The Daily Dispatch: December 30, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Charge of Homicide.

Robert Francis testified that on Christmas Eve Beverly was waiting upon a customer, when John asked him for a knife, and he soon afterward learned that John was stabbed. Beverly said he did not do it intentionally, and was only ‘"projecting"’ (i. e., playing) with John. This was about half-past 10 o'clock on Tuesday night, and the boy died on Thursday morning, between 1 and 2.

Wm. Phillips testified that he was in the barber-shop on Tuesday night, and Beverly was waiting upon him. John asked Beverly for a knife, and the latter replied that it was ‘"up yonder; don't be fooling with me."’ Another boy pointed to where the knife lay, and John reached up for it; but Beverly got hold of it, and the other tried to take it from him Beverly first struck John on the shoulder with the knife, and then thrust it into his left side. John says, ‘"Beverly, you have cut me."’ Beverly replied, ‘"Well, you had no business trying to take it from me; you are always fooling with me, any how."’ Witness heard John tell Francis that Beverly had cut him, and the latter replied that he did not do it intentionally.

Dr. John Dove, who attended the wounded boy, described the wound, and said that John had remarked to him that they were ‘"fooling."’ He gave both boys a good character.

Some further statements of witnesses were heard, after which the Mayor remanded Beverly to be tried for felonious stabbing, and refused to admit him to bail.