Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-16

From the Chilicothe Gazette, .9pra 6.
ANOTHER JACKSON EDITOR RE-
WARDED.
ON "Wednesday last the case of the State Of D.
hio versus Joseph c. Melcher, the editor and
publisher of the ''Chilicothe Evening POST
came on for trial in the Court Of Common Pleas
for this county. This was criminal prosecution.
founded on an indictment of the Grand Jury oil
Ross, for committing an assault upon the person
of Cant. J. F. WOOdside, respectable citizen
of this town. ON the night OF the Gath Of Decem-
Der last, before the door of the public Inn Of Mr.
Lemuel Devault of this place. The indictment
contained three:seperate counts, or specific allie
cations. that is to say:-'' Sta66'ng Wifh infenf
10 ua,srder''-s' sfa6biag 10Th intent 10 kM'-dad
sfabbiag Nth intent TO mains" and although the
evidence fully sustained the first Of these aega-
tons, yet owing TO the extraordinary and un-
heard of charge OF the president Judge to the
traverse Jury, he was only found guilty on the
third count.
From desire that the great end & aim public
;ustice should neither be controlled nor prevent
ed, by giving to popular feeling that bias which a
premature disclosure of the opinions Of the press,
never fails to exercise over cases Of the character
which we are now considering, we have purposely
abstained from publishing syllable fit. while IL
was depending s. undetermined before judicial
tribunal. Ills trial, conviction and condemna-
ton being now over, we shall proceed faithfully
to law before the public the history of this affair,
the rival of which stands unchronicled in the
earliest and rudest days of Kentucky butchery.
In doing it, we only discharge high public trust
which the patrons of this print has cohhded to its
editors, and is therefore not to be construed as
aiming blow at fallen aud PROSTATE enemy,
for whom we feel, if we can feel at all for him,
nothing else but pity.
Some time about the Goth Of December last a
GOOD deal of stir and excitement was produced
here, among the Jacksonians, (for the reader
must understand, that this Is purely Jackson
scrape from start to pole) respecting the success
sion to the Post Office in tins place. As, is usu-
al among that party, in their strifes for Office,
there were three or four candidates started,
whose claims to the succession were warmly sec
onded by the factions, TO which they belonged,
and by which they were respectively supported.
CAPTAIN Woodside and Mr.. Melcher happening
to take up different candidates, misunderstood
inc was the consequence, which resulted in the
former Withdrawing his confidence and patron
are from the press, Of which the latter was the
editor. A settlement Of their pecuniary affairs
followed this difference, which finally ended in
Quarrel and the assault upon the person OF Cap
tain Woodside. This assault was night one,
and was made under circumstances which were
peculiarly aggravatiug. 1t was given in evidence
that on the night of the ARRAY Melcher who is a
much larger. and stOuter man than WUOdslde)
repeatedly menaced and abused the other, by the
most insulting aud provoking language. and BY
the use Of cpithets which would have deiiled the
mouth OF the most abandoned blackguard, to i'll
duce his antagonist first to assault him, whilst he
is believed to have stood with drawn knife con-
into h,lx he
stratasem proved but too successful. Capt. W..
not feeling disposed to take the abuse Of man
in public house, who, whatever might have been
his claims to the character of gentleman, was
nevertheless the conductor of a public press,
advanced upon him with only his naked hands
10 inf1ict some sort of chastisement. He collar
ed him.
At this moment of the afiay they were both
nut ont of the house by the landlord, and both
fell upon the pavement-Mecher uppermost.-
In this attitude, and whilst he had his adversary
under him and completely in his power, he pl,nag-
ed has knife in him, IN SIN different places, and
cat nearig f,reaty gashes IN has clothes! Two of
the wounds were inflicted in the region Of vital
parts of the body, aud were nearly proving NOR
tai; aud the right hand of Capt. w. has been
rendered, by this unfortunate renconnter, use
less to him for life. The cry OF murder 10y
Captain w. )-which TO the hOnOr Oi the mOrail-
ty Of our town, has not been heard in our streets
tor the last thirty years-brodght some gentlemen
to his relief aud to his rescue from death. But
the inhuman monster, who was aiming at his life,
did not even then desist stabbing, until he was
pullsd a,cay from him, with the blood Of has ric-
Tim rseking from his hands! Meleher was seiz-
ed and lodged in Jail for the night. On the next
morning was brought before justice of the peace,
who very properly remanded him back to prison;
out of which he was subsequently bailed, by his
partizan friends. At the present term OF the
Court of Common Pleas of this county he was
indicted By the grand jury of the county tor the
offence, found guilty by jury of twelve OF his
fellow citizens, aud sentenced to confinement, at
hard labor, for three years. in the penitentary OF
Ohio, being the shortest term for which he could
be sentenced, under the criminal laws OF this
state.
Thus has ended the brilliant but brsf career
Of this blazing and shining constellation OF Jack
sonism in the political hemisphere of the West.
and thus too, has the moral sun of his fame gone