Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-13
TRIAL FOR MURDER
WApnEN. (Fa,lr

w AHhEN, II auquler. June 3.
i spectator of the trial which too &C in the
Superior Court Of Fairfax, during the las. week
OF Hiliidni ID. Hone, for the murder of Hon
Simpson, has thought it time not thrown away
10 put together the following remarks and reiiec.
lions thereon.
/" II tlit the Heaven, do no. their visible spirits
send quickly down 10 tame these vile rT.uccs,
twill CONC;
li,nn,aty must terforee prey on f.elr,
Like monsters Ct tl'i deep"
Shakespeare, King Ieqr
The TRIAL in Fairfax Superior Court, OF William
d. Hooe, for the murder Of Vim. Simpson, a voune
mar who came from North Carolina 10 this STATE
10 purchase slaves, Gin whose friendship and afT.c
ton the prisoner had, stated, inSnuated him
self) was really the most interesting and soIe,nn
Judicial enquiry ever Witnessed 1t was render
ed doubly awful by the situation OF the Judye. the
Hon. WM. A. @. DADE, whose health was illv
able 20 go through the labOurs OF the term; bnt
whose wasted frame, and spectred appearance
heightened the solemni,y of scene the most i'm
pressye, as well to the Community as the prisoner
which we can either create or witness 1t was the
exercise OF the highest right, in avensng the sever
est wrought was decided whether being accoi,n
table TO higher and purer tribunal or all his deeds
was worthy OF longer stay on earth: whether he
had not by the laws OF his country forfeited tina,
life with which an .4Iirise Creator in the rnvs.
terry OF his divinity and wisdom had endowed him.
An invaluable moral might have been laugh, TO
all absent, and surely must have been to those
present, be their condition in life what il NAV
Perhaps there never was, and I trust there never
will be parallel of crime, so atrocious so degr,d
Ing to our nature, and covering so great surface
oil depravity and cruelty, hereafter deyclopcd IN a
court OF Justice, in any country.
An alarming example nigh, have been seen of
Che lengths to which inexperienced and thoueb,less
youth can be led, and the dreadful gulph int which
they may be precipitated by the qualification of
pride, vanity and evil passions, and the counses of
bad associates. A beacon which I sincereIv prav
may alarm all those who are beginning to tread in
those paths, most naturally terminating in similar
TeuoTsc, infdmy, and death.
The trial commenced on Monday rnoyn;ro o,d
was not gone through till Friday evening. THE
difficulty was great in procuring jury, the usual
vote OF the county being exhausted, in conse-
quence OF the great excitement Of the public mind
at the commission of act marked and distjnguisb
ed in every stage by the most brutal and SAVAGE
purpose. The evidence against the accused was
CLEAR unimpeachable and presenting a case of the
strongest chain OF circumstantial testimony No
thing positive was in proof; but the facts were so
well supported, so consistent, 30 natural 10 have
happened one with another; and the witnesses On
numerous and respectable, that the guilt of Tie =.
cused was as manifest and as firmly impressed -,
roy mind AZ my own existence; lcaviny moi ,La
slightest doubt or hesitancy with the most seen
teal.
- aNS"NS AAH4HAy ASitIu OH III substance
~ follows:
The Prisoner was seen in Wsuenion, al Febu,a-
y Court, 1925, in company with the deceased. as
an associate and friend, extending to him the hand
OF aid and fellowship in foreign land. He pur-
chased me fatal pistol at tie store Of The Mes,rs
ns!ueh, s-IeIt TINS town for the neigbborhood Of
CentreYilie. Prisoner was the last persoo coon j.,
me company OF the deceassd-they walked out
locked arms, on Saturday night, from the Tovs,p
OF Mr.. Grgsby in Centreyille. Prisoner re,orneJ
IN 10 or ~ minutes without Simpson; was a,IeJ
%ne,e ne was SAID Z" Damn Simpson, am moi
MS Keeper" but supposed that he (ston.a..N
being mason had gone 10 the lodge Prisons,V
next morning was seen TO come in the dirsc,i,H
from the spot where Simpsons bod7 Law. H..
early in the morning set out for Leesburg 49,
he wrote in the Clerks Office. Was seen 70 he -
tears and anguish on the road, and the witness who
what was the matte 7t Wn JI9oe-- r.t. t,;
'n'i.csHi~ WIZ '71