Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-20
LOCAL NEWS.

The LATE MURDER Casa reporter Tor
the Gazette called at the Jail this morning and
had a talk with William jackson, the colored
man committed last Saturday for the murder
of his wife. jackson says he belonged to COL
Tom Hudgins, of Edenton, n. g., and lived
with him until the war, when he went to Ports
mouth and lived there until two years ago last
Christmas, when he came to this city. He
met the woman he lived with, but to whom he
was never legally married, shortly after he
came here and lived with her until she died
She came from Maryland He worked at the
brick yard between here and Washington He
strenuously denies that he killed the woman,
and says that she died either from eating too
much fat bacon, or from sutfocation, caused by
enlarged tonsils. He never had had but one
wife; she belonged to VIM. Smith; h Of y; c.,
and died the year before the war. The follow
ing is the evidence taken at the coroner's in
quest, all the witnesses being coored:
Dinah Peters: Lives in the basement of Mr.
Johnson's house, adjoining the room occupied
by William Jackson aud his wife; am mid
wife by profession; have known jackson since
last spring been living in Mr.. Johnson's house
since last October; jackson is tenant of mine;
l waited on Mary Jackson III her Sickness she
was taken sick two weeks since, February 3rd;
the next day she gave birth to a male child,
which is still living and healthy; night before
last she exhibited rambling manner; appeared
to he out of her mind; she threw the bed cloth
ing off of her; William jackson told her to
stop; he picked up stick of wood and
struck her on the top of the head; the stick
was larger than 4 man arm; the blow Knocked
her senSelesS immediately after she had
hard fit and never spoke but once afterwards,
when she said My head feels like a cannon
shooting through IT, | told jackson not to
Kill her, to let her die a tar DEATH he said she
is in my way any how and can't get her out;
| rather she d be gone than here: she lived
about three hours after the blow: she died trl-
Jay morning about eight Clock l omplaineti
to Mr.. Croker about the abuse of the deceased
iy William Jackson, and he referred me TO
MIR. Johnson; when | mentioned it to Mr..
Johnson be said he had nothing to do with the
luan; if he was dsagreeabe as tenant he was
Our tenant, and We must get warrant and re
move him. The first remark made by Jack
son after he found that his wife was dead Was,
We'll shes gone | shall not stay about here,
never stay any where where any OF my wives
die: don let any Of the ladies know that she
He made no preparations for the decea>cdS
funeral, saying he could not afford it.
Caroline Coleman knew deceased and VIM.
Jackson: have seen him beat her; saw him beat
her last Thursday night with a stick of wood
she was in the bed trying to get up; she was on
her hands and knees when he struck her; after
he hit her she never spike that heard; Jack
son went out some time after he struck her and
stayed out about half an hour; buttoned the
door aud ordered no one to go in there; Mr..
Cornelius Young, the constable. happened 10
and went into the room and found her dead;
that was the first intlmatlon OF her death then
Lucy johnson, who was nursing the baby IN
the next room, called; when jackson returned
he went into the room and asked who had
been there; said Mr. Young; jackson asked
if Young found her dead; | said he did; Jack
son said she was not dead when I left
Cornelius Young Hearing that the woman
was dying on my way to the house, | saw VIM
Jackson leaving the house: on arriving there L
found the door fastened with button; l. open
ed the door and went in and found the woman
dead on her bed with her face covered; sheet
was laid over her face; told Lucy johnson,
who was in the next room, and came away.
Lucy Johnson Have frequently seen Jack
son slap his wife; was at their house last Thurs
day night; he tied her hands together IN the
bed: he struck her ia the face with his list;
saw him strike her with piece OF wood thicker
than my arm; Aunt Dinah was 10 the room at
the time; when he struck her she was trying
pillow after she was struck; when she tell he
said, God damn you wish you were in he'll,
out of my way remained in the room some
time. and when [ left he was still there; re-
monstrated With him, but he said had moth
ing 10 do with it: when he came out OF the room
he buttoned the door after him; | remained in
the next room: Mr.. Young came and asked
Caroline Coleman if he could see Mrs Jack
son: she told her that Mr.. Jackson had forbid
ben her to go in there; Mr.. Young said that
though it did ut look right he would 60 in; ne
went In pulled the cover off her face and said
she was dead; that was the first | knew OF her
death; the blow was struck as near as can tetf
about two o'clock Friday morning; .when; aek- ::
son returned he said, damn it., who has been
here; | said Mr.. Young has been, here; ahel
went into the room and camcS out; he asked
has Aunt Dinah come; he thensweut cut and
saw nc more Of him that day. ~-'-'s'': - 80
Mission CHApEL.-The parties having IN
charge the building of the Mission Chapel have
purchased lot on alter street. east side, be-
tween King and Prince, of Mr.. VIM. Bayne for
1920. 1t is understood that drawings are be-
ing prepared and that building will be com.
menced at once The committee certainly de-
serve to he encouraged in this effort as there is
hardly a part of eutry in the United States
without its Bethel for preaching to sailors; and
they are also collecting the children along our
wharves every Sunday evening. children, many
of wh IN receive no other religious instruction.
This school, under the name of the Corn Ex-
change Mission Sabbath School, was establish
ed about one year ago through the kindness of
the organization from which its name Is de
rived. who offered the use Of their rooms, and
the >chool has continued to occupy them up TO
the present time. Upon moving into their
new hall, the tables being arranged to be sta
tionary. and thus preventing Its use as Sun
day School the members of the Corn Tx