Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-14
LOCAL MATTERS.

For the fiddle Atlantic States fair wealth
ar syight rise in temperature, winds shifting
~ r,sj alei south, falling. preceded in north.
..,.rpar ion by rising, barometer. For Wed.
rr.,ay wamer, partly cloudy weather is
Indicated, followed by light showers.
rHg DOWNEY TRIAL.-As stated in the
GAZETTE the grand jury in the case of the
,,,tuurweailh VS.. J. y. Downey, indicted
far The murder Of J. L. Burnett on the night
.; sunday, March 29th, yesterday brought 10
\ irue biz. The grand jury heard the evil
leuce OF the Witnesses who testified before
the lL.ee magistrates, who discharged the
PRISONER on the DAY after the killing, and
some additional testimony.
The grand jury consisted Of the following
i zrus whom Il is understood were unani-
nous in finding The indict menb true bill ::
inc j. Jameson, foreman, Henry danger
field, TnoS. Huntington, VIM. F. Brookes,
J. h. Burroughs, Herbert Tancil, L. E.
Dulauy, Salnl. J. Reed, John z. Robinson,
,reorge l. Simpson, +: Corbett, John X.
Zimmerman, Geo. F. Steiner, Wm. d. Stew
art, Joseph Broders, Joseph L. Gr;gg, Thos.
Perry, and N. J. Waterman.
Downey was shortly afterwards arrested
bv Deputy Sergeant Braxton Smith, and
about o'clock in the evening was taken
before Suuires Cox, Nails and Nieklin, on q
perch warrant, 10 be examined and sent on
for trial The Trial at once Aegau, Mr..
Leonard Tarbury appearing fcf the Com
luonwealth and Mr.. J. NJ. Johnson for the
accused. Besides the witnesses who testi-
lied at the last examination, the following
were sworn: E. Meade, w. Harper,
J.H. Burns, J. a. Beach, F. \. Moore, Percy
Wimsatt, L J. w. Summers, DR.. K. G.
Powell and E Entwise.
The examination lasted late into the
night, and much OF the testimony went to
show that the shooting was not done alone
in selfdefense. After hearing the evidence.
at 9 O'Clock the magistrates adjourned the
case till 10 o'clock this morning to bear
argument. Downey was then committed to
the City Sergeants custody till this morning
and was lodged in Jail.
There was large crowd present. at the
trial, which took place at the Corporation
Court rooms.
This morning the magistrates court met
again and after the evidence of Mr.. Julian
Holt, as to the distances between points, &c,
ii the place where the shooting took place,
the argument was begun. Messrs. Mar5ury
and Johnson made lengthy and able
speeches, the former in favor of sending the
or soner on to court for trial, and the latter
asking his discharge on the ground that the
killing was done in self defense. The
argument lasted till o'clock this evening.
At that hour the case was submitted TO
the magistrates, who, after few moments
private consultation returned into court
and announced their decision-sending the
prisoner on to court. In this opinion Messrs.
Cox and Nicklin agreed, but MIR. Nails dis
sented, stating that he did not think there
was sufficient evidence to send the prison
err on An order was then drawn up
bv the Commonwealth Attorney commit
ting the prisoner TO Jail, which was signed
by the magistrates. Downey was then
taken into custody. A motion to release
him on bail was resisted By Mr.. Marbury,
who denied the right of the magistrates SO
to do, but who, however, stated that II the
prisoner was taken before Judge Meade, OF
The Corporation Court, Oh writ of habeas
corpus and bail asked for before that court,
he would make no objection. With this
understanding, Mr. Johnson withdrew his
motion for bail, and writ of habeas corpus
was at once drawn up, and later in the
evening the case vas taken before Judge
Meade, who bailed him for his appearance
on Friday next, in the sum of $4,000, his
father becoming his surety.
The decision of the magistrates was re-
ceived with general satisfaction. for it was
thought that trial of the case by jury was
necessary for the law abiding reputation of
the city, and also that if the killing was
done in self defence it would be better for
Downey to be acquitted BY a jury OF twelve
of his, countrymen than by two or three
magistrates.
THE Potomac FIsHERIEs.-As far Is can
be ascertaned, the fishing shores on the
Potomac will be operated this year as fol-
lows: On the Maryland side of the iver
Tent Landing is to be hshed by Captain
Roome, who will use about $50 fathoms of
net, with crew of ten men. Next is Mox-
ley's Point. to be 6shed by Captain Blake
x Co. They use about $50 fathoms of seine
aud employ about 2s men. Bryant's Point,
formerly fshed by Captain Courad Faunce,
will not be tished this season, as the captain
!, IN 1owar pntorn9c with