The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-12-03
From the Vicksburg Herald.
Trial of w. II. Nceley for the Killing of
JUdg sc DOwnes.

lana, Il tragedy which threw a gloom
Of horror over thewhole parish. Rich
ard Charles Downes, Judge of the
Parish Court of Madison, in the prime
Of life, and in the full enjoyment of
perfect health, was deprived of his life
Nceley Immediately surrendered him
self to the officers of the law.
The trial which had been set for Tues
day, the 22d, owing to unavoidable cir
culnstances, was postponed from day to
day until the 25th, on which day it
came before the jury.
Mr.. Ncclcy was ably defended by
N1essrs. Wells, Lane, Harrison, Farrar
and Scale, and at the request Of the
prisoner and his friends, Hon. J. G.
Leach, of Natchez, was engaged to aid
i'll the important and responsible task
of examining the witnesses, who We're
many in number.
The killing of Judge Downes was
proven, and as the fact had already
been allowed, had no bearing on the
merits of the case.
The sister of w. II. Neeley, Miss
Annette Neeley, the young lady who
had been so cruelty wronged, and whose
misfortune had been the cause of the
tragedy, was introduced to the court,
and her testimony proved only the fact
that, as the public had already been
made aware, she had been seduced. 1t
is rarely the case that in IL trial of this
character the seduced is brought face to
face with q court or jury. Shame, dis
grace, and the consciousness that to the
world she is an object of contumely,
prevent her appearance. In this case,
the sisters love for the brother, whose
very life might hang on tho evidence
she could give, the inward conscious
ness that shame could in no way be
attached to her conduct, the advice of
the learned gentlemen, her brothers
her terrible wrong, that the world
might judge if William II. Necley had
violated a law of God or man, in attack
ing to the death, Charles Richard
Downes, induced her appearance.
Miss Ncelcy testified that, being at
the Convent of the Sacred Heart, on
the coast near New Orleans, and find
ing it impossible to become Il member
Of that institution, on account of her
being raised III the Protestant faith,
and being only Il convert to Catholism,
she caused to be written to Judge
Downcs, presuming on his firm friend
ship for her dead father, Il letter, ask
ing for a certificate of hnr resncctahility
enter a convent where the rules were
less stringent.
In reply, Judge Downcs addressed j.:
letter to the Superior of the Convent
giving the desired information, and
enclosing ut the same time letter tC
herself marked " P,Irote'
The letter, couched in the language
Of Il scholar and Il refined gentleman
but revealing evil to the skilled observ-
er the evil intent of which he cher
ishcd even then against the unslIspect-
ing girl, was read to the court.
In it Judge DOwncs cOunselled her to
como to Nicllsburg, put herself under
his protection, and he would find en-
ploymcnt for her as instructress in some
school or private family.
Miss Ncclcy came to NicllSburg, was
registered at the Prcntiss House by
Judge DOWncs undcran assumed name,
remained there n day, and then, fearing
to accomplish his internal purpose un-
der the same roof with his wife and
children, caused her removal to IL pri-
vatc boarding house. AT that place,
acting as her true and interested friend
he continued to visit her.
Miss Medley, Immediately after ar
riving in Niclsburg was taken with Il
prOStrating fit of illness and that alone
prevented the quick accomplishment
Of his vile purpose.
Miss Ncclcy testified, that few eve.
nings after her partial recovery, tho
deceased came to her room in the dead
of night, forced her to drink of druggcd
wine and then and there performed his
daStnrdly crime. Her testimony from
the start was clear and explicit and left
no doubt in the minds of the jury that
her statements were correct.
The verdict which was given by tho
foreman ut an early hour of the morn.
| ingof the 2Gth, was, " Not guilty." and
the whole community repeats it as just
The Improbable business of thai
melancholy institution, the Dcad-Lcttel
Office, is becoming very large. During
the month of October no less than 357 !,
| SIG undclivcrcd letters were sent thor,
to be disposed of. Only fG2, ,541 Of then
could be returned, owing to the prcva
lcnCc Of cndcaring signatures, sucl
as aifcctionate husband,'' 4" dutifu
daughtcr,n Glowing fricnd,' "you
adOring Charles" " your faithful Iall
RAJ &c, which gave no clue to tn
sender, and to the fact that many letter
come undated and illcgibly post-marlI
ed. All without addresses are opened
burned, and the contents confiscatcd
In the letters returned, there were, be
side checks and drafts for large sums
cash Enclosures, amounting to 81, o:
which the owners, after much. tribula
ton, will receive. In the InrcturnabI
letters, we may infer that there is a.
equal sum of money which the owner
will never soc again. The remedy fO
all this trouble, delay, and loss is sim
nj of thn Gcp,Ipr ,yritn J,i- odd roc