Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-07-29


aud grossly, sandyrrd the mother, sister ind ~
: |ly every other relative of TINT gentleman. W. "
I the Editor OF newspaper turns such base yl".
4 such loul mon-ttr as thus to prostitute hi. ~
per to the sandcring and butchering of the cha, r"
tier otienales, well as males indiscrimnatel ~
public have right to know his secret ins1,,, 1Ae
and accompllces, and the motives BY which, ,S"
are actuated. They should be exposed to tba nuiy
lie view, that they may receive the infamv ma P Nv
Igrace their vile and wicked conduct so richly d.
serves. Now, there is doubt but tina, j,, Nc
Rogers, il he not the actual author of tb,,
por, furnished Harker with the facts and base ,s
terals out of which it was formed. This ma,,oa aa'
perfectly understood, however securely M paI
ers may'haye hoped to skulk and conceal bimselrps
hind the name Of Harker, as the osteDsible ,nl
of the foul SANDER and the motives and sara 0r
which induced him to make this attack mon ~
character of Mr.. Clayton are, also well known u lug
was moved TO 1t by The deepest modification a. nr0
fessionai PRIDE, and by spirit of revenge AS Aton
lney General, it became hisduty to prosecute Wahh
in behalf Of the State-and being utterly upablo -
compete with the superior talents and inpenn;,v as
Mr.. Clayton, he was defeated in his prosecno -
and Webb was acquitted. This then is the powsr'
tul Gt unworthy motive for Mr.. Rogers abuse
Here IS the mighty cause of his hear-burniacs -.
IS bus Notwithstanding wounde pride, because Is
his defeat, and the easy, but triunphaut rctor,,
achieved over him by Mr.. Clayton in the acan;I,;,
OF Webb.--Stung to the very quick BY his over'
throw, he sits down under his disgrace and in Tho
bitterness OF his heart, resolves on vengeance
against his antagonist, by sandering his character
Well may he feel chagrned and mortified for No.
er was there more signal victory gained BY one
lawyer over another in the trial of a cause .neva,
was there prosecution conducted with less ability
energy and address. The guilt of w ebb no man Wiz
heard the testimony and whose mind was moi hias.
led, and sWayed by the arguments and eloouepce or
ms counsel, Tor moment doubted--The evidence
hat he poisoned his wife, was full, clear. and abn
dant--lt amounted to proof positive--Yet such was
ne feeble, lame, and unskillful manner in which
Nlr. Rogers conducted the prosecution, that Mr.
layton, by most powerful exertion Of his suns
rior mlnd-by his great eloquence and address
wrought in the minds of the jury reasonable donb,
OF the guilt of the prisoner. The contest was. i.
deed, most unequa--Mr. Attorney General was
lcompletely overwhelmed--We bb was acoutted
and The law robbed Of its victim.
Now Mr.. Rogers would fain persuade the npb
lie to believe, that he lost his cause through some
unfair conduct on the part of Mr. CLAYTON. in pro.
curing the impeachment of the testimony of Elijah
horn, witness for the State, through his mother
and sister.--iie would ian hide his disgrace, by
enaeavorns to bring disgrace upon his opponen,
ald even upon is nearest female relations -Ob! in
iailv and shalne! Common decency if his sense Of
honor and respect for the sex could not should have
, restrained him from his ruthless assault upon e.
male character.
IN regard to the testimony of Elijah Thorn, ii was
entirely void OF any effect either Tor or against the
prisoner. 1t was the testimony of an old ignorant
stupid negro, who, if he really knew what the ru
was manlfes'ly showed himself either unable or ,e.
CARELESS OF telling the truth. So many were his
Iequivocatlons, and ontradietions--ana such was
Tue unlhtelllsible and sfupd manner in which he
Igasc his evidence. that independently of any i'm.
J, peachment Of ii, testimony by witnesses, no one
! who heard his examination could believe word he
uttered Il, indeed, any one understood what it was
he really meant to state.
; Inc l'nputaton against Mrs. CLAYTON and her
daughter OF having sent for Thorn, and endeayour.
ing to influence his testimony.as well as the charge
against Mr.. Clayton of bringing them into court as
= witnesses, is as base as it is false The Counsel
Tor the State made an effort to prove the fact by
thorn, by putting leading questions to him-but
the old negro not having the proper cunning, let
the rath slip out, which was, in substance, that be
ing long acquainted with Mrs. Clayton ndber family
while she resided in Milford, he voluntarily and Of
his own accord, called to see her. While he was
there, he very naturally and unsolicited, related
over to Mrs Clayton what would be his evidence,
and denied that Webb had ever applied to him fOr
poison TO XII bis wife. MIR. Bales, who was also
~, w eoD nearing OF the statements made ny
!, thorn to Mrs. Clayton and her daushter-and ac-
uated BY an honest and audabIe zeal in The defence
OF ms client, whose life was at stake in his hands,
nad suopenas forthwith issued for that lady and her
aaushter-and they were accordingly thus forced
0 INTO court as witnesses, much against their wish,
ana certadly much intimdatcd and confused at the
h scene it being the first time either of them
q ever called upon to give evidence in Court OF
: Justice.
! Ihey attended, as Mr.. Bates alleges, much against
the inclination of MIR. Clayton. Their evidence
!, was precisely the same With that of Mr.. Robbins,
another witness in the cause, and is the same which
II Mr. Clark, the Sheriff, heard form Thorn, when he
e served him with the subpoena James Rogers
Knew this when he male tha far the Ga