The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-24
THE BUrCHERTOwN HOMICIDE.
COSBT SENT OE FOR TRIAL.

The case of Nathaniel Cosby (negro),
charged with the murder Of cambridge
Gillet (negro) or the night of the Tth, was
called at the Mayors court yesterday.
Colonel J. B. Young and Mr.. T. W. MacMa-
hon appeared as counsel for the prisoner.
DR.. Tabler was the first witness examined.
He testified that he was sent for to attend
the deceased. He found him (Gillet in
bed on the morning Of the Sth about half
post 3. He was wounded in the right side
by pistol bail. He attended him, in COM
pany with DR.. Pollard, from the 7th to the
l4th, at which time he died. After ne died
he held post mortem examination and
found the ball. Now has it in his posses
sion.
Cross-examined The ball went in about
an inch above the hip. Did not go down
ward, but straightforward.
Mr.. William Burton, sworn: Heard two
shots fired on the night of the 7th between
the hours of II and II o'clock. Was pre-
sent when Cosby was arrested. Heard the
police officer ask Gillet who shot him.
Objected to by counsel for the defence on
the ground that Gillet had said nothing
about dying. Objections sustained.
Witness continued On Sunday, the day
after he was shot, went to see him, and he
told me he knew be vas going to die, and
that Nathaniel Cosby was the man that shot
him. He also told me that he went out to
look for his wife, and found her in COM
pany with Cosby, about hundred yards
Cosby drew pistol and shot him.
Cross-examined : He did not tell me he
was armed, nor how the fracas occurred.
| asked him who was with him, but he
would not answer. Then asked him if his
wife was with Cosby, but he refused to an
swer that also.
Mary s. Smith (wife of the deceased)
sworn: l told my husband that had
some clothes to carry to lady that night,
and wanted him to come and go with me !;
he said he did not know whether he would
be back or not. This was early in the af-
ternoon. He did not come back and went
off alone. Had to carry the clothes to Mr..
Bob Allan's, on Main street. On my way
back home met my husband, who asked me
if he did not see Nat Cosby with me. Told
him he did not. He said /" met him just
below here, and think he was with YOU"
He then commenced talking very loud, and
I told him to come 90 home and make the
fuss there. We hen started home, and
as we stepped across a ditch Cosby
came up and said to Gillet that he
had not been with his wife, and he was &C.
cusing him wrongfully. Gllet told him he
was with her, and neither he nor any other
man had right to go with his wife without
his consent. Cosby replied that he did not
like to take anything like that. Caught
hold of my husband, and tried to get him
to 90 home. My husband said that they
were men, and must settle this without my
advice. I then started off, and had walked
about half the length of this (court) room
when | heard a pistol shot. | hallooed to
Cosby not to shoot, and turned to go back,
when another shot was fired. Then heard
Dan the deceased) say that Cosby had
shot him. then screamed for assistance.
Cross have never told diff
ferent story from this. Never said it was
n United States soldier that shot my hu5-
band. A man followed me from the Old
Market. He would some times go in front
and some times behind me but this was
on Broad street. Ny husband always went
armed with pistol. He also had dirk,
but don't know whether he had it about his
person that night. Did not see Cosby there
after the firing, on account Of the darkness
Of the night-could not see q person two
yards from you. Heard Gillet say after
the first shot, 40, you are up to that are
you, you ID s--n Of b-h?" Did not
tell any police officer that did not know
who shot him.
Mr.. Burton recalled: Heard Mary tell
police that she did not know who shot her
husband, as she was at home ironing at the
time.
- Parker (negrc) sworn a: Heard the
pistol shots, and heard Gillet halloo 81 am
Shot," "I am shot" Went to his relief.
He told me that Nat Cosby ehot him. This
about ten minutes after the firing.
Edmund Z. Harris (negro) sworn: Don't
know whether Gillet was armed that night.
The first thing he said to me was that he
had been shot by Cosby.
Maria Johnson (negro) was the first wit
ness for the defence. She said [ live up
stairs over Gillet's room. Was there when
Gillet went out that night. He took Il large
dirk knife out of his side pocket and made
a cut at his daughter, and said 81 have
two pistols and this knife, and | be id if
am not going through the lines tonight" F"
I told him TO put the knife "p, as | was
afraid to look at such things. lie then
went out, but returned in about ten minutes
and asked for his youngest daughter. told
him she was in bed asleep. He then told
me- to lock the house up, for he did not in
tend coming back any more that night.
Heard the firing. Gillet's wife was wash
ing at the time. She went out and came
running back, and said Gillet was shot, but
did not say who did 1t.
George Valentine (white) and John Will
liams (negro) were examined for the Com
monwealth, but threw 40 additional light
on the subject.
The counsel for the accused stated that
they had other witnesses for the defence,
but would not introduce them at this time
unless the Mayor desired to hear them.
The Mayor said that testimony would
have no effect upon his decision, as he would
send him on any way.
The prisoner was then remanded to Jail
for indictment and trial.
RICHMOND AND DANyILLE RAILROAD
The following is list of articles received
in Richmond per the Richmond and Dan
vile railroad during the month of October,
1868: 25l hogheads, 235 tierces, and As
hoxao tohocon. . mo pocka1as mann fa o.