies. After dinner on Friday,
" started to take my daughter and several
other ladies to see the WinaRs' steamer, and
as passed out, gave my shawl to little ne
gro boy named George, with orders to take
it to my room. | then procured hack,
and visited the steamer as had intended
r. returned toThe Hotel about 4 q O'Clock, p.
M, and stopped at the Office to say to Mr..
Camp, the book-keeper, that ! was going
to my room to take a nap, and wanted him
to have me woke up about 6I o'clock. This
Mr.. Camp promised to do, and ] proceeded
up stairs when reached this floor, passed
my room door and entered Purser Johnson's
room; and entered into conversation with
bin, while warming myself at the fire; in
few minutes left his room and proceeded
= TO my own; when l reached the door found
it hauled too; opened it; but before open
ed it, spoke to Mrs. Garrison; when open
ed the door. saw the lad lying upon the
floor near the door; then called to Mrs.
Garrison and exclaimed, "Good God Leon
ards boy is dead" | then ran to Purser
Johnson's room door and called him out;
while he and myself were converting, Mr..
Leonard came by and entered his room; we
then called Mr.. Leonard out, and said to
him, ave have sad news for yoa; you are
man, and must bear it like man." | then
told him that his boy was dead He made
some exclamation, and passed into my room,
several of us after him. Mr.. Leonard then
said, "Wrap him up" and desired that some
one should go for DR.. Andrews.
Here Lieut.. Murphy explained to the
jury the position of the bedy.1
then took hold of him to lift him, and
seeing the braise on his chin and blood on
his head, said some one has battered bis
head. Dr. Andrews now came in, and said
be must be laid out. DR.. Holmes now came
in, and after he was laid upon the chest, as
sisted Doctor Andrews in examining the
wound.
Cross-esanained.-Sent the boy up with
the shawl about ~ ocock-there was no.
thing about the room that could have been
used to kill him-tWO guns were in the
room; had loaned one out, and don't know
whether twas returned loaded or not.
Here the two double barrel guns were ex-
amined, and three of the four barrels found
10 be loaded.
When the body was discovered, the coat
was buttoAed up, and We could not see the
wound in the throat. Mr.. Leonard was the
first one to get clearly inside of the room al
Ter the discovery Of the body; my room was
searched to see if weapon could be found,
but nothing was discovered; nothing in the
room appeared to be disturbed.
At this stage of the proceedings, some one
of the jurers suggested that the press be ex
cluded, and no one allowed in but the Coro-
ner and jurors. TO this step, we positively
and firmly objected; we stated to the jury
that we were there from the promptings of
no idle curiosity, but as the representative
<-of the people of this community; that if we
were excluded, it would be the first instance
on record where the liberty and privileges
of the press had been prescribed in this re-
publican country; and we claimed to be pres
cut ON no personal grounds, but as the rep.
resentativs of the city, as connected with
her organ; that we could not yield to their
decision, because it would be setting pre-
csdent which might be the beginning of the
hnal destruction of the liberty of the press.
We were then informed that no witnesses
would be examined in our absence, and that
when witness was called, we should be ad-
nitted. Under these considerations, we re-
tired 10 company with our brothers of the
turn. What was done or said during our
absence, we are unable to say
The body was then removed by the jurors
to larger room and the post norton exam
nation commenced under the direction OF
Dire Andrews, Holmes and Gait. assisted by
Or. robert w. Rose. The wound was as
, they supposed, Thoroughly dissected, and the
jury satisfied that death was produced by
some sharp instrument which had severed
the windppe and penetrated the thorax to
the vertebrse. DR.. Calf, however, was not
fully satisfied, and after other physicians had
formed their conclusions, he in support of
sf-his theory prolonged the examination and
turned the body on its face he then made