Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-05-07
Nm. nrcrANAN AcQulTTEp.


attending the trial of AIR. JoHS
3ucHArAN, before Anne Arundel County Court, |
IN Thursday last, Is copied from the Annapolis |
Republican Of Saturday Nat. Int.
"seldom has case occurred in our communi-
tv clici,ing so intense interest, as that exci.
led nthe trial Of young Mr.. Buchanan, winch
took place on Thursday last in Anne Arunoei
County Court.
The public had been apprised, through the
columns Of some Of the public papers, that n rec
coutre which took place some three weeks ago
at Waterloo, Mr.. Buchanan, son Of Thomas Du ,
hanan Esq. chief Judge Of the highest lua'e ~.
tribunal OF this State, had shot man ny tne
name Of Ellis, and that he had been comittco i'f
trial. 40.
Mr.. Buchanap was acting in the engineer ue
partmcnt upon the line Of the Batimore ano
Washington Railroad, and the aeceassu VIZ
ennloyoI thereon. The scene lay at the spot
where 40 many lawless acts OF violence had sate-
10 been committed, and the catastrophe may be
ryon.id.r,d ~ one Of those deplorablc results
which were so mnch 10 be apprehended, from the
posture in which society was there placed for
The time being, when unusual precaution Tor sell
defence became almost indispensable.
After inquiry into the facts Of the case, num-
Der Of very influential individuals determined ina
mediatcy to lay statement thereof before Gov.
Thomas, with full confidence that those facts,
taken with the whole concurrent circumstances,
formed such case as 10 call for the exercise oil
that high aud delicate prcrogatiye which is en-.
trusted to the Governor alone, OF arEsting all
further proceedings againstthe accused. WHIST
this was in progress, however, judge Buchanan
reached the city. and instantly, with that high
tone Of human energy, which we hope VIII De
come no less characteristic Of American. than 1t
has heretofore, as il exclusively, been designa,,
ted as Roman virtue, placed his veto upon all
attempts Of the kind, and pronounced that his son
Oh onld await the verdict OF his country.
The grand Jury having indicted Mr.. u. or
Nh.r
grades Of homicide. he was arragned on thurs
day morning, and jury was cmpanneied ouch
impressions as the countenance, personal appear
ance, and department OF an individual 90 circum-
stanecd, are calculated TO make, served TO deep
en- the interest which pcrvaded the whole scene.
An aft ctionate brother was at his side. But the
most striking moral spectaclewhcb we have ey-
er witnessed which We ever expect 70 witness
was the entry Of the venerable Judge buchanan
into the Court-a place where for mors than
thirty wears we have all been in the constant
habit of seeing him approach oaly for the pur-
pose of presiding in chief and, when entering,
not only stopping short Of the accustomed cleva.
tion, but taking his seat in aposiion so conrasted
TO all that he had been. There 10 moral subii-
mitv in copceiving the broad basis upon which IS
founded, and the ample elevations to which are
reared, our civil institutions, as at that moment
demonstrated before our eye. Probably no nan
breathing could bring to such position more oil
those sensibilites which properly belong to a
was conducted into court aud to seat by Roger
Il. fancy, of Baltimore city, and Joseph !. Mcr-
rick, OF Washington county, who had volunteer :
cd ther services as eounsels IN the case, as did
also Reverdy johnson and Thomas s. Alexander
The court was occupied the whole day; and
excepting short respite for dinner. until about
seven o'clock in the eyening, III the examination
of the witnesses, which conducted by Mr..
Boyle for the state, and chiefly by Mr.. johnson
for the prisoner. We should do injustice, were
q.
manifestto all who were present, that Col. Boyle
not only opened the case IN very impressive
style, but conducted the examination with the
single view of eliciting the truth, whatever ii
might be, and Of fulfilling the duties ofhis station
10 the utmost, however painful the obligation
might become.
The occasion seemed indeed To inspire So
lcmnity OF judicial proceeding, which should
give that full confidence in the impartial admin
istration of law and justice, which constitutes the
last bond OF our social system. II called on to
propose sample Of what trials ought always to
be, we should nnhesitatingly adduce this one OF
MIR. Buchanan, as, furnishing the most uuexcep-
tionable specimen we have ever looked upon
and not the less uncxceptiOnablc because the ju
ny empannelled were treated upon this occasion
rs il esteemed to possess some share OF intellect
Of their own.
The evidence in the case was entirely couclu.
sve of the fact, that Mr.. b. beng in company
with an acquaintance, tcithfn q house, was by
concert called out thereof, for the purpose Of
being called to account; that when thus outside
and unaccompanied, the deceased, man who il
was in evidence, as of bullying habits as well as
athletic frame, without the slightest pretence or
OF personal injury, aud though warned in mild
terms by MIR. Buchanan, that being entirely ig
norant of the cause of the dispute, he ought TO
have nothing TO do in il, and still further warned
that he Mr.. Is. being armed would repel any
attempt upon his person, thus apparently threat
ened by several. not only volunteered 10 lake
the part" of the person who had Mr.. b. called
out, but adv anced TO the most unequivocal dem
onstration OF carrying his threat into instant eff
feet. There remains no doubt that whilst in the
act of attempting blow he 4 ceivcd his death
The testimony in behalf of Mr.. Buchanan's
general character as well as thai in relation 10
his department since being in the vicinity Of
Waterloo, w as mequyocal and entirely saisfac-
tory. Persons Of The first responsibility, who
had associated with him from childhood, testif-
ed that his distinctive character through life was
that Of " amability Of disposition and simplicity
of manners" whilst Mr.. Merrill of Waterloo
testified that during II his sojourn at his Hotel
he had been the favoIite Of his whole f9mily, and
regarded more like member thereof, or a son,
than boarder
The testimony having been closed, the Prose,
cutor rose:
"GentIemen Of the Jury You have heard with
due attention the whole ofthe evidence have
in this case. 1t is committed TO your decision
without argument on either side, in full assur-
ance that justice will be done by your verdict"
THE CoURT.-" Sheriff, call bailff"
SEVERAL JURYMEN.-''N No bailfs required.
The Jury being called over, and asked for
their verdict, Not Gully 20 was instantlypro-
nounced. The spontaneous burst of feeling W hich
even the grave authority Of Court could not sup
press, told how much il was in accordance with
the Judgment of those who heard.
There were tears, and manly tears, seen elis-
tening in many eyes, as hands in succession gras-
ped the hand of the venerable Judge. in hearty
congratulations.
Chief Justice Dorsey prcsided-both the asso-
ciates, Wilkinson aud RiiSotv, were upon the
bench.
WIG SENTIMENr.-The Editor of the Nan
fucket Inquirer, rcmarking on the Connecticut
election, says, with the warm feelings of high
minded patriot; And for Massachusetts,
our native State, may the future historian i'm
press on the page that records the downfall of
our republic, this consoling record as AIassa