Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-21

enquiry into The o1fciai conduct of Samuel
Chase and Richard Peters, or either Of
them.
|. Were you present at the trials OF
John Fries for high treason, in the circuit
court OF Pennsylvania-in the years 1879
and 500?
2. Who presided on those trials!
3. What were the circumstances, re.
morally, which attended them?
4. Were the counsel for the prisoner,
at the first trial, permitted TO argue the
point whetherthe offence charged amount
cd to high treason!
S. Were they prevented by the court
from arguing that point on the second
trial
6. Was the prisoner condemned with
out counsel being heard in his defence ?
z. Did any correspondence ever pass
between you and the Executive of the u
nited States, on that occasion and il any,
OF what nature?
8. IS that correspondence now in your
possession
9. Relate every thing within yourknow-
ledge which happened at the last trial /?
10. Are you acquainted wi h the cir
cunstances which attended the t:ial OF
Thomas Cooper for scdition.
II. Relate those circumstances
ID. Was subpGna to summon any
Witnesses in behalf Of the accused refused /!
how? and by whom
The answers of W,Aiam Lewis to the in
terrogato,ies exhibited to him on the
part OF the House of Representatives
upon the enquiry into the Official conduSt
OF Samuel Chase and Richard Peters,
or either of them.
! |, William Lewis, of the city of PhiIa-
deiphia, being one oil those people called
Nuaksrs, aud coascisntiousiy scrupulous
o. taxing ar oath, oa roy solemn .ffrma-
, non declare and attirri IS follows:
; / hat was present a; the trial of John
Fries, Tor treason in The circuit court OF
! 3ennsY!Va0Ia, in the year 1899, and assist
ed hiin as his counsel, at his request, aud
believe under ar assignment 70 that
purpose by the court. but have 10 recol-
icct'on Of having been at present at any
parI o. h.s trial for lreason ia 1900.
! lhat the fest trial was before the homo
rablc James !redeil, one of the associate
I Judges OF the supreme court Of the Uni
ted Sta;rs, ard The honorable Richard Pc.
ters, Judge OF The district court of Penn
syivania.
That MIR. Dallas, Mr.. w. Ewing and l
/ were counsel Tor The prisoner, and were
permit Ell freely to produce every author
ity, and TO urge every argument which
/ we thought proper and relevant, on the
law rs well as the facts, to prove that the
! offence did not amount TO treason, that
the trial was conducted TO the best OF my
Judgment and belief, with moderation, pa.
tiehce and indulgence, and do not rccoI
lect any thing to have taken place during
The trial, that seems 10 me 10 merit par
Ocular notice, except, that ai,sr the pris-
oncr had been convicted, a new trial wa.
! granted, on the motion of Mr.. Dallas and
myself; principally, | believe, on the
ground, that one OF the Jurors, after he
had been summoned, and before ne was
sworn, had made declarations, manifest.
ing preludication of the case against the
prisoners III general, and more particular.
! ly so, against John Fries.
it is with great regret that find my
/ 'Sii CaitCu OH al tIlS distance OF time.
when | fear that my recollection may in
some degree iaIl me, to answer the 6Fb
jInterroBatory, and feel It duty to add.
that although my memory is believe, a
remarkably accurate oHe for a short time.
It IS FAR from being 90, after considera.
bic lapse of time, and it Is therefore posi-.
bic that my answers TO this interrora,ory
may not be so correct as wish them 10
be, but they shall be as much so as it i, in
my power to make them.
To the best then OF my recollection
and belief, the following circumstance
took place on the two days next Drece.
ding the trial of John Fries for treason
before the honorable Samuel Chase one
q he associate judges OF the supreme
court Of the United States, and III. bo
nora5le Richard Peters, Judge Of the dis
trcl court Of Pennsy lyania, in th, lai,.,
end Of April or early IN May, 1900. Nr
Dallas and ! were the counsel Of The wi
s;oner at his request, and believe D., ~.
appointment ct the court. GA Che Grc
CT these days, when entered The .s.,r
room, the Judges were OF the bench, In,
jury were soon ate: cali a and MANY q