Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-09-08

Frsm the Jackson Tenn Truth Teller.
! We are indebted 10 legal friend for the folio "
ing sketch, not having been able to attend the trla
regularly ourselves
Trial Of Jehn A. Mur,eN.-The trial Of this
| far famed parsonage closed las, week in the circuit
court ofth,s coun.y, and resulted in his conviction
and sentence to confinement and labor in the Pen.
itentiary for ten years. The crime charged against
him was negto stealing. The high reputation
he had acquired as one of the talented leaders Of ,
iawlcss band who infest the banks Of the Misss.
sippI, and the accidents connected with the crime
charged. impaired an interest 10 the rial seldom il
ever, before witnessed in this community His
very name was associated with all that was bold
and desperate in villainy. He had been reg srdcd
as master spirit in an organized system, which
had repeatedly deprived our citizens of their pro
perty, and evsdcd every effort made for the deec.
ton OF the felony. He Ind been taken, broke out
OF Jai and was again retaken in the neIghborins
state, engaged as was SUPPOSED in directing the
operations OF his accustomed employment. Every
thipg associated with his character, was calcu
lated, IN the highest degree, to nhame the public
mind
When he was brought TO the bar for trial. the
Court house was throngsd to OVERLOOKING by the
deep!y anxious spectators who were brought TO-
gethcr by the occasion. The prisoner informed the
oour' that by reason of his poverty he was unable
10 employ counsel, and his Honor, Judge Haskell
who was presiding, undor the hum we provision o!
our Jaw, assigned Col Read Mr. Hodge and Mfr.
Brown OF JacksoD, m Nj Harsis OF Brownsyle
70 appear IN his defence. Gen Bradford and Ma;
Marun appeared as prosecuting counsel on behalf
OF Inc stale The evidence on the ri of the state
enemy depended on an individual witness. This
w"hess gave at length, the incidents of a moa, m.
mantle adventure, by which he had wound h;mssIf
In'o the confidence of Murrel and obtained from
nm confession Of his guilt. He occup,ed 6 90 ~
SIX hours in giving his testimony, and wba,ever
aiHerence OF opinion may exist as to the me,i, of
me witness, all will admit, ,ha, his story if well
written out aud properly embeished, would form .
'egend IN real lie unsurpassed by any thing nro-
ouced ny hcton. The witness made too much Of
,or al display, otherwise the story would have hoo,
finely told ' W ''e"
Inc principal scene Of the adventure was nes,
Inc MISSISSIPPI river. The witness started in
search OF the negroes winch had been s,olen ana
before he had travelled far, accident threw him in
company with Murrell, who was isroran, of h. |
lame ana his business. He represented himself as |.
's'o'ns, when at home, in the State of Miss,ss,n..
~ ana soon made the impression on the mind of
,'o'rel That he was seeking employment under
NC auspices OF that predatory band for which the
western bank of the Mississippi had become so "a.
nous. Under this srtlfice he gained the con6dcncs
u aurreii, and induced him TO unbosom mis- plans
~ open splendid scheme OF organized villainy,
I w",In ne ond others expected to amass fortune.
.S.t.n seemed to feel secure in his plans, and be-
WV '"'y were too deep and we'll arranged 70, de.