Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-17
.trttttotI1 1x1ttU.
wEDNEsDAY MORNING, JUNE IL, 1873.
From tie Telegraph Of Fridos E.e,fng.
CASE OF TOBIAS WATKINS

on charge of falsely and frauduerty altering an
abstract OF an account with intent 10 defraud the
Jury.
The counsel for the accused have entered general
demurrer to this indictment.
Time was, that when a man was acquitted in the
u States, he was discharged from Imprisonment;
but the times have altered in this respect as well as
in others. Three indictments against Watkins have
been quashcd by the court for the want OF legal sup
port, but az fast is overrued, the indefa.ga-
bic and vindictve prosecutors bring forward another
Watkins has ROW been five weeks in close and ri
gorous Imprisonment, and for an offence which what
lever be ats degree, in morpl point Of view, ought
never TO hare been 6rou t INTO court in the manner
and form adopted at the instance Of Amos Kendall
We understand that the eolicsude the Government
to convict him, their anxiety lest he escape, is as ma
nitcst as disgusting The prosecution is turned into
a persecution. What company Mr.. Berrcn and Mr..
Van Buren, find themselves in Associated closely
with man like Ingham, who does nst know how
even to assume the gcntleman--yoled with Branch,
who has just understanding enough to he obstinate
in error, that most unmsnsgeable of all aninils,
conccited ignoramus-hectored ovc by Duff Gfeeo,
and finding their influence insignificant in comparison
with the fayorite, the Manuel Godoi OF this Regime
compelled to be responsible for measures they dis
approve, and to join in that prescription which they
are sensible is filling the country with adherence and
detestaton! We are really sorry for Mr.. Berricn.
for whose talents aud aniabe qualities we have the
highest respect; but we pleased that the great
manager hos for once, ont manoavred himself. We
wish tina. Mr. Berrien would cume out from among
them. They not fit company for him.
~ The National Intelligencer of Monday, rccei
we'd since the above wus PREPARED furnishes the fol-
lowing account of what done in Dr. Watkins
case on Friday and Saturday.
Circuit Court IF the Unttei STATS, for WashiEgron
Count . ID. c.
THE USITEp STATES vs.. II. WArKINs-An in
dictment was found by the Grand Jury on Friday
last against the prisoner for falsely altering certain
documents (the abstracts of Mr.. Harris's accounts
rendered to the Office of the Ih Auditor for settle
ment) for the purpose of detrauding the United
States or calculating or concealng a fraud commit
ted-the exact phrase We do not remember.
The Counsel for the prisoner demurred 10 this in
dictment also, and the demurrer was argued by Mr..
COKE for The prisoner, and by the District Attorney
and Mr.. KisT for the u. States
On Saturday, Mr.. JONES delivered an elaborate
argument against the indictment, with the view To
have quashed-on the ground that the offence char
geo mthe Indictment amounted, under the Common
Law TO forgery, yet as the Grand Jury had ignored
an indictment on Thursday for FORGERY specificauv
and expressly charged it was clear they did not apres
that the prisoner had committed the offence of forge
fy, and therefore the present Indictment CHARGED the
prisoner withno criminal or punishable ofFcnco-fur
ther that the abstract of account in which the era
sures were alleged TO have been nndc is not an in
slrument capable CT constituting a forgery by any
alteration t:artiD
Mr.. SWANS followed. and stated to the Court that
srce the delivery Of It's opinion the former de-
murrer the Counsel for the United States had framed
an lndcl ment, which they considered would no deer.
ed perfectly unexceptionable, and in conform,v
with the rules laid down by the Court I'm that in
diCtuent they bad forth the false REPRESENTATIONS
by which Dr. Watkins had procured the requisitions
10 be issued from the NAVY Department, and To Co.
timony OF the late Secretary of the Navy would,
therefore be necessary Substantive the ny.r,ents
before the Grand Jury. Under these circumstances
he felt it his duty to that the Grand jury be
adjourned until Monday the 22d instant in order to
afford time for NJ Southland, who had been written
TO on the subject and Who in answer, had expressed
his readiness so attend, 10 arrive in Washington
mr. JOKES objected 90 the motion, and said he Ind
intended, had the Court been fill, Judge CRAScu
had previously quilted the Bench from indspostion
to to have the prisoner DISCHARGED jnsto,,ler
on the ground that the Indictment against him even
In the event gifts being sent to trinl by ury was
utterly unsustainable. II the motion were TO be
considered by the Court to-day. he should meet il
with counter motion, that the request of the Dis
tl'CJ HltOIHeY Dc HOt uEonecd; anu ne should also
submit motion for tho discharge Of the prisoner
He called upon the Counsel for the prosecution to
give them written statement Of what material facts
they expected to prove by the evidence Of Mr. South
ard.
After considerable discussion, the consideration
Of the TWO motions was deferred until the presence
Of the Chief Justice should make fun Court
Mr.. SVhNS and Mr.. KEY announced that they
should send Immediately to New Jersey, with tho
view Of obtaining the speedy arrival Of SIR. South
ard. In the mean time, they should require the
presence Of the Grand Jury from day 10 day
u is probable that the opinion of the Court on this
demurrer, will not DC pronounced for n day or two
On Monday, wePresune, the motions Of Mr.. SwAvN
and Mr.. JoNEs win be- argued.
Mr.. Watisrsion late LiJyarian oC Congress.
gentleman who was Enc scholar, VIC have already
apprsed the reader, Of the victims of"Reforn,"
or to speak more properly to the abominable system
ofvindctye dcspotism exercised by President Green
under that name, ot Washington As nsual. the