Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-04-27
NRIMlNAL TRIAL
'ot me N. q'Journal of Co.ome,ce
TRIAL OF MATTHIAS
April I6 Is3,

NJ w was brought into Conn,
,.iaI western applied to the con,t n 60,
mes. al W 'o"r or t"o, To wait the arri val ga 49,,
-, "'oSe testimony he prisoner cons;r,o.al ~ J"
tho Importance. Mr. Western rema,Loa :" -, Il.
RIM ,,;,I ''' counsel were willing to nr,coo, !,
did ro, Inc witness in question, but TIM, rho,
ections themselves at liberty 10 override the oh
The Court considered !, .
tern MAJ. so" INV, 10 put OIL the trial, and Mr. Yves.
Wv of NJ. va'"oa'''' stating that DR.. John Tor
uc'e"ce OF his client. That his cl;e,, W. Tue
NV mat Torrey was material w;,rosS "o
''' oay osIore and that since then ever, ''
was made to obtain his attendance ,ra ,ha, l..
irooaoly arrive during this dov Rs;no
oy 'he District Attorney to show tho mat
10 vi Dr' Iorreys evidence, Mr.. Western eta
,ka '"' ~ lofrey had been employed 10 so,,cb
WV ''o'nae" Oh The deceased Mr. Person for M;
s""' "nu the result of this search showed TIM, n.
''o ,n, contained no poison wi a,eyer
n ~ D'Srict Attorney consented to adm;, Tim,
~. orfey had examined the stomach or H.. !,
eoased var. Person, and was unable to discovo,
poison in ii. ~''o' any
Counsel for the nr;so,or H..
trial ''' eo"seh'ed 10 80 TO
NC court directed the admission male IN, ,bo
bo;n', I 1'''o,hey 10 be reduced TO wiring, which
s uonc' the jury was then lmpannell,d md
wv VI SIX were called, four Of whom were nor.
,,,a e"ahenged IVY the prisoners counsel
,,1l, ,"''" at the suggestion of Matthias
s,.,h ; u NC oio not like them. When the
sixth juror was cellcd, Matthias neosc FROM, III. '"e
ana SAID that he wished to address ,bo C, 'e'''
Judge Ruggles expressed n wish ,ha, A.,
mas would address the Court ,bronyh h;s a,'.a
counsel. 7" MS own
Matthlas-lf have those rights which ,,n..,.
cd, can speak in this court if not. am n,,ose,h
ell disappointed. VI
WI western remarked that something mieh,
occur IN the course of The trial. which would render
II 'nlprudent for the prisoners counsel to res,r,ia
HIM from addressing the Court
Couft-Ihc rule Of law is that if counsel
Is employed he must try the couse but # no coun-
sci is employed the prisoner can do i. himself
Matthias expected to plead my own cause.
The technical parts of the proceeding intended
leaving TO my counsel, but did no, expect TO be
prevented from speaking myself
Mr. Western. The last remark made by his eli
cnt might have arisen from his having told Malthi.
az, that if any theological question arose relative
to the prisoners peculiar opinions, he, Mr.. Yves.
tern, must be excused from interfering in il. and
the prisoner must on that branch of the attend
TO his own Defence if he thought 1t necessary. II
his client wished To undertake his own defence, he
tMr. W. would willingly let him do so, but
should he retain his counsel, still he (Mr. w } hop
ed that III so peculiar case, the court would allow
the prisoner to address it, so long as he kept with
in due bounds Of law, and the moment he acted
otherwise, counsel would consent 10 have HIM stop
ped.
The Court said it wished to act in spir Of
at he here w n
question before the court relative to which the pr
soner could interfere.
Matthias again arose, and attempted to address
the court
Court,-Sit down sir.
Matthias.-l understood
Court-Sit down sir.
Motthias still persisted in addressing the court
and sal! in loud and determined voice, " | under
stand that evidence secretly given 10 the Crane
Jury, and unde stand that the entire business II
TO be done secretly, but protest against nj
secret insttuons-they were all dissolved NV
years ago" Here Matthias raised his voice AM
! roarcd out in so tremendous manner, that II re
sembled more that of wild beest, than a human
being" they were dissolved five years ago"
The court ordered him to be tnkcn away, am
whilst the officers were removing him, ne continue
! fancally roaring out, they were dissolved, dis
solved, dissolved until his voice died away in th
distance.
As soon as he was removed, ono Of his conse
| Mr.. Mitchell, said that this was sample OF III
prisoners state of mind
Cour,-lt may be real or assumed.
Mr.. Hall suggested that II would be better I
wait until the prisoner had passed OFT.
Mr. Western said that the peculiar situation h
was in, in relation to the prisoner obliged hun I
/ H. In HOY ne
prisoner was in New York he appeared dressed gu
/ in all his parsphernalia, and he (Nr. Western
made him lay it aside Civans, however, dod5
ed whether lie acted right in doing so, as they al
the kind of clothes which he wore nigh, have beo
evidence TO the jury, that he was insane. Ii tn
prisoner was not Of sound mind, he should hav
all the advantages arising from his situation, ami
he was really sane, the segacity OF the Court wouI
soon discover II.
A conversation then took place between tn
counsel on both sides as 10 the power OF the Iou'
TO use force in compelling the prisoner to pay pre-
per respect to its proceedings. The con'ersaiio
elected no remark from the Court, and the D'strl'
Attorney said the question now before the Conr
was whether the prisoner was insane or not an
If the Court thought so, it could order the jury 10 ir
the matter.
Mr.. Mitchell, counsellor for prisoner, said h
had no doubt whatever, of the prisoners insanity
The Couri.-lf the counsel for the prsonf
said he was insane,a jury should be impanneHcd
try 1t.
Counsel Tor the prisoner admitted his insanlt,
but said that in case the question now went to II j.
ry the prisoners interests might not be su'hc'ehu
protected as there were witnesses at Albany an
other places who could prove the prisoners state
MUD Counsel therefore moved Tor time to ootal
heir attendance After some further dscussio
the court adjourned until IL O'Clock, It then ben
abou, eleven, to enable the prisoner counsel to as
certain VIVA, time might be necessary to get the
ui,nnsses NJ iithlas was in the mean time broug