Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-04
THE MURDER OF RYAN.
Preliminary Examination Of
Archie Hughes,f the Murderer.
He is Fully Committed.

On Sunday night two weeks age, q
negro known as Archie Hughes, 0ttds
VIM. Miller, was arrested, charged with
the murder of VIM. Ryan, whom cur
readers will recollect was killed some six
weeks ago, in a skif, on the river. He
s~trenuously denied his identity on being
arrested, and when carried before Squire
Black for preliminary examination, de-
elared that If time were given him he
could prove an abb. The examination
was accordingly postponed from time to
time, he each time aveTTing that he was
expecting mis- witness from Arkansas
daily. The witness, however, did not
come, and yesterday, When the case was
again called by Justice Black, the exam
instion was at length gone into, Capt.
Dewitt G. Stearns appearing for the
State and Justice Miller for the defense.
the first witness called for the State,
was Joe Sneeds, who deposed that he had
worked with the defendant and knew
him well. Ga or about Thursday, the
18th OF July, he saw tbs defendant talk
ing to G man named Nathaniel Arm
strong (whO was also present, a witness
for the prOsecution) and trying to sell
him q pistol. Defendant wanted ten
dollars for the pistol, out Armstrong
would not give it. When be (witness)
came up to where thsy were they quit
bargaining, and Armstrong walked of
and be (witness) asked the defendant
where he obtained the pistol? The de-
PENDANT then took him to one side, and
Of his OWE accord told him that it had
belonged to Ryan. Witness asked de-
fsndant how he got 1t from Ryan? He
answered that he had killed Ryan, and
told how he had done it. Defendant
said he had taken RyaD's skiff, and Ryan
was making him bring it back. Ryan
drank q good deal of whisky, and got
drunk and went to sleep in the boat.
Defendant took the oar and hit Ryan on
the head with it several times and killed
him. Witness asked the defendant where
this happened, and defendant answered,
at the head of aR island which he did
not know the name of. Witness asked
the defendant how much money he (de-
fendantl found on Ryan, adding that he
witness understood Ryan had q good
deal of money. Defendant answered
that when he was about to search Ryan,
8 dog barked sDd he became frightened
and threw the body overheard, without
getting any money. The pistol was ali
be (defendsnt) got. Defendant asked
witness to take the pistol and sell it to
Nat Armstrong. Defendant refused and
went away.
Cross-examined by the prosecutiOn-Is
this the pistol that the prisoner was try
ing to sell?
Ans.-I Jkink it is-yes.
The witness was then dismissed, and
Archibald Armstrong called. Depossd
that he knew defendant; be had come
10 witness on that day Thursday, 18th
JulyL and offered to sell MIN q pistol for
ten dollars; witness would not buy the
pistol at that price, but did Buy it after
ward for two dollars.
Cross-examined-Is this the pistol
which you bought?
WitDess-It is the am pistol.
When the witness ssid this, Justice
Miller said that in behalf Of his client he
would waive any further examination.
Justice Black then committed the pris-
oDer to answer to the charge OF murder,
and he was remAnded to jail to answer
at the next term Of The Criminal Court.