The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-08-12
TRIALS FOR MURDER.

The Kentucky Commentator con-
tains notices of several trials for muir
der before the Circuit Court sitting in
Franklin. The first was that of man
named Brashlieid, who voluntarily APP
peared on an indictment beng found
against him for killing n slave. Ii APP
peared that the deceased bad run away,
and the prisoner who had hired his
services, and found himself likely to
derive no benefit from them, took him
from the Jail in which he had been plac-
ed, and tying his arms compelled him
TO walk before him, he being on horse
back aud having hold of IA rope fasten-
ed around the slave. lie was as was
proved, inclined to apoplexy, and oc-
casionally rendered his motion more
uneasy by being sulky, for which he
was beaten, at about IL miles from the
Jail whence he was driven in four hours
time. After inlicting the blows upon
him, his driver pushed him into IA sit
ting posture, and he fell backwards.
He was found to be very i'll, and drag
ged across the road out Of the sun.
Means were Intellectually used to re-
store him; it was found that "A
blood vessel had burst in the head.
The prisoner was acquitted-and the
testimony would not have justified II
conviction.
There would be no moral use in
these details, were it not that those who
live where such events cannot occur
should feel grateful to the Providence
which has cast their lot where the
curse Of slavery is unknown, and that
their sense of how much they are iav-
orcd may be quickcned BY the disa-
greeable recital. At the same Court
two slaves were convicted of murder
ing Mrs. Caldwell, in Jessamine, a few
weeks before. The commentator gives
the following account of the trial.
Old Stephen, was tried first. We
saw hirp arraigned. He was u tall ne
gro, rather tawny than black; six feet
two or three inches high; slender in
form, and though apparently 60 or 10
years of age, quite erect. His coun-
tenance indicated great firmncss and
resolution, but nothing offerociiy; the
expression Of his face was rather that
ii benignity Throughout his trial he
seemed perfectly composed; his coun-
tenance never fell, or changed at all,
from the time he was arraigncd until
no was remanded to prison, convict
81 murderer. His mind was, no doubt
made up for the worst. He had said,
oiludipg to his old age, that if they
hung him they could not cheat him out
Of much Of his life
The evidence against him was con-
,slusive.
Several persons of responsibility
proved that he was near the house at
he time Of the murder; g. when called
"a, and told that his mistress wdS dead,
by one ofthe ladies who frs, discovered
ne murder, he neglected, for n long
:.me, to come tn the house, and when
.e came his excuse for the refusal to
-,me was that if found with the dead
&c might he suspected of the murder
The testimony of Mary, his grand
laughter, the black girl, participated
., confessed the crime, showed IN what
manner il was pcrpctrated.
She was told by her mistress To- put
On some water TO wash the wool-Old
Stephen had been shearing some sheep
at spring near the house. She was
too slow, and was told To make haste,
and giving an insolent reply, her mis-
tress struck her with stick. Stephen
had come i'm and was standing by
"Will You take that" said he "trom
that thing l"--What's that you say,
said his mistress, who gave him also
blow with the stick. Then he knock
ed her down with his fist, by blow !
upou the stomach, and proceeded to
accomplish his full purpose. She cri-
ed out, and begged him not to kill her.
eThe girl too told him not to kill her,
,r they would be found out You ,
hush said he, IN XIII her and they'll :
think she died herself He then told t
the girl to hold her hands, and he pro- :
ceeded to strangle his mistress, as she
Law upon her back on the floor, with n
piece of rope, drawn over her throat.
the ends held down upon each side c
With his two hands. u
This cruel deed done, they placed
he body in the bed, between the sheets, :,
,diusted her cloathing neatly, bound
,orse radish leaves to the forehead with h
! handkerchief, pinned up her shawl C
lose around her throat, and covered g,