The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-04
THE CASE OF JACK WRESN.
TRIAL FOR MURDER.

ated by negroes AT tile seymour anu Didii
1ac raising near the Old Market, in August
last, are probably still fresh in the minds
of our readers. An immense crowd OF
white persons was in attendance, listening
quietly to a speech from Judge Ould, when
a shower of stones and brickbats suddenly
fell on and about the speakers stand.
There was immediate excitement, and the
assault being repeated; 1t was discovered
that the missiles were thrown by party
of negroes concealed in some shanties only
n short distance from the place Of meeting.
They greeted the white persons who found
them with another volley of stones, and
then q number Of shots were exchanged.
The affair was soon over, however, and II
was asccrtained that q negro man had been
shot and seriously hurt. Jack Wrenn, being
seen in that vicinity under what were sup
posed by the police to be suspicious cir
cumstances, was arrested, pistol in hand,
and lodged in the police station.
As soon as possible, Wrenn had hear
ing before Alderman PEBBLES, the acting
Mayor, who, after full investigation, was
unable to elicit any evidence against him,
and therefore promptly discharged him.
subsequently the Freedmen's Bureau took
the matter in hand, and under orders from
Lieutenant Hambrick Wrenn was rear-
rested in Baltimore weeks after the fight,
examined before Mayor Chahoon, and sent
on to the Hastings Court to be tried for
murder, the negro (Peyton jones' having
in the mean time died Of his wounds.
Yesterday the accused was tried in Judge
Burnhams court. Judge Crump, +. 7.
Turner, and 7. ". Macmahon, Esqs., ap-
Deared for the prisoner, and Major Sturii-
want and C. S. Bundy (thc latter said to
have been employed by the Frcedmen's
Bureau) represented the Commonwealth.
The Jurors empanneled we're Messrs. John
G. Stanard, Z. NJ. Dunnavant, Charles 7.
Binford, W. n. Redford, J. W. Argyle, \.
?. Brown, 4. b. Leilcw, H. R. Baldwin, 2.
II. Hoy, ". II. Turpin, L. h. BoSher, aud
J. p. Rogers.
We give an abstract Of the testimony
thus far elected
DR.. J. A. Upshur sworn: Am physi-
clan; graduated in March last. Have no
regular license, but have been at Howard
Grove Hospital for some months. Saw the
deceased (Jones) after he was brought
(wougded) to the hospital--on the 18th Of
August last. lie had been wounded by n
pistol ball, about two inches to the right of
the shoulder-blade, on the left Of the me-
dunn line. On the 18th of September he
died. Witness took part in the post NOR
tenn examination, conducted for the salts
faction Of the surgeons, not with Il view TO
any legal proceedings. Thought death "as
caused by blood poisoning, resulting from
a gun-shot wound. Could only conjecture
about the size of the ball, but thought ii
one-quarter or onc-ffth of an inch in diam
cter.
Dr.. William r. Brauer dep0sed that he
is regularly licensed physician, though
not by the State of Virginia. Stationed
at Howard's Grove Hospital, and was when
Jones was brought there. Held u post
mortem examination, and my opinion Of the
cause of death agrees with that Of DR.. Up
shurs. Cannot state positively about the
size of the ball that made the wound.
Don't know anything Of the history Of the
case. Don't know who brought Jones to
the hospital.
E.P. Murphy sworn: Was on duty as
policeman on the night of the 10th Of Au-
gust in the neighborhood of the Old Mar
ket. At about o'clock noticed Il disturb
ance in the neiGhborhood Of the speakers
stand. Heard shots fired and cries of
"catch him. Ran to sec what was the
matter. About an hour after, heard seVe-
raj more shots, and seeing Wrenn coming
from that direction with a pistol in his
hand, arrested him. Examined the pistol,
and found one load fired off. DON'T know
what kind of pistol il was. Never saw one
like it before. The accused dropped the
pistol when he was arrested, and the crowd
began to kick it about. Think that cx-
hibted in court is the one taken from the
prisoner.
Cross examined | withdrew one charge
while the pistol was in my possession. This
was on the morning after the arrest.
Wrenn way within about ten feet Of Chand-
ler's alley on Grace street, nearly hundred
yards from Union street, when ne was ar
rested. Thought from the sound that the
shot was fired on the corner of Union and
Grace. Didn't know when | made the ar
rest that anybody had been hurt. Think
the prisoner was in his shirt sleeves. The
row was occasioned by some negroes throw
ing q rock at the speakers stand and hit
ting white man. Chandler's alley runs
from Franklin to Grace between Seven
teenth and Union. Arrested Wrenn be-
cause he had pistol in his hand and was
coming from Union street. Didn't examine
the pistol closely enough to say whether it
had been recently discharged. There were
about twenty shots in al fired. The meet
ing was almost broken up by the first shot,
and the people scattered in every direction.
First saw the deceased at the police station,
where he was brought by some colored men.
Officer G. a. Lumpkin sworn: Was on
duty at the corner Of Franklin and Mayo
streets on the night Of the fag-raising.
Heard pistol-shots and went to the place of
speaking. First disturbance was then over.
Soon after heard shots fired in the direction
Of Union and Grace streets, and presently
saw officer Murphy come up TO arrest Jack
Wrenn. Assisted him. He was coming
from the corner of Union and Grace, walk
ing rapidly. On the way TO the station the
prisoner was rescued and recaptured. Sub
seouently witness was informed that a man
had been shot on Union street. Wentthere,
and found the negro Jones wounded, lying
in the gutter. He said he had been shot
by a white man who wore white coat.
Witness, policeman Rex, and some colored
men, took him to the station. The prisoner
made no attempt at resistance when ar
| rested.
Margaret Smith (colored) sworn Re-
cognize the prisoner at the bar as the man
that shot Peyton Jones. On the night of
the flag raising, witness, with a number OF
negroes, was standing near the corner OF
Grace and Virginia streets listening to the
| speaking. Wrsnn came up to Peyton