American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1825-12-02


.The trial came on the FIRST in the morning, and
,he Judge having ga, ill at night expecting the
return OF the jury, at last sent an o1cer 70 inquire
II they were agreed in their verdict, and 10 signiy
"a them that his lordship would wait no longer ior
them. Some Of them returned for answer that eie-
ven of ,he,. body had been ot the same mind from
ne FIRST, blu, ha, II was their misfortune TO have
foreman that proved be singular instance OF the
mos, iuveterate ohstinacy, who having taken up
different opinion from them, was unalterably hxed
"a IT, The messenger was TO sooner returned, oot
the complaining members, alarmed at the thought
Of being kept under confinement all the night, and
despariug Of bringing their dissenting brother over
TO their own way Of thinking. agreed TO aceede 70
his opinion and having acquainted him with their
resolution, they sent an officer to detah ms worship
few 0inutes aud then went into court and oy ther
foreman brought in the prisoner not guilty his
lordship could not help expressing the greatest sur
prise and Indignation at this unexpected verdict ano
alter giving the Jury severe admoniton, ne reius
ed 10 record their verdict and sent them BACK again
with direction, that they should be locked up all
nigh. without fire or candle The whole blame wa
publicly laid on the foreman by the rest OF the mem
b-rs and they spent the night in loading him with
reflections, and bewsiing their unhappy fate in be-
ing associated with so hardened wretch but he
remained quite inflexbic, constantly declaring he
wouli suffer DEATH rather than change MS opinion.
As soon as his lordshlp came into the court, The
next morning he sent again to the jury, on when
all the eleven members joined IN requesting their
foreman to go again into court. assuring thsm they
would adhere their former verdict, whatever wa,
the consequence, and on beiog reproached wrh
their former nconstancy, they promised never to
desert or reCrimiDate upon their foreman any more
Upon these assurances, they proceeded into court
and again brought the prisoner not guilty. The
Judge, unable to conceal his rage at q verdict which
appeared to him in the most iniqu,tous light re.
preached them with the severest eensufes, s.d DIS
missed iht m with this cutting reflection. That the
ttood Of the deceased lay at their door.
The prisoner on hi, part fell on his knees, end
With upliiled eye aud hands, thanked God tor his
deliserance and addressing himself TO the Judge
cried out, Tou seq my Lord, that God and good
conscience are the best Of witnesses.
"These circumstances made deep mp ession on
tile mind Of the ludge and soon as he was retired
from the Court. he entered into discourse with the
high sheriff. upon wha had passed, and particularly
examined him as to his knowledge OF this leader
of the Jury The answer this gentleman gave his
lordship was, that he bad been acquainted with him
many years--that he had an estate OF his own OF
about sol per annum. and that he rented very
consider able farm besides-that he never knew him
charged wlh an i'll action, and that he was univer
sally teemed in his neighborhood.
"For further information his ordship likewise
sent for the minister OF the parish who gave the
sare favorable account Of his parishioner with this
addition, that he constant chut Gilman, and a
derout communicant.
These accounts rather increased his lordship's
rerplexity, from which lie could think Of no expe
dent to deliver himself, bu. by having conference
n private with the only person who could give him
satisfaction THIS he desired the Sheriff to pro
cure, who readily offered his services and without
delay brought about the desired interview.
80,
Judge, his lordship and he retired into closet,
where hi, lordshp opened his reasons for desiring
shat visit, making no scruple Of acknowledging the
uneasiness he under. and COMPUTING his vislter
frankly 10 discover his reasons tor acquittng the
prisoner. The jurymsn returned for answer that
he had sufficient reasons 10 justly his conduct and
that he neither aid nor ashamed 10 reveal
them, but that he had hitherto locked them up in
his breast, and was under no compulsion TO dis
close them. he expected his lordsh,p would engage
upon his honor to keep what he about 10 unfolC
a, secret, as he himself had done; which his lord
ship having promised to do. the luryman then pro
ceeded to give his ordshp the following account =
That The deceased being tltheman OF the parish
Bnere he (he luryman) lived, he bad the morning
OF his deceass been in his (the juryman's) ound
amongst the corn, and had done him great in ustice
oy .aklng more than his due, aud acting otherwis,
in most arbitrary manner.-That when he com
planned OF this treatmept, he had not only beel
abused with scurrous language but that the dc
ceased had likewise struck at him several time
With his fork, and had actually wounded him in tw
n,aces, the scars Of which wounds he then shove
his lordshp-thst the deceased seeming bent o
mischief and be (the juryman) having no weapo
10 defend himself, had no other way to preserve hi
own life, but by closing in with the deceased an
wrenching the fork Of his hands, which hayln
effected, the deceased attempted to recover the for
and 10 the scufIie received the two Wounds, uhc
had occasioned his death-that he was nexpressib
concerned at the accident, and especially when th
prisoner was taken up on suspicion Of the murder