Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-20
MAT, ROBBERY

RALEIGH, Nov. 16.-The case of Thomas
Haswcll, Deputy Postmaster at Louisburg,
who was indicted for breaking open the mail
and purloinng letters thereGrom, some con-
tanning money, and some notes, came on
W Wednesday last for trial. 1t occupied nearly
SIX hours, and almost the whole of that time
was taken up in the examination of testimony.
Mr.. Devereux and Thomas Ruifin, Esq. were
of counsel for the United States, and hIcssrs
Seawtll, Castor and Mordeca defended the
prisoner. The facts charged in the indict-
nlcnt were so clearly proved, that the com-
sci on each side deemed il entirely unnecessa-
ny to offer any argument, or submit any re-
marks in the case. The Chief Justice simply
Instructed the Jury to read over the different
counts III the bill, and ifthc evidence proved
him guilty 0f all, TO return a verdict OF guilty
generally +: ifit proved him guilty OF only a
part OF the counts, TO find him guilty Of those
counts, and not guilty the balance and if
they should be of opinion that none of the
counts in the indictment were sufficiently sub
Stimulated by the evidence. 10 return general
verdict of acquittal. The Jury retired, and in
about thirty minutes returned verdict of
guilty upon the four first counts, and not gull
~ upon the fifth. Mr. Devcreux then stated
TO the Court, that in consequence ofthe gene
raj character which had been given of the de-
PENDANT, as well as from assurances which he
had received from him through his counsel
that he would endcav0r, as far as i'm his power,
To repair the losses which the different persons
who had been injured by his conduct had sus-
tanned, as well as the belief that the ends of
justice would perhaps be furthered by the de-
lay, he felt some difficulty in praying Judgment
against the prisoner at this term, and was him
self willing that ne should appear before the
Court under all the advantages aud mitgat-
afford him at the next term {; but that he was
unwilling to take upon himself the response
bility, unless IT met the entire appreciation of
the Court. The Court stated that there could
be but one objection 10 that course, and that
such a conduct would certainly have some
weight III mitigating the punishment. The
objection was, that the Court were not pre-
pared to say, whether, in case the Judgment
were suspended until next term, the prisoner
would not be entitled to bail and, if so, that
the ends ofjustice might be defeated. The
counsel for the prisoner stated the law to be,
that between conviction and Judgment, the
prisoner is not entitled to bail, and produced
some authorities which satisfied tile Court that
such was the law. The court then acccded
To Mr.. Deyereux's proposition.--Thc prison
was reminded to Jail, and his sentence sus-
pended until The next term. Star
CRUMBS FOR OFFICE SEEKERS.
We have been endeavOring TO guess at the
drift Of the subjoined article which we find
copied very generally. We are persuaded it
was not written at Washington, unless by a
stranger to our city, for it uses language
which is not familiar here, however il may be
elsewhere What relates to the next Presi-
dency, is evidently made M according to the
fancy Of the writer, but without the shadow
of reality about it, To- serve as a cover TO the
main object offhe letter-which is in truth,
to " feel the pulse" Of the Executive, To- ascer-
fain whether, by means Of these .Gi,dge letters,
occasionally thrown out and eagerly suapt at
as .Nc,cs from Washington, the President can
not be seduced into q belief that public Opi-
Mon requires honest and faithful public oil
GERS 10 be thrust out of employ, 60 make room
for those who are more needy, and Of course
more greedy, than the present incumbents.-
For our parts, we think il good reason for
Keeping man in Office, that no complaint can
be made against him, except that he has dis
charged the duties Of his station for many
year,, without any other object than the length
Of his service. IN all eases Of misconduct, neg
lect, or insUlcnce in The discharge Of public