You should have kept on reading, Art.
The Daily Dispatch: November 17, 1862.
Arrests by the city police.
--The officers were quite busy on Saturday night, and during their peregrinations accomplished a number of arrests, included in which number are the following parties: Jas. Halley, for drunkenness and disorderly conduct in the 1st market; Peter Doyle and Jno. Dunn, for stealing a horse, worth $160, from Thos. Samson.--On entering the rooms over No. 90 Main street, by way of Exchange Alley, they found a number of negroes, who had evidently been disturbed while gaming. At this place they arrested William Jackson, slave of Jno. R. Allen, for going at large and having in his possession ten gallons of whiskey and a lot of gambling tools; also, Robert Carter, slave of Wm. B. Pleasants, for being in No.90 without a pass; Washington, slave of Thos. Jordan's estate, another occupant, for going at large, and Dick Carey, a free negro, also present without a certificate of his freedom. Dan Gorman was caged for being drunk and stealing $74 in C. S. notes from Wm. McFieldly.--In a house in Adams's Valley, near the old ink factory, were arrested Willamina Tyree, Lucy Boasman, and Mudgy Manson, mulatto women, for keeping a disorderly house of ill-fame. Richard Nants, Wm. Hardiey, and James B. Shook, white men, found in Tyree's house, were caged for associating with negroes. Two of the men were ascertained to be deserters, for whom rewards had been offered. --At 11 o'clock Saturday night notice was given to the police that a man had been shot in the alley leading to a house of ill-fame kept by Ann E. Thomas, on Cary street. Proceeding thither, they obtained entrance with some difficulty, only to find that the inmates professed to know nothing of the affair, though committed by one of a gang of men who had been in the house. Leaving the house with the assurance that they only came to find out the particulars of the affair, the police proceeded to the Mayor's private residence, who, late at night, issued a warrant for the arrest of all the parties found in the house. About 2 o'clock it was surrounded by the police and armed guard, and the inmates, male and female, marched off to the cage, as persons of evil name, fame, and reputation. The men gave the names of Wilson Williams, George Grase, Benedict Howard, John F. Peregey, Edward Lightfoot, John Harrison, and Frank Gillian. The women registered as A. E. Thomas, Mary Jones, Lissy Hodges, Maggie Clark, Lucretia Bywaters, (alias Sue Price,) Sarah Smith, Mary Davis, Emma Marsh, Nellie Porter, and Jenny Barnes. Early Sundaymorning the cage being too crowded, most of the prisoners were sent to the city jail. The unfortunate man who was shot was known as Capt. J. O. Withmell, and hailed from Louisville, Ky. After being shot he was carried to his room at the Exchange Hotel, and Dr. Conway called in to attend him. The ball was found to have been received in the back, and was extracted from the surface of the abdomen, having passed through the body. After lingering in great pain for seven hours, Withmell breathed his last about 10 o'clockyesterday morning. An inquest was subsequently held by Coroner Sanxay.
The Daily Dispatch: November 18, 1862.
The late murder on Cary street — inefficiency of the police.
--The jury of inquest summoned in the case of J. O. Withmell, killed on Cary street, between 14th and 15th streets, Saturday night, met yesterday at room No. 153 Exchange Hotel, at 10 o'clock, pursuant to adjournment, when the following additional testimony was given in:
William R. Cauthorn, (one of the night watch,) sworn, deposed: On Saturdaynight about 12 o'clk, I was standing at the corner of 15th and Main sts.; heard a gun fired; started up and met three men coming towards 15th street; one was taller than the others; had on a slouch hat, turned up at the side. I afterwards went to Ann Thomas's, asked her if any fuss was going on; she said no, but that three men came, and when they were going away she heard a pistol fired; asked her if she knew either, said yes--one Tom Hiltzhimer. I went down and saw Lieut. Carter, then came up to the Exchange and heard the details of the shooting.
Ann Thomas: I heard the report of a pistol, but was in bed, and did not get up. I knew one of the parties--Mr. Hiltzhimer--having recognized his voice; knew none of the others. They had not got out of the alley before I heard the pistol.--There was no one in the house for an hour or more previous to the visit of these gentlemen.
Maggie Clarke: I did not know anything about it at all until the officers came. I did not hear the pistol. I know Mr. Hiltzhimer.
Jennie Barnes deposed to the same effect.
Nellie Porter: I went to the door when the gentlemen came; saw that there was a crowd; told them they couldn't get in Heard a pistol, then, and said to myself, "they are mad, now, because I wouldn't let them in." In fifteen minutes or more, the guard came, and searched the house and yard. When Mr. Hiltzhimer and party knocked and couldn't get in, they went away. I have no idea who did the shooting. There was a gentleman in the house previous, who left an hour before. Don't know his name. I never saw deceased; never heard Miss Ann say she saw him. No one could get out the back way through the alley; the fence is very high.
Dr. L. R. Waring: Was called to see deceased about 12 o'clock Saturday night. Found him lying on bed in No. 218, suffering a good deal of pain.--Examined the body, and found that the ball had entered the back near the spinal column, a little below the right kidney. The ball passed almost directly through the body, and was extracted near the navel. Death was the result of the shooting.--The deceased had no suspicions as to who shot him.
Emma Marsh being sworn deposed: Was in the parlor when some one knocked at the door. Didn't go to the window. Don't know who knocked.--Nellie called Mr. Hiltzhimer's name. Don't know any of those in the parlor. Don't know deceased. No gentleman was in witnesses' room that night.--Three men were in the house. Two went out. The one left was a captain.
Lucretia Bywaters deposed: Had been sick. Was in my room asleep Had not been in the parlor for two weeks. Heard no pistol. Knew Mr. Hiltzhimer. He visits the house. Knew none of the parties who were with him.
Mary Davis deposed: Went to bad at 11 o'clock. Heard the report of the pistol. Did not get up. Do not know what direction it was in. Did not know that a man was shot until next morning.
Mary Jones deposed: Don't know anything about it. Went to bed at 11 o'clock. Heard no noise or knocking at the door. Did not look out. Had no curiosity. Heard no one making any observations. Have no recollection of having seen the deceased.
Lizzie Hodges deposed, that she know nothing about the shooting. Heard no knocking or nothing until the next day.
Sarah Smith deposed, that she knew nothing of the affair. Heard no pistol shot off. Retired to bed early and was asleep.
Having heard the above testimony, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death from a pistol-shot wound, the ball entering his back and passing through his body, and that it was fired by some person to the jury unknown.
Afterwards the jury drew up and signed the following paper as an addenda to the verdict:
"The jury of inquest in the case of J. O. Withmell, a stranger, assassinated in the city of Richmond, on the night of Saturday, in view of the negligence and inefficiency displayed by policemen, who should have been in that neighborhood on that occasion, do resolve that the Mayor, in pursuance of his duty, be requested to ascertain the names of the said derelict officers, and visit summary punishment upon them.
"As citizens of Richmond, we would respectfully urge upon the authorities the appointment of additional police force, if the present number is inadequate. Every means should be adopted to bring back order and law to the once orderly and quiet city.
"The jury further resolved, that inasmuch as murder and robbery have become of daily occurrence in this community, as a step towards its suppression, the Mayor be requested to offer a reward of $500 for the detection and arrest of the murderer or murderers of the deceased, J. O. Withmell."
Sounds like Miss Emma Marsh was a known local prostitute.
The Daily Dispatch: November 17, 1862.
Murder of a Confederate officer--cold blooded Assassination.
--On Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, Lieut. J. O. Withmell, G. S. A., was assassinated in an alley on Cary street, between 14th and 15th streets. The deceased was an English man of highly-respectable position, and is represented to have been a brave and efficient officer. At the earliest stage of the war he commanded a loyal company of soldiers in St. Louis, and resisted the rule of the Yankee Gen. Lyon, (who was afterwards killed at Pen Ridge,) for which he was forced to fly from the city, though not before having exchanged shots with the invaders. The particulars of this cold blooded murder are furnished in the evidence given below at the inquest held over Lieut. W.'s remains at room No. 218 Exchange Hotel, to which place he was carried after receiving the fatal shot. The deceased was the son of an opulent merchant in London, and leaves a wife and child in St. Louis.
Charles S. Miller deposed, that six or seven men, including Withmell, the deceased, proposed to visit Mrs. Ann Thomas's, where they were refused admittance. All went out; Withmell last, Withmell was shot as he stepped into the street from the alley. About 12 o'clock passed three men going in the alley. On the corner of Fourteenth and Main streets, where the public clock is kept, he heard remarks about three men who were standing at the corner, by one of his party. The shooting could not have been done by inmates of Ann Thomas's house, or any of his party, as none of them had arms. Withmell was an Englishman, and came to the city on Friday last for the first time.
W. S. Carrick deposed: Said Withmell was the last one to come out of the alley. Heard a pistol shot. Col. B. D. Harman and myself helped to remove the wounded man; Harmon had hold of one side and myself the other; we carried him ten steps, when Withmell said he could not go further; he was supported to his hotel by us. After getting him there we took off his clothes and endeavored to persuade him that his wound was not mortal. Withmell died at twenty minutes to 12 o'clock Saturday night. On first getting near Ann Thomas's door I saw three men entering the alley. First met the deceased in Memphis, where Colonel Harman was raising a regiment, of which Withmell was an officer. Afterwards met him in Grenada, Miss., and subsequently in Richmond. The deceased had been engaged in no difficulty so far as I knew. The deceased exclaimed, after being shot, "Why should they shoot me !" In the evening of Saturday, the witness, Col. Harman, and the deceased, were at the dress parade of the City Battalion on the Capital Square. Afterwards they went with a party to Ann Thomas's, and, being refused admittance, retired. As they were going through the alley, and had gotten to Cary street, under a lamp-post opposite the Commissary Store, Withmell was shot from the alley. Afterwards applied to the guard, who refused to go. Heard no person running, or any noise after the shooting. The deceased was the last one of the party coming out of the alley.
John F. Pearce deposed, In company with some other gentlemen I went down 14th street between 11 and 12 o'clock. We went to Ann Thomas's house, but could not get in, and quietly left. Withmell was the last who left the alley. A pistol shot was heard when Withmell was under the lamp at the corner below. The deceased exclaimed he was shot through. The party had no arms, and tried to get the assistance of the armed patrol guard to search the premises of Ann Thomas, but they refused. An officer rode by, whom we hailed. He stated that he was an officer of the Provost Guard, and would bring up men to their assistance, which he shortly did. On going into the alley at Ann Thomas's some one remarked that it was a dark place, and some one might get killed. Miller thereupon said, "No, there are too many of us." The party at the corner of 14th and Main streets might have heard Miller's remark concerning them as we passed that corner. Withmell was a stranger to the witness.
Col. B. D. Harman deposed: Withmell was associated with me since April last in a military capacity. He was a man of fine military ideas, and of unexceptionable deportment. He was not at all addicted to drinking, and never knew him to be in a broil, or to have an unpleasant word with any one. He came to Richmond on Friday last at my request. He had drank no liquor, and I think the witness. Carrick's, recollection of occurrences is about correct. I saw one man in Ann Thomas's alley, though there might have been three. After the alarm, the men he saw near the corner of 14th and Main seemed to be a guard over the Purveyors store. They refused to go with the party when requested to do so. Saw no city police while the alarm was being raised. The deceased was the sen of an opulent merchant in London, and had a wife and child in St. Louis.
Thomas L. Hiltahimer, jr., testified as to the observation of Miller on passing the corner of Fourteenth and main streets, and seeing three men at the corner. After going to Ann Thomas's and being refused admittance, witness was the foremost of the party coming out. Saw a man behind the gate leading from the alley, whom he took to be one of his party. Witness in coming out the alley ran against the guard on Fourteenth street, who would not go to their assistance. Afterwards met in the street an assistant Provost Marshal, who promised to bring up a guard, and did so in a few minutes. When Withmell was brought into the Exchange, one of the city watch appeared, who said he saw three men after the shooting coming up Fifteenth street. They turned into Alex. Nott's alley, and when he asked them what they were going in there for, they replied that they had made a mistake, and turned and went down Main street.
The Surgeons who attended deceased, Messrs. L. R. Waring and J. H. Conway, not being present, as well as other witnesses, the Coroner adjourned the jury to meet again to day at 10 o'clock A. M., at No. 218 Exchange Hotel, and recognised the witnesses to appear before the Mayor on Tuesday, at 1 o'clock. The Coroner hopes to discover the guilty party by the testimony of the watchman, who is said to be able to identify the men whom he saw passing up Fifteenth street immediately after the shooting.
The Daily Dispatch: November 18, 1862.
Proceedings in the Courts.
Mayer's Court, Monday, Nov. 17th.
--The case against Wash. Jordan, Wm. Jackson, Robert Carter, and Dick Carey, negroes, found in a room over No. 90, Main street, supposed to be used for gaming purposes, was partly heard, and all of the men save Dick Carey, who could not find a surety, turned loose on bail to appear on Tuesday.
Daniel Gorman, charged with stealing $74 in C. S. notes from Wm. McFieldy, was called, but the witness not making his appearance, the prisoner was put in jail until the 20th, and the police officers instructed to hunt up McFieldy.
The parties, male and female, arrested at the bawdy house of Ann E. Thomas, Cary street, Saturday night, for being of evil name, &c., were sent to jail until Tuesday, the Mayor having determined to hold them as accessories to the murder of Capt. J. O. Withmell, and bail in such a case not being allowed.
Patrick Haley was arraigned, charged with aiding and abetting another man in robbing Alpheus F. Daily of two silver watches, valued at $75, the sum of $60 in C. S. Treasury notes, $4 in Virginia notes, and a pocket knife of the value of $10. For want of the requisite witnesses the case was continued until November 20th, and defendant committed to jail.
The case against George Drew, charged with stealing $60 from Wm. H. Majortwelve months since, was again called, and no witnesses answering Drew was sent back, for the twentieth time.
Levy and Sol. Cohen were arraigned on the charge of receiving seven blankets, worth $50, stolen from the Confederate States, knowing them to be stolen. Nobody appeared to make good any such allegation against them, and they were accordingly discharged from custody.
Robert Lovedale, arrested for making his bed on the sidewalk while drunk, was let off.
Sandy, slave of J. H. Enroughty, arrested for stealing three boxes of clothing, worth $1,000, was committed until Tuesday for further examination.
Peter Doyle and John Dunn were committed for examination before the Hustings Court on the charge of stealing a horse from Thos. Samson, valued at $190.
Richard Nantz, Wm. Hardley, and James B. Shock, white men, arrested in the house of Willianna Tyree, a free negro, in Butchertown, Saturdaynight, appearing to be soldiers, were sent to Major Griswold, the Provost Marshal, to be returned to their regiments.
Wm. McMullen was charged with begging and getting drunk on the proceeds of his solicitations. He promised instant reform, but his Honor having seen a part of his performances both in the begging and Bacchanalian line, McMullen was sent to jail in default of security to be of good behavior.
Chas. Lindner and Wm. Grobe, charged with having certain counterfeit notes of the Danbury (Ct.) Bank in their possession, and offering to sell the same to Owens & Son, were examined and acquitted.
Acquitted.--E. H. Taliaferro, charged with obtaining money from the State by means of forged checks, was carried before the Mayor on Saturday for examination. Nothing being offered in evidence either on that or the previous examination directly sustaining the charge on which the prisoner was arrested, the Mayor said the case had not been made out, and discharged the party from custody. The amount obtained from the State Treasury by means of the alleged forgeries exceeds $14,000.
Judge Lyons's Court.--This Court convened again yesterday for the trial of criminal cases and the transaction of civil business. Several letters of administration on estates of decedents were granted, but no criminal was arraigned for trial. --The Grand Jury assembled pursuant to adjournment, and retiring into the Sergeant's office, listened to testimony in a large number of cases, and returned into Court with some twenty five indictments, for various offences, against parties now in custody.
The Daily Dispatch: November 21, 1862.
Proceedings in the Courts.
Mayor's Court, Thursday, Nov. 20th.
--Walter Philcock and Cadmus C. Cooper were examined for engaging in a personal rencontre at the Exchange Hotel on Wednesdaynight. The parties protested that they were only engaged in a friendly wrestle, and did not intend to trespass on the rights of the keeper of the Hotel. Nothing appearing to gainsay this, they were discharged.
Nathaniel, slave of Wm. Wellington, was sent on for trial before the Hustings Court, for stealing a silver watch worth $30, $15 in C. S. notes, one pair of pantaloons, and three vests, the property of Wm. Tyree.
John W. McDowell, arrested by Officer Crone, for stealing a horse worth $200 from Blias White, on Wednesdayevening, was examined, and it appearing that the crime, if any, was committed in Fluvanna county, McDowell was committed to be sent thither for examination.
Beverly Hog, and sundry other free negroes arrested for not having their free papers with them, were admonished and let off, with an intimation that if they did not apply to the Hustings Court at the next term they would not fare so well.
Wm. Flemments, charged with the murder of Mike Heran, being arraigned and the witnesses not answering, he was discharged. Prisoner hauled from Baltimore; but on a former review of the case it was not shown that he fired the fatal shot though present, and in the possession of firearms. He belongs to the Purcell battery, and had been slightly wounded several months since at Mechanicville, in the first of the series of battles around Richmond.
Ann Thomas was examined by the Mayor and acquitted of being an accessory to the murder of J. O. Withmell last Saturdaynight. She was however, required to give bail in $500 for her appearance this day week, when, as the Mayor said, he "would investigate Ann Thomas." She gave bail. Miller and Hiltzheimer, witnesses at the inquest, were recognized to appear and testify at that time. The girls boarding at her house appeared, but were dismissed.
Hustings Court--Judge Wm. H. Lyons presiding--Thursday, Nov. 29th.--John Wall was arraigned for trial on the charge of stealing a gold watch from Robert C. Graham. The jury found him guilty and ascertained the term of his imprisonment at three years in the Penitentiary. Mr. Crane appeared for the defendant.
John Pendergrast was tried for stealing $74 in C. S. Treasury notes from John McCarthy, and found guilty by the jury, who assessed his time at 18 months in the Penitentiary. Mr. Ratcliffe appeared for the prisoner.
Thomas Samanni was put to the bar for trial, charged with forging a check for $6,000, purporting to be signed by Owens & Sons, and made pay able to the order of West & Johnston. The trial was concluded often night by the acquittal of the prisoner.
The Judge passed sentence on Wall and Pendergrast, who were taken to the Penitentiary yesterday evening.
C. S. District Court.--This Court was not in session yesterday, nor will it be to-day but will commence to-morrow, for the purpose of passing sentence on several convicts.
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Ann E Thomas
Age in 1860: 45
Birth Year: abt 1815
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Richmond Ward 1, Henrico, Virginia
Gender: Female
Post Office: Richmond
Value of real estate: View Image
Household Members: Name Age
Ann E Thomas 45
Jane E Fleming 20
Mary C Fleming 18
Lilly Dean 18
Ophelia Lewis 20
E Miller Lewis 40
B. Desha Harman
Regiment Name Harman's Regiment Tennessee Infantry.
Side Confederate
Company
Soldier's Rank_In Colonel
Soldier's Rank_Out Colonel
Film Number M231 roll 19