The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-20
TRIAL OF PETER CORRIE
AT TOWSONTOWN,
FOR TIE MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER
RIGDON
SIXTH DAY.



CIRCUIT COURT For BALTIMORE CoUNTY-Hon John
H. Price, Judg. Richard j. Cuttings, Esq, States At
tomey, prosecuting Assisted by Arthur IA Machen Esq
William p. Preston, Esq, for the defence.
State Peter Corre indicted for the murder of police
officer Robert NJ Rgdon by shooting him with pistol,
on the 5th of November last.
On the opening of the Court Thomas Carmichael whose
was not concluded on the previous
ing, was recalled
Witness contnued.-Was on duty at the Court on the
day of the trial of Gambrl there great number Of
inside and outside of the court witness did
not Mr. Preston there witness Corre in front
the Gmor House, there great many people
of the Giimor Housea great deal of confusion there wit
did not Mr. Whyte here did not hear Corrie
out anything witness pushed several persons back who
in the crowd; pushed Crops back; witness
those who at the head of the disturbance witness is
not mistaken about the prisoner being of the disorder
y party witness the prisoner before that day.
witness Corrie about the Court House often that
day that he thinks he cannot be mistaken about Corre
being in the crowd.
By Mr. Machen-Witness did not see Mr.. Preston or
Mr.. Whyte rushing in the crowd.
Mr. Machen-tDid you recognize Corre as one of the
leaders of the srowd?''
Mr. Preston objected to the question as leading ques-
ton.
Mr.. Machen-"Did Corrie take an active part in the
rush?"
Witness-"Saw Corrie at the head of the crowd
Mr.. Gittings-"You You say you Crops and Corre at
the head of the crowd engaged in the obiect?'
Mr.. Preson-I object to this mode of questioning the
witness; the States counsel suggests these ideas the
witness. do not intend to yield the State any mora,
intend to hold them to the strict rules of evidence"
any thing, Mr.. Preston"
Mr.. Gtings-''You say the hack which was to carry
Gambri away was standing in front of the Gmor House,
was that the usual place for hacks to Stand which
employed for such purposesf''
Mr. Preston.-"I object to that
Mr. Gttings-'Wel l withdraw the question:
Officer Jamison recalled by the jury-The shot witness
first heard was the which he supposed killed Rigdon
the shot appeared to be in yard alley witness
in German street near Pine witness heard shots after
the first shot.
By Mr. Preston-Witness about forty or fifty feet
OF from Pine street on German, when he heard the first
shot.
By Mr. Gittngs.-Witness had heard three shots only
before CorTie turned into Pine street.
Officer Higgins called.-Witness stated that officer
Cook and himself started to to the theatre and that
they turned back account of Cook not feeling WE'LL
when they went into Blanks they called for lager beer
they did not drink any then the shot fired before they
drank witness suppose that the lager be the phys
for the occasion; witness not duty that day; wit
Cook that afternoon about three O'Clock and
took two drinks with him. witness drank lager he
drank both.
By Mr. Machen-Corrie was arrested in front Of a gate
between German street and small alley, Cider alley
witness thinks Dr. Cories lot runs back to this small
alley when witness heard the report he was in Blanks'
had dull heavy sound, if smothered the first
in the street heavy report clearer than the first
would suppose the report made by large pisto the
other shots of sharper sound like fired revo-
yer.
By Mr.. Preston Witness never drew any distinction
about the sound of the pistols he heard he never was
asked the question about the sounds.
Mr. Preston-''Was there not a dispute when the sur
veyor was about preparing the pas certain locations
where the prisoner was arrested between yourself Jam
Mr. Gittngs-We object the question, the witness
can't testify to what Jamison and Cook said at that
time.
Mr. Pres toni want to show that there is a location
the plat, marked down, about which a difference of
opinion arose, making variation of 40 SO feet
Judge Price said the question could be put to the wit
Witness nothing about dispute of that
kind.r
By Mr. Gttings-He arrested on the west side of
Penn street, near German, doubt about that
By MIR Preston-Childs house on the North side of
of straaf
By Mr.. Gittngs.-Witness don't recollect saving any
thing about difference of sounds at his examination be
before the Mayor.
Officer Jamison re-caed-The place where Corrie was
arrested was in front of the gate described by Higgins
officer Cook ahead of Witness and he pointed the
place OF the arrest and witness thought it not the
place.
Officer Andrews sworn-Am police officer of the city,
my beat is on Ross, Biddle Euaw street and Pennsy-
vania this witness beat officer Benton
was killed. Benton was killed on the corner of Bidde
witness beat officer Rgdon was on the same beat as wit
ness in the night time.
Mr.. Preston.-"I don't see the bearing of this evi
dence."
Mr.. Machen.-"We will show the bearing of it,
Mr. Preston-'I object to this evidence it is about the
murder of one Benton another man. and has no hear
ing upon the case.'
Mr.. Machen-'We want to show that the prisoner was
of the crowd and fequented the neghbor
hood as those who associated with Gambr, and that
from officer Rigdon's testimony, given Gambrls
trial there motive for the murder this
evidence
Mr. Preston contended that there had been no evidence
to show that Corre in any way associated with any
of those rowdy gangs shown in Cropps case and
was therefore not fair to back to the date of Benton
murder and give evidence from which the jury might
draw differences preudca to the of the prisoner
cases. the object of the testimony show the zeal
hbed by the prisoner in the trial of Gambri and that
this zeal was followed up until the death of Rigdon
Judge Price ruled that the evidence admissible
Witness continued.-Witness knew Henry Gambnl,
ht 4 he Is on M
street near Ross those who with that Company rally
under the of the Company and also that of Plugs"
witness don't know whether the members c the Company
make these cries or not there parcel of runners
who make those cries. witness has the prisoner with
Gambrll and the crowd the Of Ross and Bdde
Streets this was about two witness has
seen the prisoner in company with Gambr since Cories
return from the country.
Mr. Preston asked the Court rule this testimony out
that the counsel for the State had right go
and show the acts of the prisoner that time
Judge Price ruled that the evidence could go the
jury.
Witness contnued-Witness has seen the prisoner since
his return from the country in the neghborhood of Ross
Bldde Eutaw streets and Pennsylvania avenue witness
has seen Corre at the of Bdd street and Pennsy
vania avenue in company with party of young men
who cougregaed there witness has Corre at Nor
gans; Morgan's is Eutaw street, it is
Mr.. Cuttings" What party frequents Morgans 9'
Mr.. Preston objected to the testimony.
Judge Price ruled it competent
Witness continued-Witness has Corrie around the
corners on his beat in company with young men, has
fore and after he left the city; him in Gambs
house. Henry Gambr went with the Mount Vernon Hook
Gambrl after he returned from the country; Corre
often to fires with Gam Drill before he the city, wit
ness don't know if the party rallying under the
Plugs have any ''head quarters
Cross examined by Mr. Preston-Witness took the prs
oner down to the truck house after his city
to show him the fine house; witness can't recolect
that only time he the prisoner there been
police officer since Corre from the country have
been on the police about two years.
By Mr.. Gittngs-Morgan's is called the Mount Vernon
Restaurant Morgans is three squares from the truck
house.
naw in last November Corries brother
lives on Pennsylvania above Hoffman street. wit
ness thinks it is about quarter of mile from the truck
house
By Juror.-winess never saw Corrie at Morgans
John H. Whitman, sworn-Wtness present at the
Court during the trial of Henry Gambr; witness re-
ported the trial for the Daily Exchange newspaper
brill charged with the murder of police officer Benton
officer Rigdon witness for the State in that case
Rigdon testified at the trial. substantially that upon the
night of the 22d of September between IL and IL O'Clock
he, in company with other officers, called to the
house of Mrs dneen Bidde street, Pennsyva-
MIA avenue, where disturbance had taken place. that
officers Benton Brown and himself the house
and arrested man named Isenhardt that they pro-
ceeded to the middle of Bidde street. the avenue
when man named Houck interfered and attempted to
rescue lsenhardt that Benton and himself then let
lsenhardt and arrested Houck that they
him to the station house, and had got far
ner of Biddle street and Pennsylvania when
Henry Gambrill ran up to within three four feet Of
them, when Gambrill levelled pistol Benton, and
pulled away, the load taking effect upon the left side
of the neck of Benton, causing wound from which he
died in few minutes; Rigdon also testified that
clear and bright moonlight night and that he could
be mistaken in the who fired the shot The verdict
rendered in Gambrs case that of guilty of muir
der in the first degree" the verdict was rendered few
minutes after halfpast five o'clock the jury
hafpast five, and the verdict recorded few minutes
after.
Cross-examned by Mr.. Preston-'You say tn It Benton
was killed on the night of the 22d of September
Witness-"That was the time given in the testimony
officer Rgdon; state it from re collection"
Mr.. Preston-"Your date is correct At nat time
Gambr taken from the court house. upon the night of
his convicton?''
witness-''I do know; left the court room a few
minutes after the verdict rendered. and down
Mr.. PrestOn-"I have no more questions to ask the
witness v
Mr.. Gittings-"I am much obliged to you Mr. Wit.
man.
Officer Magee sworn-Witness was on duty at the
court house on the last day of Gambrrs trial. witness
went out with the other officers with Gambrl the
to the hack there large crowd rushed down with
the officers witness the prisoner among this crowd
he was dsorderly and under the influence of liquor wit
arrested him. when Lieutenant Carmichael said this
is no time to make arrest witness then let Corre 60
and did him that witness followed the hack
and when the of Water and Calvert wit
ness arrested another party and brought him far Bal
timore street. witness heard cries of spows your time
boys rally &C. in the rotunda of the court house when
Gambrill was brought out did hear Corre cry
Cross-examined by Mr.. Preston.-There was large
number of around the court house that day.
greatest number were Lexington street, and whe1
Gambril brought the other door rush was
for Calvert street, witness don't know what kind of crowds
about the court house when convicted persons
brought out; this was the first time witness
the court house when party convicted of capital
offence.
By Mr. Gttings.-Saw Crops in front of the Chino,
House and saw 1t Carmichael push him back don't
collect seeing Corrie in front of the Gilmor House
Lewis Carl sworn-know the prisoner; know Crops
recollect the evening of the murder saw CorresanG
Crops that night; witness standing Ross
in front of Morgan's between 6H and O'Clock talking
with two friends Crops and Corre up from Little
Ross street. witness thought Corrie asked if any
had pistol; he was told that had a ps
tol; they then went into Morgans and took {
drink witness supposes they out and Crops ther