The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-13
From the (Phi1) Democratic Press.
LAW INTELLIGENCE

lr--5...- LAW INlELLtGENCE.
Commonwealth against James s. Ip0nuS .fdclean,
alIas j.. Johnson, alias j. .keEviiic, and Uliianl
L Graham.
The prisoners were indicted for conspiracy by
means OF threats, violence and duress extort
ney from Stephen Grard, Esq. After the case was
opened by the Attorney General, it given in evil
dencc that last May the prisoner DIR. Alaclean had
introduced himself by note signed j. Melville to
Mr. Samuel Salter, and after some preliminary ir-
tervews, had finally unfOlded to him project n
which his (Saiters) cooperation invited for de-
coying or forcing Mr.. Grsrd either into vessel to
be moored in the Delaware, or into private house.
and there 10 compel hin. &c pax: sc
orders Tor money. The testimony delivered by MIR.
Saiter was worry ong and we do not pretend to offer
more than brief outline of it. 1t appeared that i'm
me,iiatey alter his being apprized of the plot, he
conferred with the Mayor and Attorney General,
and in all his operations afterwards agent and
very reluctant agent, i'll their hands, for ripenng,
and detecting the conspiracy. Graham, the other
defendant, did not arrive in Philadelphia till the day
before the arrest which took place through the in
strumentaty of Salter, garden where all parties
assembled for plotting, sait, in the neighbor-
hood the city
When the evidence for the prosecution closed, Mr..
Charles L1SerSo, after requesting permission of the
Judge to send DR.. Maclean out of court, stated his
defence to be the insanity of his clien-Not that he
was either lunatc maniac, but laboring under
th visitation of such moral arrangement incapa-
citated him from Judging between good and evil pre-
vented his being accountable free agent and Of
course excused him in the eye of the law. That he
hight not to be taking his stand on visionary
ground, lac referred to Dr. Rusli's Lecture on Me-
deal Jurisprudence; from which he read several
passages to shew the solty OF his position, and the
symptoms by which this state of moral ncapacity
might be ascertaned. He also mentioned some o.
circumstances OF this species OF arrangement, re
ferred to by DR.. Rush Dr. Maccan was a man of
very excellent talents and extensive attainments in
literature and sciences but diseased both in body and
mind, and completely within the pale of insanity.
10 prove ts; several witnesses de osed TO their be-
..t nt Lied I.,o
stances ia his life and conduct, which they stated
His correspondence and literary compositions were
also given ia evidence for this purpose We have OBJ
tanned the following pieces from number that were
read
Iii is with extreme reluctance we lay over till to-
morrow the very extraordinary and very interesting
articles which were enclosed. Intellect, highly Gull
tiyated intellect, beamsin every Incl ,
MIR Browne declared himself of counsel for Mr.
Graham the other defendant who was, nc said a
Young mar now just come OF age, of unmpeachable
character and depotmcnt; who, having peculiar
thirst for knowledge and scientific information, had
attached himself TO i)r Maclean, in Whose society
he found the highest ediIication in his fvolite pu-
suits. Last May the Doctor came from New York
10 Philadelphia, for the purpose of establishing mi.
neral water manulactUy, in which scheme young
Graham to be his partner. The correspondence
that passed between them Mr.. Browne said, related
altogether to this subject and to other, exceDt
the occasional dispositions science, ph o ~ nv,
mechanical powers, &c. that appeared in it. In sup
witnesses examined
The learned Judge (Breckcnridge) charged the
jury, that IL they believed Maclcan to be dcranged,
they to aeqiit him, as a man insane was not
free agent, such the law contemplated for the in
Fiction OF its punishment. That he was insane, his
honor slid would seem TO DC iuferrble from the We
ry project itself, the absurdity impractcabity of
which, carried internal evidence of arrangement in
its contrser. Here q plot that was not feasible
and conceaImcnt without any obect--Thc point of
law in the case was, whetlerif Macean were ae.
quilted, Graham could nevertheless he convicted of
conspiracy. He thought lac might be so convicted.
OF tho evidence TO convict Graham the Jury must
Judse.--ifthcy believed Sater, there was reason to
conclude Graham's euiit. But Saltei's conduct was
not such rs toexempt him from all doubts Graham
appeared to be very young man, and very great
smpleton, Infatuated with Maclcan. His CORES
pondcucc turned upon the plan for manufacturing
soda water, and instead Of eyncing any guilty designs
was rather remarkable for the expression at least
Of adherence for all improper acts. However the
Jury would make their own opinion on the whole
matter.
The Court after waiting some time the return of
the Jury, who did not come in adjourned till Sunday
morning, when It agreed the verdict might be
taken, by consent. Aud ut 9 oclock Sunday NOR
ming the Jury came in with general verdict of ae-
quitta, of both the prisoners.
We understand Dr.. Maccan expressed liis strong
disapprobstion when spprised Of the nature of his
dcience and declares his intention Of going 10 France
where le savs he kro%s lie shall esn.sssa, great in
oee.sc yiil, Senaaaife