Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-25

-
Ilth instant states, that information had just
been received there of the arrival. at ST..
Augustine. of men, money, and other rein
fOrcements. ibid.
From several articles in the New York pa
pers we have made the following extracts
The FIRST is dated half past eleven O'clock in
the night of Saturday last.
The Court of Sessions has This moment adj
journed, alter being FIVE days engaged in the
trial of Mr.. Goodwin. This important SUBJ
ject has, thus far, terminated in a singular
and probably in unprecedented manner
Thejury had the testimony and pleadings
all before them little before two clock this
morning, and were informed by the Court
that at lott would again meet, and be ready
to receive their verdict. The Court met at
the above hour, and went through the usual
business of the last day of the sittings. in pro-
nouncing sentences, &c.
The Court room continued as il had been
all the week, crowded with an anxious audi
ence TO hear the verdict Of the jury, who,
ever since Tuesday, had been kept from
their families, and within the walls of the
court House. The excitement on an event
Of such deep interest, together with the ia
lent and eloquence displayed, brought into
action every emotion of the human mind, and
fastened the attention of the public to this
subject alone. Even the short intervals al
Iowedby the Court for necessary refreshment,
were not sufficient to clear the room-as fast
as the crowd passed out, another more for
midable pressed inwards to obtain the stua-
tons of those who had left their places.
During the day thousand rumors were in
circulation, as to The number of Jurymen who
would not agree to find a verdict of guilty
Some said that only one, some two, and
Others would have it that three of the jury,
would stick by Goodwin until death All
the rumors, however, had no other grounds
than the various conjectures of those who
founded their opinions upon knowledge of
the characters of the individuals. The state
ofsuspense and anxiety can be better i'm agin-
ed than any description which we are able to
give and you will readily suppose that after
fatigue OF boey and mind, at this late hour,
we are unable to do more than to give some
idea of the proceedings of court that has so
much and so long occupied the attention of
the public, the bar, and the friends of each
of the parties at issue.
Just before sunset, and while the Court
was partaking of some refreshment, it was
announced in the hall, that the jury had
agreed upon their verdict, and would as soon
as the court re convened, come in with it. -
AT early candlelight the mayor and the at
tending aldermen were in their seats. and the
spectators restored to order by the high She
riff end his under officers. In a few minutes
after the jury came in and took their seats !;
their names were called over by the clerk,
and all were found IN their places. At this
moment every one in the room, by the dead
silence which prevailed, seemed prepared
to hear the long expected verdict The
mayor rose With an air of dignity, and in a
manner the most impressive, addressed the
spectators on the solemnily of the occasion.
and expressed hope that no excess of feel
ing might be INDUCED in on pronouncng the
verdict. The question was then put by the
/ clerk in an audible lone of voice in the usual
way, and the answer was equity 20 but
recommended the prisoner to mercy.
One OF the counsel for the prisoner then
rose from bis seat, and observed to the court
that he wished each of the jury to be called
upon individually for his verdict. The court
replied that the request was proper and le-
gal, and consented. The first juryman an
swered Guilty'-the second Guilty, with
a recommendation to merCy.-and the third
Not Gully This reply threw the court
into some considerable CONSERVATION, and a
good deallof buzzing among the spectators.
Order was soon restored. One of the Jurors
tbeu rose and asked the court for an expla-
nation of some legal points. His honor the
mayor explained with clearness and prec-
sion. AT this time the prisoner rose from his
seat in the criminals box, and begged per-
mission to make few remarks. This was
granted and in tome and manner fhot ua.