Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-12-25


Ia our last NC made br,ef statement respect
isy the examination Of JoHS RiLEr. charged viii
killing Johs Wren, and n the same tune ex
pressed our regret n observing one of the features
in the argument Of the prisoaer's counsel W,
hive since received from one Of the gestiemcs
~ho defended the prisoner. the following eom
rpuniestion:
To THE EpiroR,.
Geriismsa:--I little expected the few re.
marks { made 20 reference To the " .tatemen,
20 the Pree Press" would provoke dr.pie,
srrc. The idea Of creating occa,ionr "a
"eensure the absent Editor" never entered
my mind ] am really not conscious Of am.
ing single remark at him personally. A
matter OF deeper moment was in view. And
do not know. that his absenc would hold
out any Involvement TO me. At any time. 10
create occasion 10 censure him. You do me
injustice.
did take occasion to say, that the state.
mcnt was well calculated TO enlist our sym.
Pathies IN favor Of Wren. anS 10 excite pre-.
JUDGE againss the prisoner. and I say so
stii- ] said, too. % was improper. Aud
persist IN TINS opinion. Now, I had said ali
this, IN substance, TO the Editor himself be-
fore he len home, in no unfr,eudIy spirit
nor dad then or now impute wilful impro-
pristy or design.
The real occasion Of my adverting 10 il at
all, was produced by the remarks Of the gen.
t!emsn, desisnstsd by you rs one Of the coun-
sci for the prosecution, who vas employed,
understand, BY the chief witness for the Con-
monwealth.
lie had used the follov ing strong terms,
among others: Shocking and brutal trans
action" y" Revenge, growing out OF black
anc brutal heart :" &c.-which . noted down.
and have now before me. These terms re-
called the phrase shocking affair."" Ut the
head OF the statement censured, and induced
me 10 nohce q in the manner once intended,
but abandoned before the trial
iagree with you, "that any statement Of
circumstances, how minute soever," en-
bracing all the facts proved, might then have
been "entirely free from improperly, and
for the very reasons you assign. Nor did I
object 10 the statement in question, because
IL sas full and minute, but because il was
not. u protested to give q true summary,
from The evidence" aud dill not embody the
iciols truth or the case-not according TO oil
the evIdence-nor even according TO at only
OF the single witness Tor the Com monweaIih,
the wounded companion Of the deceased /;
and yet embodied exactly what was calcu.
lated TO enlis, sympathy for Wren, and ex.
cite prejudice against Riley. This denounc.
ed ~ improper. And the more SO, as the alb
seat Editor was the very justice who had
conducted the luquest, and had heard both
the witnesses, and all the testimony in refer
ence TO the ehi.T matter.
As to the alleged "dying exclam ations
OF Wren, respecting his dear mother" they
must have been proved by some witness not
before the examining court We had not 4
particle OF proof Of this kind.
IL Ia Pm ~ IL
prison, 20 await . farther trial Of the next
term OF the Superior cour: in March - and Il
Is also true that Of the seven Magistrates on
the bench, three voted for Acquiring; aud
that there were two other very intelligent
justices present, not upon the bench, both
OF whom, a. understand from good auihori-
~, iroHid have been for his discharge. So
that, OF the nine justices present. who
heard all the evidence, majority was for
his acquittai. These facts. SO esq ltial 10
full and fair statement, . presume could
not have been known 10 you. or your Impair
talitI would certainly have Induced you TO
have noted them in your sum mary Of the re-
suit.
conclude by expressing the hope, that YOU
will believe what have said upon The sub
ject has all been without intending TIE slight
est personal unkindness, OF wish 10 provoke
n newspaper war. now or hereafter although
] never shrink from duty. w. l..
We shall submit some observations, Which the
foregoing communication seems to render neees-
cary. In tho first place. the gentleman ha, mis-
conceived the nature OF our feelings, in npposins
that his remarks had provoked our 'tispleasure
We en,ertaia towards him 40 sentiments II vari-
anee With those which, 1t tie close of his note, he
has expressed towards US; and IL gives us plea
sure to assure him, thu, the personal good feelings
which his language implies, are cordially reepro-
Gated. We distinguish, howevrr, between the
man and the Advocate; a. he distinguished be-
tween the man and the Edtor-betSeen the man
and Ihc COroacr. This he did, 'viihOut aiming
single personal remark ADD sin no w.friehdly
si'rit'' and "a like manner &C view his public
conduct ia the forum. Personal feelings, then,
whether Kind or unkiud, must be disseEarded.
We said, 'Ooeasioa VAS taxed, or created (ut.-
necessarily ue think, to eensure the sbsen, Edi-
tor of this paper We are still confident Of the
correctness of every idea which THIS lsnsusgc le-
ultimately conveys. not Notwithstanding the ,-rioa'
oh4rge that &c therein committed an act Of injas
tiec. Il IL probable that the gentleman missp-
Prchends the meaning Of the foregoing sentence
and yet, be could not even do that, " he verc q
nHe, 9Th precision. the strict aud obvious impor
ct terms. lie ssys, in reference To tl'c Editor
u 10 not know that his absence would bold on
any 'UdueemeS, 60 me. ss any time, to create oe
casion 70 eensure him No sueh idea Is eua
tanned or even iu,imsied IN The sentence abov
quoted. or N any Par, of the sr,isie from vhiei
hi'tsken No, &C have too high sense Of ~
geniicIass'' hooov, 20 hint ,hsi Ne voaId a,tsel
an absent man beeaiise he " sbscnt. or that !,
would hesitate To prououasc scnsure, urritrd II
his opinion "a ease the object Il it SIRE present
What, then, - sigaiaed ~ our express,on tbs
occasion vss sressed" Al ina, We Intended
~ soavey, ii Ghis: that 30 'l,e progrs. q the ~
smiastiou, M occasion vas sivra TO stack IL
Editor. No refrresse vas made. by ssy q Il.
witnesses, 10 TIE qualification In the FFre Pre-. o
70 The Coroeers IHquest - tbese topics ver