Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-21
From the Lexington KY Reporter.
FAYErTE CIRCUIT COURT, JUNE so.
The Commonws ahh
,b,,Ips WirkiiHe

Charles Wickiihe
The trial Of CHARLES WlcKLlFPE on an in
aictmen, for Manslaug h,er, for shooting Tho
mas r. Benning on the 9th of March, was con
Guided on Saturday last, by the a'qui'!al OF
the accused. H CLAY, ] CRrrTEsDEN and
K. RI CHM for tie accussd-J CowAN Tor he
Commonwealth, assisted by MIR. BURNETT OF
he Bourbon bar.
OF the original venire summoned by the Co.
.oner, four were accepted and eight were excus-
ed or reirb,ed for cause, as having formed an
opinion Of The case from the evidence: but few
Of the whole number summoned were challeng
cd peremp,orily. Al / o'clock of the FIRST
day, the PANEL was complete, snd the follow
ing respectable citizens were sworn TO try the
issue:
George Bo,Uman, Foreman, VIM. Stuff, Phile,
mon B. Etpng Le,uis DedmGn, f. Oldham Peter
GdteCood Zephaniah Williams, j. p Ebiin, Um,
Bryan, John L !McDo,ceH, Jonathan Rigg, Vim.
DiShmGn
Four Of the Jury are mechanics, residents OF
town-eigh' are farmers of the county.
The examination of the witnesses was con-
,inued from Tuesday until Friday afternoon
The Investigation was exceedingly mnute-al'
the circums tances Immediately conn.t ted with
the unfortunate occurrence were patiently and
thoroughly examined -calmness and d-ibera.
a crowded and anxious aud tory, in attendance
throughout the trial, displayed TO thu las, mo-
meut he highest degree Of decor"m When
the verdict of scquit,al was rendered by tn"
Jury, the lively nteres, felt IN behalf Of The &C,
cused was manifested in burst of applause
An electric spark seemed 10 have ,ouo he'd al the
same instant every bosom, and all other consl
deratons were for moment subdurd by the
kindly feelings OF the heart. This naIura al ebul-
lition was promptly checked, and Judge Hi,k
ey in a mild and disni6ed msnner reprored the
spectators.
The pleadings commenced on Friday. in an
opening speech fnr me Commonwealth, well
arranged and handsomely delivered on The law
and facts Of he oas', by Mr.. BURNETT. MIR.
CRrrTENDEN replied with great ability and eff
feet, and presented in behalf of the accused
clear case OF not merely excusable bu' iusliha-
bic homicide The mos active individuals in
the sprosecu lion if they heard this powerful
speech could no longer doubt his acquital.-
Mr., Clay addressed The Jury on Saturday
morning, aud sustained in the opinion Of all
present most fully his high rcpu alton for foi en-
sic eloQgence. The anxie,y eyinced to hear
him has rarely been equalled. A an early hour
The court room was 6ll"d, aud by o'olo k eve
~ seat ard every window was occuUi- d. and
the gallery crowded with ladies; a, 9 o clock
the hour for orening Cou.i, the press Was so
great i'm all the avenues leading 20 The bar, that
II was with difficulty the Sheriff could make
way through the solid mass for the Judge aud
Jury. II was 20 M past when the Judge
,ook his seat, and the names OF the v.niIe
were called over by the Clerk. Nj. Clay then
rose and addressed the Jur, two hours and
halt Mr. Cowan concluded in behalf OF the
prosecution with his usual ability. The case
rcd IN he T,ry nv he NonT
with an in,imation ina, a charge from the
bench would be given il he counsel on either
side or any one of the Jury il. No such
wish being expressed, the jury retired and in
minutes precisely brought In verdict of Ao-
auTTTAL
This case from the first has exci'ed very gen.
eral interest; but from a rcsprc, ior The laws Of
tie couRtry on the pars oI the accused md his
friends, very little has been said To mdke pro-
peiiy understood, or TO ouuteract the vsrious
miSrc presentations & illihrral, on,ments y hich
have from time to time been p Bills red, " tn
view to connrct i, with zoe politics Of the day,
and thereby prevent an impartial investigation
before Judicial tribunal.
The trial being now over we are no longer
restrained from laying before our readers al!
The material facts, and we proceed % give them
rs they were detailed oath by the Witnesses,
could make them, aud in our abridgmer, Of
them we shall endeavor not 10 omit any thing
considered Of importance BY either party.
The Attorney fer the Commonwealth FIRST
called
Leonard Taylor "a copfectioner>-Lives near
the Gszette offce-was requested BY the de-
ceased, Bennins, jus, before the ARRAY, to 90
with him in,o the Office. Found the acc used
Charles WickliAt, there, sitting on the stairs
steps. w. asked B 10 he had seen the gentle
man! B. said he had not, and could not See
him before eight O'Clock mex, morning W.
requested to have his name, and said he would
find the gentleman himself B, replied, it is
not customary for printers to give the names Of
authors before seeing them; and when you get
the authors name. he is the last man you will
wish 10 see. B-rcpeated this twice to w. and
said, you appear to be very sharp abou paper
matters; ant the piese in the paper in favor of