The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-31
LOCAL MATTERS.

The Henrtco Homicide-Prelimin EIam-
John o. Taylor.-The preliminary examina- |
ton Of Joseph Bernard, charged with the |
murder of John o. Taylor, Esq. :. took place |
yesterday, before Justice Lee, at the County |
Court House. The prisoner, who is an old |
man, sat by his counsel James Lyons and A.
Judson Crane, Esqs., and listened attentively |
to the testimony, but his countenance be-
trayed no emotion 1t is stated that his health
is considerably impaired. John Il. Young,
ESQ was present on behalf Of the Common
wealth Two witnesses We're examined, who
substantially as follows:
VIM. A. Barnett, sworn.--On the 11th day
of the present month, january I was at
work for Mr.. Taylor, on new barn, at the
farm which he purchased OF Bernard. BE-
tween IL and O'Clock, Mr.. Taylor came up,
and was helping me. Later in the evening,
Thornton Garter came there. Between and
5 O'Clock Joseph Bernard came along and
turned his horse loose in the stable yard
Taylor said good evening Major Bernard-how
are YOU this evening? Bernard did not return
the salutation, but said, did you move that
plank from the hog pens Taylor said he did
Bernard asked what he had done with 1t J! and
TAYLOR replied that he had piled 1t up behind
the barn. Bernard then said, we'll, you had
no right to do it-I don't wish you to inter
fere with anything on my premises He fur-
ther said, you sent that girl away TINS morn
ing. Taylor said, he did. Bernard then
threatened to prosecute him. Mr.. Taylor
requested him to go away-that he did
not want any difficulty with him. Bernard
kept on talking, and Taylor said. if you don't
go away will ''frail' you Bernard after
wards repeated his threat of prosecuting, ac-
companying it with the words "d-d Internal
scoundrel," and then moved of at brisk
pace. Taylor started after him, and Bernard
turned and cut at him with knife. They
then went towards the house, out of my sight,
and in about two minutes heard the report OF
a pistol. Thornton Garter said somebody was
shot. We fastened around, and l saw Tay-
,,y.l 100
in the door, four or five feet from him, with a
pis tol in his hand He pointed the pistol at
us, and said, stand back-I will kill every one
of you. He then pointed the pistol at Mr
Taylor, and said the man Is dead already
are you going to shoot him after he is dead ,
Bernard replied, if he amt dead he shall die,
and will be hung for him. l then raised
Taylor up, and come one suggested that ne pe
carried into the house. Bernard said he
should not be brought in there. We after
wards got the buggy and carried Mr.. Taylor
away.
Joseph Thomas, sworn.-On tho 11th of
January was at work for Mr.. Taylor, when
Bernard came there and asked Taylor what he
had done with the plank. Paid little atten-
tion to what pas sed between them. Soon al
ter they went towards the house, heard the
report of a pistol, and the remark was made
| that somebody was shot. We went around !;
| the others got there before me, and Barnett
| was raising Taylor mp. Heard Barnett ask
| Bernard not to shoot any more. Bernard re-
| piled that if he was not dead he would kill
| him, if he was hung Tor 1t.
This witness could state none of the conver-
.ation that passed between Taylor and Ber-
| nard and nothing else OF importance was
| elected in his testimony. He did not see the
| knife nor hear any threats.
Mr. Young submitted q statement made be-
| fore the inquest, by A. Thornton Carter. After
| stating the reason OF the absence of this wit
| ness he read the paper, as follows
| On the llth day Of January was passing
| the farm purchased by Mr.. Taylor from Jo-
nt
| the new stable. Found William Barnett and
| a negro man with him. MIR. Taylor was in
| an unusual flow of good spirits. Shortly af-
| ter, Mr.. Thomas came up. Saw Bernard $
| mare come inio the wheat field. Taylor said
| to Thomas, run, Joe, and shut that gate. He
did So He then started back to the new sta
| ble Mr.. Bernard followed on behind him
walking hurriedly He came around the new
stable, walking up to the face of Mr.. Taylor
| Taylor said. how are you Maj. Bernard Ber
| nard made no reply / turned and looked a
| Bernard and saw that he was in a violen
passion. Bernard asked Taylor if he had tina
| blank removed from the hog pen. Taylor sale
he did Bernard said, what did you do with it
Taylor said, l had il packed up round there
by the barn Bernard said, very well-yor
did, sir Now, sir, by what authority did yot
send that negro girl Violet away? Taylo
said there was no room here for her. l hav,
sent her home TO her mistress, according Il
promise. Bernard said, will prosecute yoI
| forthwith l mean to oinstitute suit; and, Mr.
| Carter, l make you a witness. He repeated
| the same thing a second time, and charged m
to take notice. Bernard said, don't want yoI
| interfering with my business on my premises
| Taylor said to him, you had better go to tn
house and let HE and mine alone. Bernar
| started of from the back door of the stabl
into the road--cursing and muttering some
thing so indistinct that l could not hear it,
| l went to the corner OF the building an
heard him distinctly say you damned inferna
| scoundrel Taylor started after him. o
getting near him Taylor said, don't mea
to have any of this foolishness here. BeT
| uard said to him, stand. Bernard then cut q
TAYLOR twice. Taylor stepped up to him an
raised up his open hand, and touched hir
lightly on the shoulder; his hand fallin
down touched Bernard lightly on the Goa
sleeve. Taylor said-MaJor, what is the ma
| ter with you you had better go ON to til
house Bernard said something in low ton
of voice which / could not hear, but though
! it was an adjustment OF the quarrel
They went in the house together, about hal
past o'clock-Taylor a little i'll advanc,
t There was no loud talking or quarreling c
route for the house between them. i suppo.
the distance from the new stable to the hou,
f to be about 90 yards. As soon as they got bt
, | hind the kitchen, not more than two min uts
4 at the outside could have expired, before
4 | heard report OF pistol III that direction
| said TO Barnett and Thomas that somebod
was shot We all three put out for the house
| I was little in advance. On entering Ii
| ward, saw Taylor lying Hat OF his back on Il
= | ground about four feet from the door of tt
| house. next 10 the kltCLtu DtTndIu
e | i'm the door, about eighteen inches above Il
I | ground wi tn "a five shooter in his hand, ain
A ing down at Taylor when coming up close
him he presented the pistol TO my face al
n | told me to stand back, or will kill you ever
! one. said to him, put that thing up, you o
| yillain-you have done enough. Barnett sal
| YOU have already killed him are you going
: Shoot a man when he is down on the grounG
BERNARD said | done it, and ! will be hui
!. for him and meant to do it. said to Ba
nett hold his head up straight. got down
= nv knees before Taylor, and asked him whe
;, he was shot? Taylor said, oh, my friend,
nv belly-at the same time putting his ha
ON his belly l said to Barnett, let us Ia
him in the house. Jos. Barnard said, y
. shan't bring him in here-at the same iii
!. maintaining his position in the door with
pistol in hand. l Immediately went after I
l. buggy. Thomas, Barnett and myself, wi
s. the negro man, put him in the buggy and dro
Off. A. THORNTON CARTER
Mr.. Young made statement in effect til
Is on the night of the 1lth January his overse
Il came TO his house and informed him that
Ie Taylor had been shot by Joseph Bernard.
! | Immediately dispatched the overseer for j,
a tice Burton, while he went to the mill hou
e. where he had been informed MIR. Taylor "
carried being unable TO proceed 10 his o'
residence He found him under the care
= physicians, and suffering greatly Heari
a, MIR. Taylor say he must die, he asked him
"a a statement OF the whole affair, which "
~ Young wrote down. After 1t was finished,
OF asked Mr. Taylor TO say, as dying mi
~ whether the sta tement was true. MIR. Tay
replied that it was. Mr.. Young made
quest that the paper be again read TO
10 Taylor before his death, and he now asI
pl Mr.. Fendall Griffin If the request was co
ie piled with.
:. Mr. Griffin replied, that ii was the night
IN fore he died; that Mr.. Taylor said IT was
orally true-he had nothing to add to,
any thing TO take from IT.
Mr.. Young then read the
IL DYING STATEMENT OF Mr.. TAYLOR.
N, ,sRarnard came there 10 the stable aud asked
ne | :, ron, ,ha, sjrt yiolst away told him I