The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-05
PRICE ONE CENT.
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATTHR0.
Shooting Of o. p. Simms-In the Mayors
court yesterday, JOIN. H. MILTON, charged
Mn.a, I'm shooting 0. p. Simms, at the Exchange
ra;. y;si. on the night Of the 10Th inst, was ar
g .saSnsa before the Mayor, to answer for
~ sne oience. Melton came into Court about
~ ~ O'Clock, and took his seat in the criminal
improved since his arrest. and while hs En-
sloiteo no defiance or daring, he gave no evil
uence OF alarm about his situation. He was
su,nea nn Dy DIS counsel, Messrs. johnson & Gui-
son dho Judge Crump, About haif-past 10
O'Clock, and was soon after placed An The har ~,
undergo an Investigation. -
Judge Crump desired to know IL II would
ta no. save Time to defer the investigation for a
lew oays SO that the physicians OF Mr. Simms
might be able TO conclude with some cerfaintv
what was to be the effect of his wound Han
examination were now had, and the prisoner
We're sent on for unlawful shooting, he could
waive An Examining Court and 20 to trial
IN tne circuit Court at once. On that trial. IL
ne should be convicted, and while under that
conviction Simms were to die, the prisoner
would then be sent back to the commit,inv
magistrate, and while going through ali the
trial this fall
The Mayor could see no way by which the
prisoner would suffer, and as some of the wit
nesses in the cause were here at great expense.
ceed = - '--s, r.
Dr. st. Geo: Peachey, at the request of the
mayor, stated that Simms was in better con-
dition, and the symptoms were in favor of his
recovery. The Doctor said, he entertained
strong hopes that his patient would get we'll
ont IT was impossible to say that he was out
OF danger. Unfavorable symptoms NAV de-
veiop themselves in a day or an hour, or he
may continue to improve, as he hoped he would.
Simms had been kept very quiet up to this
time. 1t may be, that when he gets up, or can
move about, the ball may change its location,
produce inflammation, and cause death. Until
ne can assume every position, no one eau tell,
even after he gets mp what is TO be the result of
the injury. ~ $50 -
The Mayor determined to proceed with the
examination, and the witnesses were called to
the book, and testified substantially to the fol-
lowing facts:
the clerks at the Exchange HOTEL and wit
messed the conduct of the prisoner before the
shootingl On Tuesday night the 20th of Sep.
lemoer, about half-past O'Clock, put on my
cap, LETT the Office, walked around into the ro-
tunda, and intended to go to bed but meeting
| an acquaintance, got into conversation, and
stopped there short time. In the course of
few minutes one of the bells was rung vio-
| lently, hearing which stepped TO the coulter
| and asked what bell it was ! The s'calI boyn
| answered '264;" said he had answered it twice
| in five minutes, and that the gentleman want
! ed supper in his room. l wrote an order to
the dining room for supper to be sent to s.s6i''
but the servant had not had time to get there,
before the prisoner came from his room, W alked
| up to the counter-Mr. Simms being on duty
behlnd lt-and commenced abusing Simms,
| saying that he could not have his bell swer-
| ed, that he had ordered his supper but could
not get 1t, and that he had had no dinner. Mr..
Simms started to write note to the dining
room, when told him had ordered the gem
! tleman's supper to be taken to his room, and
| that 1t would be there in a few minutes. Mel
ton then said he did not want supper in his
room or any where else-that he would leave
the house, and wanted his BILL Simms fur
nished the bill, and asked prisoner by what
train he would leave Prisoner replied, he
would go by no train, but would quit the
house at once; at the same time picking up thu
| bill furnished him, and examining it. he ther
said, "do you charge me $3.50 per day l hav,
| been here more than d day" MIR. S. told hin
yes-that if he had made no special bar
gain, and had remained year, the charg'
per day would be the same. Melton ther
called Simms thief or rascal, and becam,
SO very abusive that three gentlemen ad
yised me to send for the police and hav.
him taken out of the house. 1 went to Simmi
and repeated the suggestion; but he replied
"no-I will try to quiet him and get him u
go to his room. In the morning if he conducts
himself no better, we will then send him off.
| Melton, however, continued his abuse, and
ordered q servant to 60 TO his room and brinI
his baggage to the office. After time Meltol
became more quiet, and saying he would go Il
his room and remain until morning, started
| up stairs. 1 followed along behind him, saw
him enter his room, but fearing he might atm
himself and return, waited in the passage TO
ten minutes. Hearing no noise, and supposin
that he had retired, 1 concluded that 1 ha
| misjudged him, and went TO my own roOm.-
In ten or fifteen minutes after this, l hear
the report of pistol, and very soon after
| servant came mp and told me Mr.. Simms ha
been shot. l dressed Us soon as could, wen
down, made inquiry, learned the facts, an
then went to MeltOns room. His pocket
were searched, but finding no pistol, ordere
two servants to get lights, go into the allie
| under the window Of Melton's room, an
4 Fl II. ctnI how n 90 nd ofvIPr
ed soon after with small Derenge," whic
had been fired off. (Tae pistol was shown il
Court, and had an linden ntation at the muZzle
as if it had received a severe blow.]
John r. Ely, of Florida, bOarder at tn
Exchange Hotel, sworn.--I was in the hall O
| the Exchange Hotel, and heard portions of tn
| conversation between the prisoner and MI
| Simms. The only distinct recollection hay
| the counter where the register is kept
| Simms had just written upon it the comm
| day, (he being on duty in the clerks office
| Melton pulled OFF bis hat, drub slouch, an
| struck Simms in the face with il. Simms tol
| MIN he had better mind what he was doing
that If he (Melton) was worth the notice Of
gentleman, he (Simms) would cane or cowhd
MIN, ana at the same time smacked the prison
er Ia the lace with his open hand. Meito
Inen urew pistol saw it in his hant
Simms stepped back, as If to put the pillar be
| tween the prisoner and himself and told hiI
not to pull pistol on him, ii he did IL woui
| be the worst for him, or something TO that q
feet. Melton then put his pistol in to his pocI
ct. Simms ordered one of the servants To Q
to Meiton's room and bring his baggage to ti
office, and sent another one for the police :
/ Melton then made some tnreit and SiInms r.
4 peated the order for the baggage to be brouob
| down. Melton said no one would dare
| touch his baggage and the police should nc
| put him out Of the hotel Simms said to him
| "if you bother me much / will put you ou
| myself" Melton muttered defiance, an
1 Simms passed from behind the counter, wit
4 n. ia. - lntd a
| Melton. When he got to within about6 feet O
prisoner, the prisoner drew his pistol and fired
| As soon as the smoke cleared away, witnes
1 saw Simms turn around and walk toward
| the water-stand. The prisoner started of II
| the direction of the ladies' reception ROOM
| Witness immediately went 10 >. and aske<
! him If he was hurt. ,. said ne believed ~
| was. Witness put his arm around s, tolt
| him to lean upon him, and started with hin
/ TO the rece ption room. Alter getting abou
| half way, S. told witness not TO mind him, bu
/ to have the prisoner secured, and send Tor
| doctor. Witness went for DR.. Peachy anc
| sent him to Simms.
/ Robert T.. Quaries (emp1oyed in the coa1
| room of the Exchange Hotel, aud within few
| feet of the ofiice) sworn.-l was in the Goa
room attending 10 my duties, when saw ths
| prisoner standing at the counter OF the ofice
| and saw Simms smack him in the face, AT tn,
| same time remarking that he would take ns
! such insult from him. Melton stepped bael
| and put his hand into his pocket, seeing which
| s. told him not to draw pistol. Simms fher
| sent for the police, telling the prisoner h,
would not lay his hands upon him. Simm.
was attending to his books at the time. Mel
| ton continued TO curse him, and said he wonlt
not leave. Simms said he wonld see whethel
| he would or not and quietly picking mp tn,
| clamp iighter,n e. stick about two feet ioni
and three inches in circumference at the larg
est end, the smaller end having q brass SCREW
| upon i'll walked from behind the counter To-
wards the prisoner. He had made but threl
| or four steps, when Meiton drew pistol ard
| fired then ran towards the ladies' ordinary
| Simms was very cool when he came from be-
| hind the counter As soon as he was shot
/ went TO him and carried him into one Of the
| reception rooms After Siinms picked up the