The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-10
rHN LATE esBDOPHAEBNr

Tho Husband OF tho MArr1ed Womnn
who was Mlopod with Suddenly Esa-
turns ond ConsroMts tho Destroyer or
his Happiness and Gets Badly Beat
en-A Mixoa up AMair-Tesiasaony.
The incidents connected With the lato elope-
ment and return OF r chard Murphy are too
fresh in the minds or our readers to need even
mere mention, and we will only state by way of
EXPLANATION to what follows, that the young
woman with whom he cloped was the wife Of
William Kerr, a sailor, who not long since vent
on a cruise.
RETURN OF THE INJURED HUSBAND.
Lutte Sunday afternoon VIM. Kerr arrived on
the vessel he had shipped on. and. TO this:in-
tense horror, heard OF the conduct OF tho wo-
man whom he had vowed to love, cherisf, and
protect. and had faithfully kept his VOW. Ear
~ yesterday morning be went to the house OF
Harry May, on Queen-street, where he leal ned
Murphy waa5 Acc ostina Murphy. he demand
ed his wife. Words and -fght ensued, dur.
ing which Kerr was badly beaten.
ARREST OF MURPHY.
Shortly after the affair at Mays house, Kerr
went to Justice Mackey and had warrant is
sued for the arrest OF Ma, and Murphy, charg-
ing them with having committed an aggra-
vated assault and battery upon him. His face
certainly bore evidences Of having suffered
severely. Officers Coates and Quinn notified the
accused to come around to tho Detective
Office, which they did in q very short time
after receiving the notice. Justice Mackey here
held court. 4 PD
The testimony was very conflicting, and we
give below, substantially, that OF each witness:
Harry Mays testified that Kerr came into his
house wi Q e Murphy was and demanded his
wife, He then challenged Murphy to fight
''6st fight" which he refused to do, as he also
refused to fight with knives and pistols, as
afterwards requested 10 do by Kerr, Kerr all
of the time having his hands in his pocket.
Suddenly. during the conversation which en-
sued, Kerr drew his pistol and fired at Murphy,
who had struck him, the ball, as witness tssti-
fed, going through his hat, "a hole in which he
showed, but it was very much unlike hole
made by pistol ball.1 Witness, then took
Kerr's pistol away and threwit into the back
yard 43
Mrs. May testified that Kerr had como in
as her husband stated and challenged Murphy
to fight. but he refused. Ksrr then called her
names and Murphy stru;k him, and d general
row ensued. She knew q pistol was Aired off
by Kerr, but how many times she was not able
to say. -p.t :'s - ~ trs, q + y
Wm. Kerr testified that be had gone to Mays
house to SEQ Murphy about his wife, and had
challenged him to fight, but he would not.
Mrs. Kerr then called his wife o bad name and
he retorted, whereupoa he was set upon BY
Murphy. who beat him while May held his
arms. He bad pistol in his pocket, but was
unable to draw it because May held him too
tight. aeie :.t.. 5s5 ~
During this Testimony Murphy treated tho
court with great contempt by muttering threats
against MIR. John Al Moroso, who had voiun-
teered as connael for Kerr, and others in the
courtroom and the Justice ordered him to Jail
for contempt Of court. But flading th at Mur.
ply could not then furnish proper security for
his appearance for trial. and would therefore
have to go to jail anyhow, he withdrew the
commitment for contempt, apa sent him to jail
in charge OF Officers Quinn and Levy, in de.
fault OF said security. May was discharged.
After remaining confined an hour or two,
Murphy furnished security and was released.
During these proceedings Murphy sued out
q warrant against Kerr, charging him with
having assaulted him with deadly weapon.
Justice Minot, who issued the warrant, heard
the evidence. and required him to give $500
security to appear for trial. .,t