Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-12

and battery on the person of William Cole
man, with an inherit 10 commit Y,.,,ler.-
The trial occupied from noon until o.
clock in the morning, and The iury return.
ed verdict, after very short absence.
that the defendant is not guilty of as
sault and battery, with an intent to ii,ur-
der, but guilty OF an assault and battery OF
the highest nature" This verdict was not
recorded, the court Directing 10 it, and a
verdict OF guilty of an assault and battery
merely, Was substituted.
The testimony did not sustain The
charge, very generally made and accre =
dlled, that Hagerman came up behind
Mr.. Coleman and knocked him down :
on the contrary lit appeared that he came
up M front OF him, first addressed him,
aud then struck him, and that he used no
ether weapon than 4 common cowskin.
| a variety OF testimony was produced on
bath sides, and efforts were made to i'm
peach The integrity and veraci,y of one
OF The princi al witnesses, Il Mir. Ha,i
| land, carman. who saw the Whole affair,
| ana whose testimony was favorable 10 the
defendant. Two respectable merchants
testified, that Haviland was man of light
character, " no reliance was To be placed
upon him as t0irut! and veracity. Upon
testing the cause of this opinion, il an
| pcared that il had arose from some dis
puteS between the parties; and tiaviland
declared, OF oath, that the merchant hat,
| sworn that he would no longer employ
INN II he did not rOte Ae federai ticiet So
much tor party opinions operating upon
| principles of justice. The character OF
Haviland was cleared up To the salts fac
| ton of The cuur, and audience By abou,
fourteen respectable witnesses.
Mr.. Price otiiciated as district attorney
and opened the case with considerable
| ability, and an unnecessary degree of
severiiy--he made use of epithets not fire.
quenily heard IN a court of Justice, and
then avowed that he waved lis privilege
as counsel, and held himself personally
responsible 10 The defendant, thus yolun-
tarllyr inquishipg prvileg eniu ned BY
| the laws, and making himself a pa,1y con.
ce,1ed, migrating his feelings and svnlpa-
tines upon tho e OF the injured man. who
| appiied TO the laws for redress, and which
laws he was defending aspubiic prosecu-
| Tor, while he thus threw down the aauit-
| lei, and invited their violation at future
time, from the hands of the defendant
| we were sorry To see this; and IL could
| only be accounted for by the strong per-
sonal friendship existing between him
| ana Mr.. Coleman, as ii is known. that,
independent of the amiable character
winch Mr.. Price certainly possesses, he
| has talents OF no common order, and
! which promises (and we desire 10 sec il
| much usefulness TO his country, and he.
| netit to himself. Mr.. Griffin we did no,
| hear sum up, but we learn that he evi
dcnced great Ingenuity and no little bin
| terness; and, that his feelings GOT the bet
ter OF his Judgment, which we were sor-
~ To hear. MIR. BOgardus, on The part O.
the defendant, summed up the evidence
with persplcuity and Mr. Van Wick
on the part of the defendant also, was
tame, and. in some instances, violent and
bitter Altogether, there was too much
party spirit evidenced on the Dart Of The
counsel, on both sides. The NAV on
charged the jury in a clear. concise, in
! dependent manner, and appeared sway
Ell by no other feelings than those of JUS
| lice.
We have much to say OH the origin.
progress, and termination, of this affair
which we shall reserve until the court adj
Journs. One circumstance we cannot a
void remarking: A number Of person,
| came forward and testified that they saw
the whole aRaIr-that they stood by tran
Qully and saw Mr.. HagermaH infiict such
severe blows OIL Mr.. Coleman, without
any attempt 10 interfere or to arrest the
upiItted arm. We don't look TO the cause
we don't cxamine.the provocalion OF
that heed we shall do both the parties JUS
tlce, but II appears TO be Il specimen o
apathy only TO be looked for among stoics
| Nat. Il do.