Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-10

I
The CHINBORAzO RIOT.-James O'Keefe,
L. R. Peay, Thomas O'Keefe, A. E. Albertsou,
and one or two others, were before Judge Nc
Entee, Yesterday, on the charge of being en-
gagged in the riot on Church Hill, Thursday
night Of last week. The following testimony
was taken in the case. Lieutenant IL. ). Mer-
rill was the prosecuting attorney;
Robert Green, colored, testified recOg-
Mise the accused | saw one of them, James
O'Keefe, on last Thursday night on the corner
of Twenty-ninth and Clay streets; he was
with a crowd of some ten or fifteen, on that
night this was about a half square from my
house some one in the crowd struck me with
fence rail; one Of the accused, James
O'Keeie, struck me on the head with a club /;
when | was attacked was Onmy way home two
men first ran up to me, and soon after the whole
crowd came up when / was struck l ran 10
nv house, and was followed by them they
surrounded the house; i did not come out, and
the doors were locked the back door was
broken open by them and they stoned the
house they left, and in a short time, one OF
the accused, L. K. Peay, returned, and IN
quired for my sister Catherine, who washes for
his mother and father, and said if he had known
that it was me, he would not have let them beat
me; did not see him in the crowd.
-
testified that he had known L. K. Peay about
two months he came to his house, on the cor
ner of Twenty ninth and Leigh streets, on
Thursday night, March LIST, and enquired
whether the sister of Robert Green was hurt
he then left he saw James O'Keeie, one of the
accused on the night named, with stick of
wood, break open the door Of Robert Green,
who lives near him; 1t was bright night, and
he easily recognized him.
Robert Green was recalled, when one of the
accused, O'Keete, was permitted to ask him
several questions, which were ruled out, they
being decided as not pertinent to the case.
Matilda jackson, colOred, didn't know any
thing more important than what had been testi-
fed TO by previous witnesses, except the beat
ing of the drums on NJ street she also reclg-
nized Peay, who, she said, was at her house on
the night in question.
For the detence-C. RedlOrt, white, testified
that he was taking drink with O'keete at the
time of the row this was between nine and
ten O'Clock on that night.
Mr.. Harris testified that he heard of the row
on the night stated above, and started from his
house to learn the particulars one of the &C
cuSed, who lives two or three doors from him,
he saw before his door talking. with another
one Of the accused, A. Z. AlbertSon; he asked
them what was the matter; they said they did
not know while they were talking, numerous
pistol shots were heard.
Mr., James T. Via was at Mrs. O'Keele's store
on Thursday night, March LIST, from about
eight o'clock until eleven; he saw young
O'Keefe during the whole OF that time, who was
in the store with him; he was not out OF his
sight during the whole of that time.
Mr.. Peay, the father Of one OF the accused,
made statement in regard to his sons having
spent the greater part of the night in his store.
The whole party was then discharged, with
the exception Of James O'keeie, who was bailed
to appear before q Military Commission, he
being the only one who was recognized by
either of the negro witnesses as being engaged
m the riot. Charges will be preferred against
HIM and forwarded to the Commission.
CAPTURE OF A CoNvICT.-0u Thursday eve
ming last, Captain Freeman and Detective
Goodrich captured, in house near the First
Market, a Penitentiary convict named L.
Riley, alias SpOtt Ryder, who was sentenced
on the 18th November, 1861, TO eighteen years
in the Penitentary. for killing a man named
Bill Jones, at Buzzard ROost, in Lynchburg, by
a blow of a billet of wood on the head, and so
badly manning another man that he died shortly
after. When the officers entered the house,
they saw the convict standing up in a corner.
Goodrich said, " This is q neat little office You
have here - to which Riley made no reply,
but, stepping forward and addressing Captain
Freeman, remarked al think you are after
the wrong man." Captain Freeman ordered
him to roll up his sleeves. This Riley refused
to do, but a peremptory order from both
officers induced him to take of his coat,
and on one arm was seen the figure
of a female done in Indian ink, and on
the other two figures of a similar character,
and heart, and on his neck was scar, ali
answering the description Of him sent from
Lynchburg. He persisted in saying he was no
culprit, and showed disposition 10 resist
arrest, but he was carried TO the cage and then
acknowledged that he had killed man, but
that he had never been tried tor the offence
On yesterday morning, however, he made a
clean breast Of it, and added that he has been
a fireman on the Central railroad for the last
six months, and that he was about to leave the
city the very day of his arrest. He was taken
yesterday to the Penitentiary by his captors
on entering which, he shook hands with several
of his old companions. He is desperate
character in every sense Of the word.