Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-09
EXAMINATION OF JOHN r. LUsBY,
CHARGED WITH RAPE AND MUIR
DER UPON THE PERSON OF OCTA-
VIA HnRREAu. AGED SIX YEARS.

VIA ROssEAU, AGED SIX YEARS.
Upon writ of habsaS corpus, issued yester.
day, the body of John Lusby was brought by
Superintendent Wood, Of the Old Capitol
prison, before the Criminal Court, (Judge
Fisher presiding,) to-day, at 8 O'Clock. Our
readers will bear In memory that Lusby was
arrested some time since, by Superintendent
Wood, upon the suspicion Of being the party
who violated the body of little octavIa Rous-
seau, on Capitol Hill, on Thanksgiving night,
causing her death within twenty-four hours.
The evidence is merely circumstantial, but
exceedingly strong. The girl before her death
gave partial description OF the dress Of the
man who perpetrated the outrage. Lusby was
away from home at the same time that the little
girl was injured, between the hours OF and 8
o'clock, and returned to his home, at the navy
yard, with his garments and his person In
condition which would Justify the suspicion
that he was guilty Of the outrage.
Messrs. W. Y. Fendall and Joseph II. Brad-
ley, ST.. appeared as counsel for the prisoner.
Mr.. Fendall stated that the prisoner had
been detained in military custody for an alleged
offence against the civil laws, and having been
delivered to the civil authority upon writ Of
hdbs,is corpus, he wished to know why he
should not be restored to liberty.
that he had received information that little
girl had been murdered in q wretched manner,
and that he had witnesses to prove the corpus
deliefi, and TO prove circumstances strongly
tending to convict the prisoner, John r.
Lusby, with the crime.
DR.. Ford, sworn; Name, DR.. G. VI. Ford;
profession, physiclan; two years in this city;
was called to visit little girl named Octayia
Rousseau, corner Of d street aud Delaware
avenue, at O'Clock in the morning; made OK.
aminationj she was living at that time; died at
IL O'Clock at night.
She wac in prostrated condition, and cry
ing out with great pain. She was six years
old. Her mother told him that the girl had
been violated. lie saw clothes very bloody
She was very badly lacerated and much swollen.
She was suffering great agony at that time,
| but losing no blood. He staid only a few
minutes there; went for DR.. May; returned
with him and made examination.
He called at 4 in the afternoon, and found
her in severe convulslons. Her father came
next morning aud told him that the little girl
died the previous night about II O'Clock. lie
thinks the Injuries he saw were the means of
her death. She was conscious. At bis last
visit he thought she would not recover from It,
but did not think she would die 50 soon. She
said she was in great pain.
After the second visit he did not hear her
speak.
Mr.. Charles II. Wilson sworn; Knows J. F.
Lusby; heard of the violence done to the little
girl. After he heard 1t went to the house of
| the prisoner; the house was on Fifth street
east, between L and G; found some clothing.
| Afttr the prisoner was arrested he was left
there by Mr.. Wood to search the house. The
clothing bearing the stain of blood was here
exhibited to the court. He found the shirt
under the pillow on the bed; coat he found be-
tween two quilts ON the bed; took the clothing
to Carol prison; talked with prisoner; said he
was innocent, and that he knew nothing about
1t.
He also found some woman's underclothlng
very much stained with blood. The under
clothing Of the woman would 1t fullsized
woman.
VIM. P. Wood sworn: Recognized the cloth
ing; was obtained at the house of Mr.. Lusby;
had conversation with the prisoner, when he
| asked Mr.. Wilson about the clothing.
Lusby said his wife was sick; said he told
his wife the blood came on his clothes that
evening from butchering; finally acknowledged
he was drunk; on the evening In questio did
not know how he got the blood on his clothes;
said perhaps he had been bleeding at his nose;
told him his wife had first given the informa-
tion to parties whom obtained 1t from.
Cross-examined, Said he did not know any
thing about the matter. This was two or three
days after the death OF the child. He neither
admitted or denied that he knew anything
about the child. On ono occasion, afterwards,
he denied 1t.
He saw his wife's clothes when they were
brought up; he admitted that he had told his
wife the tale about butchering; he desired TO
impress on me that he had got the blood from
his wife; told his brother was ready to turn
him over to the civil authorities whenever they
required him.
Mr.. Carrlngton stated that he had no further
teatimony to offer this afternoon. He thought
he had established his case.
Mr.. Bradley, for defence, stated that he
desired to have q full investigation, as they
could show there was nothing against the pris-
| oner.
The case was postponed for further exami-
prisoner was given in custody of the Marshal
and committed to jail.