The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-30

A FATAL SHoT-A NEGRO KILLED IN
FRONT OF THE LIBBY BY SENTINEL ON
DUTY.-Yesterday morning at about a
quarter to IL o'clock mulatto man
named Thomas Winston Hall was shot
and killed in front of the Libby prison by
a sentinel named John Brennan, Of COM
pany II, Twenty-ninth United States in
fantry, for refusing to obey an order given
by him.
1t appears that at about 10 o'clock in the
morning group of some ten or fifteen ne
groes gathered on the corner OF Nine
teenth street, opposite the prison, and
commenced making signs to the pris-
oners within, This was against an old
standing order Of the commandant Of the
prison. Sentinels were required to
prevent groups from gathering in front of
or around the prison, or from making any
signs to the prisoners. Brennan, who was
on post in front of the prison at the time,
ordered the negroes to go away; which
order they disobeyed for the second or
third time. Upon repeating the order for
the fourth time, he levelled his musket
upon the crowd, and two of them left.
Thinking that the remainder would soon
disperse, he brought his gun back
to a shoulder" and with warning
to the negroes, resumed his beat. The
crowd did not appear to mind him, but
continued to disobey his order, when he re-
peated it for the last time and levelling
his gun again, fired into the crowd. The
negroes dispersed, and Hall walked slowly
across to the northwest corner Of Nine
teenth and Cary-about twenty steps
without the appearance of being shot, and
fell. He was picked up and carried into
the Libby. Upon examination it was found
that he was shot in the abdomen, the ball
having passed through the left arm below
the elbow, then through the body, coming
out of his right side. He died in about
an hour afterwards, in spite of all medical
and surgical aid. Hall was at the. time of
his death a resident Of Richmond, and had
served in the Federal army for three years.
His mother came to the prison shortly after
he died, and the officers made UP u purse
for her.
Brennan was put under arrest, and will
be held subject to military examination.
A coroner's inquest was held over the
body at O'Clock by Coroner Little. Quite
a number of witnesses were examined,
from whom the above facts were mainly
elected. The jury, after hearing the evil
dence, rendered verdict to the effect
that the deceased came to his death by a
musket-shot fired by John Brennan, a
United States soldier, while on duty as
sentinel at Libby prison.
Considerable excitement was created
among the negroes by the affair, and dur
ing the day quite number of them con-
gregated about the prison. By their loud
talking and excited manner they evinced
some indignation at the occurrence, and
from what was said about rights" &C., it
was evident that nothing short of con-
gressional investigating committee would
satisfy them.
A WIFE NEARLY DROWNED BY HER HIS
BASD.-On Monday night last man
named J. Fitzherbert became engaged
in quarrel with his wife, and after
some sharp words he commenced to
beat her. Finding that she was unpro-
tected, the wife ran out of the house
into neighboring yard, where, mistaking
a well-house for a chicken-coop, and find
ing it necessary to seek some refuge, she
jumped in, and fell down into the water.
Her cries attracted some gentlemen in the
neighborhood, who, when they reached the
well, saw the husband coolly standing by,
using no efforts to save his wife. When
reprOachcd for it, he exclaimed, "D-n
her, let her drown" The gentlemen went
to work, and extricated the poor woman in
a halffrozen condition.
Fitzherbert was subsequently arrested,
and was brought before the Mayor ycster-
day morning. In the absence of his wife,
the case was continued until to-day.
ACCIDENT ON THE CENTRAL RAILROAD
On yesterday the down passenger train on
the Central railroad, when some three
miles this side Of Beaver Dam, ran over a
negro woman about forty years Of age.
She attempted to cross the track, when
she stepped in hole and fell. Before she
could recover, the train passed over her
and cut off both of her legs. She was
taken up and conveyed to the nearest
dwelling, where she died in about an hour
after the accident. The train was delayed
about twenty minutes by the assistance
given the poor creature.
FRIGHTENED HoRsE-CoLLIsI0N OF We
INJURED.-Yes at
ternoon the horse attached to the wagon
employed by Clarke & Vance in the distri-
button to retailers of ale, beer, etc., took
fright on Main street, and the driver being
unable to control him, he dashed at the top
of his speed down the street. Everything
gave him the track that could get out of
the way. Sheering to the north side of the
street at Thirteenth, he came in collision
with a wagon, the horse in which was
knocked down. There he became detached
from the wagon, which had followed himin
his furious race, and tore away for Sc
cond heat, which was suddenly ended by
second collision with a dray, by which he
fell headlong and rolled over and over till
he lay for time helpless on the pavement.
The driver of the vehicle was smartly
stunned by the collision and sudden stop
page of his wagon. He had his head
considerably cut.
The horse was lamed and much bruised,
and was taken home rather hors de combat
from his break-neck excursion.
TrE RICHMOND AIMS. .HoUsE.-We paid
n visit to the alms-house yesterday, and
after going the rounds with Captain
Charley Bigger, the superintendent, found
everything in the incest order, and most
Systematically arranged. The institution
has steadily improved under his manage
ment, and the visitor of year ago would
hardly know it to-day. The kitchen,
dining room, sleeping apartments, and halls
are models of cleanliness and neatness.
The chapel is well arranged, and neatly
though plainly furnished. The dispensary
is supplied with all the necessary medi-
cines for the sick.