The Ouachita Telegraph - Trial of W.H. Neeley for the Killing of Judge Downes

Submitted by: Lora Peppers <lpeppers@ouachita.lib.la.us Apr. 2000

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The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, December 3, 1870
Page 1, Column 5

Trial of W.H. Neeley for the Killing of Judge Downes.
        On the 27th day of October, 1870, there occurred in the town of Delta,
Louisiana, a tragedy which threw a gloom of horror over the whole parish.
Richard Charles Downes, Judge of the Parish Court of Madison, in the prime
of life, and in the full enjoyment of perfect health, was deprived of his
life at the hands of W.H. Neeley.  Mr. Neeley immediately surrendered
himself to the officers of the law.
        The trial which had been set for Tuesday, the 22d, owing to unavoidable
circumstances, was postponed from day to day until the 25th, on which day it
came before the jury.
        Mr. Neeley was ably defended by Messrs. Wells, Lane, Harrison, Farrar and
Seale, and at the request of the prisoner and his friends, Hon. J.G. Leach,
of Natchez, was engaged to aid in the important and responsible task of
examining the witnesses, who were many in number.
        The killing of Judge Downes was proven, and as the fact had already been
allowed, had no bearing on the merits of the case.
        The sister of W.H. Neeley, Miss Annette Neeley, the young lady who had been
so cruelly wronged, and whose misfortune had been the cause of the tragedy,
was introduced to the court, and her testimony proved only the fact that, as
the public had already been made aware, she had been seduced.  It is rarely
the case that in a trial of this character the seduced is brought face to
face with a court or jury.  Shame, disgrace, and the consciousness that to
the world she is an object of contumely, prevent her appearance.  In this
case, the sister's love for the brother, whose very life might hang on the
evidence she could give, the inward consciousness that shame could in no way
be attached to her conduct, the advice of the learned gentlemen, her
brother's counsel, and the desire to make known her terrible wrong, that the
world might judge if William H. Neeley had violated a law of God or man, in
attacking to the death, Charles Richard Downes, induced her appearance.
        Miss Neeley testified that, being at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, on
the coast near New Orleans, and finding it impossible to become a member of
that institution, on account of her being raised in the Protestant faith,
and being only a convert to Catholism, she caused to be written to Judge
Downes, presuming on his firm friendship for her dead father, a letter,
asking for a certificate of her respectability, and that of her family, that
she could enter a convent where the rules were less stringent.
        In reply, Judge Downes addressed a letter to the Superior of the Convent,
giving the desired information; and enclosing at the same time a letter to
herself marked "Private".
        The letter, couched in the language of a scholar and a refined gentleman,
but revealing evil to the skilled observer; the evil intent of which he
cherished even then against the unsuspecting girl, was read to the court.
        In it Judge Downes counselled her to come to Vicksburg, put herself under
his protection, and he would find employment for her as instructress in some
school or private family.
        Miss Neeley came to Vicksburg, was registered at the Prentiss House by
Judge Downes under an assumed name, remained there a day, and then, fearing
to accomplish his infernal purpose under the same roof with his wife and
children, caused her removal to a private boarding house.  At that place,
acting as her true and interested friend, he continued to visit her.
        Miss Neeley, immediately after arriving in Vicksburg was taken with a
prostrating fit of illness and that alone prevented the quick accomplishment
of his vile purpose.
        Miss Neeley testified, that a few evenings after her partial recovery, the
deceased came to her room in the dead of night, forced her to drink of
drugged wine and then and there performed his dastardly crime.  Her
testimony from the start was clear and explicit and left no doubt in the
minds of the jury that her statements were correct.
        The verdict which was given by the foreman at an early hour of the morning of
the 26th, was, "Not guilty," and the whole community repeats it as just!

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