Charge of murder.
--Yesterday — morning
Wm. W. Jones appeared before the
Mayor to answer the charge of causing the death of John L
Curry, a butcher in the
First Market.
The facts connected with this and affair, as far as we can gather them, are these: On the afternoon of the 21st ult.
Wm. W. Jones,
Granville Montelle,
John L. Curry, and
William Peasley, met at Peasley's house, on 17th street, and had a game of cards after several hours' play the game closed, Montelle having won $300 of
Curry.
Jones prompt settled with Montelle, and
Peasley demand payment of
Currey but Montelle refused to the Curry have the money, and was about to mount his horse and ride off when
Peasley seized him by the collar, telling him he could not leave till the debt due him was paid.
Curry being somewhat intoxicated, and seeing
Peasley have Montelle by the collar immediately seized
Peasley.
At this moment
Jones joined the party, and, taking hold of
Curry, pulled him away, telling him to let
Peasley and Montelle settle their own difficulties.
Curry at once threatened to cut
Jones open for touching him, and thrust his hand under his coat as if to draw a knife.
At that instant
Jones struck him a severe blow in his face with his fist, causing him to fall heavily across the curbstone.
Jones struck him once more with his fist, when
Peasley interfered, separated the parties, and took
Curry into his house; where he washed his face and hands, partook of two or three drinks, and then mounted his horse and rode home, on Bacon's Quarter Branch, a distance of two miles from the scene of the fight.
Curry, ducting his illness, was attended by two or three physicians, who did all in their power to relieve him, but without avail.
He lingered in pain till Monday last, when death relieved his sufferings.
The
Mayor, on being informed that
Justice King, of
Henrico county, was about to hold an inquest over the dead body, adjourned the examination till Friday next, and committed
Jones to prison till that time.
If the evidence before the
Mayor sustains the facts already given by us, the charge against
Jones will be manslaughter.
