Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-03

III OF MURPHY AND OTHERS FOR
TIE KILLING OF CORNELIUS BoYD Yesterday
afternoon, Sergeant Murphy. and ten others Of
company e, Union Regiment, charged with the
homicide OF Cornelius Boyd, were examined in
the jail before Justice Dom, Mr. A. LLOYD ap>
pearing as the counsel Of the accused parties.
Officer John II. Wise testIh fed that he pres
emit In Boyds house at the coroner's inquest, and
heard the statement of Sergeant Murphy. Muir
ply said he had orders from his superior officer
| to take Bovd dead or alive. Witness Is under
the impression that Murphy said Maj Nc Dowell
gave the order. Boyd was charged with con-
spsing against the Government. Murphy said
that he went with his men to the house and ca lied
on Boyd to surrender In the name Of the United
States. Boyd opened his door and fred upon
them setting his (hlurphy's coat on Ire, when
DE ordered his men to FIRE, which they did, kill
Ing Boyd. Murphy said he had heard that Boyd
permitted conspirators against the United States
tn meet at his house. Some OF the men ia Muir
phys squad told witnes: that Boyd, when he shot
at them from the window, exclaimed, "Take
that, you sons Of =" They then advanced, and
more shots were fred from the door Witness
knows nothing Of Boyd's character himself, but
heard man say " that he was more afraid Of
Boyd than of the whole State of Virginia. Since
this affair occurred has heard people say he was
a dangerous man.
MS Avn Bean testified tina. the killing took
place opposite her house. She was about retiring
Tor the night, when she heard loud rap, and a
voice use the words {" United Statesn beard
boyds door burst In, and at the same time re-
port Tie men ran, and witness thought they
were very brave to shoot and then run. Heard
s1rne one say I" don't run, men," The panel was
Knocked out before she Saw any explosion of fire
arms. Saw the mans coat on fire before the men
hred Saw the man smother the fire with his
hand when the men ran Is very sure she heard
the wofdsA' United Statesn before any shot was
bred Did not observe the door or shutters open
NIL after the firing Never noticed persons visit
Ing Bovds house save those witness knew
Alfred Wilkinson testified that he was 81 andipp
at his own door, and saw three persons 90 into
MI. Martins; In few minutes Mr. Martin came
him to Adam Grinders. After TITLE time, wit
ness and Martin went With Grinder towards the
wharf, and stopped by Boyd's house and con-
versed with him. After leaving his house by the
side alley they were arrested nv Murphy's SQUAD
Witness returned to the house with the squad and
Murphy went to the door and commanded Boyd
TO open, In the name of the United States. No
reply was made, and the men kicked at the door;
when the door was kicked in, %itness saw the
shot fred from II; observed Mnrphys coat on IRE
Saw the Ere from the door. but Is not positive
that the shot came rom the Inside. This was the
only report witness heard from the door Murphy
told the men not to run, but to fire; they did So
bus witness don't know how many shots there
were, nor who fred them. Witness thinks
Grinder went to Boyd's house 20 tell him that the
| company were afte- him Was not present when
Capt. Miller gave the order to the men with refer
enue 20 Boyd, hut h. ard the sergeant distinctly
give the order to fire. Witness never knew Of
Boyd's being a secessionist-neyer heard him
| avow himself as such.
Joseph Herman n~es opposite Boyd's house,
1 and knew hihl well. On the mig ut in question
| saw the men concealed behind the fence near his
| house, and heard loud rap at his door The
man endeavored to open the door, and witness
| heard report therefrOm. The men ran all but
| one, who stood and ordered tie men back They
| returned and Erred. Witness heard only one re-
| port from the door, and Immediately after saw
the srrgcants coat fire. After the firing heard
one OF the men tell one of their number TO 90 for
| the captain TO send twenty more men They
| came In a short time and surrounded the house
Il IN at he ND
| look from window. Thinks she told the men
| that her husband was dead. They ordered her
| to come down and bring light. She did so and
| they went in, and shortly alter came out Wit
ness WAS never In Boyd's house In his life Knew
Boyd well, bat never heard him express himself
with reference to politics. After the 50 uad had
retired enc OF the men came back and fred a
pistol at the house. Never any persons be-
sides the neighbors go into Boyd's house
Mrs Boyd (widow Of the decedsed) was called
ana Mr.. Lloyd objected to her evidence being
taken, on the ground that she could not testify
save through bias, the widow of the deceased
The Justice decided, however, TO take her testi-
mcny.
Ms. Boyd said that Mr. Boyd came in between
III and IL O'Clock, aud had gone to sleep, but she
had not: Heard a knock at the door, and OBJ.
served that the parties who knocked were Messrs
wilkinson aud Grinder. They came Ia and told
Mr.. Boyd that the soldiers were after him While
they were there witness heard another rap at the
door, and looked out Of the window. Those out
side asked IL Mr.. Boyd lived there and witness
replied that he did, but was not in. Wi;ne asked
IL they wished to see him for anything particular
and they said they had news for him from Alex
andria. Witness went down stairs and told her
husband to shut the door and put out the light,
as tne men were after him lie replied that he
might as well 90 out, as they would have him
anyhow, and went up stairs and put on bis be q;
clothes to 20 with them. W hen he came down
he talked with MIR Grinder, who tried to persuade
him not 10 90. After Wilkinson and Grinder left
tue house Sue heard the men giving signals wit.
ness went to the door and opened it. and saw the
men posted all around, and told Mr. BOYD not to 90
out Just as she spoke they thumped furiously on
the door ana broke the panel In, aud Immediate
ly begun TO fire. Mr.. Boyd did not fire; he had
no pistol In his house save old one given him
Tor the baby to play with, and witness is sure it
was not loaded Was standing by her husband
when he was shot. The d st shot took effect and
the fatal one came throug b the window Witness
called on them for Gods sake to cease firing as
her husband was killed. Witness carried Der
husband, she knows not how, UP stairs to his
chamber, and laid him on the foJr and called
Mrs Mile, who lived up stairs, to come and heir
her. second party now came up to the house
and demanded admittance. When Mr.. Boyd
opened the door he said nothing, but they cried
oui, we've got you, you son Of - The
ball passed through his coat sleeve and into his
night side, passing out through the lief. side
Believes the fatal shot came throuo the wi nd v
but is not positive. Mr.. and Mrs Mills and their
two daughters lived I'm the house. Witness did
not know Of her husband visiting Alexandria nor
never heard that he was In CORES pondence with
would have revenge on the accused parties, but
made the remark thong htlsssly; Mr.. Wright was
speaking Of the affair and irritdtsd her The
squad knocked on the door twice or thrice, and
she heard one shot before the others When MIR
Boyd was struck he staggered and when witness
was dragging hun away she had to pull him
about TO keep the balls which were fying in from
striking him. Thinks the first shot came throup b
the window. Saw two or three balls come throug h
the door, and heard the shots One shot was a
small one, as IL from pistol on the outside Wit
ness knows Of no reason why her husband should
have been arrested; never heard of his having
been notified that he would be arrested and
knows nothing Of his having been a secessionist
Never heard OF his joining a company in Alex
andria. Had heard Of some being arrested for
being democrats. and was fearful that he would
be; so she told him to be careful In his talk He
never received any letters from any place but
Philadelphia, where he had friends lie never
held any secret meetings In his house for the pur
pose Of consPiring against the Government. De-
ceased never stayed away from home during the
day till lately, when he has employed himself in
fishing.
M: John Jolly testified to the same effect as
Mr.. Wilkinson.
John Madden testified that he was awakened
by volley on the night In question, and looking
from the window heard some one give an order
to cease firing. Heard the sergeant saw he had
received bali through his coat.