Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-05
TRIAL OF REUBEN CRANDALI.

The Circuit Court at Washington was
occupied on Friday and Saturday last
with the trial Of Dr. Reuben Crandall,
charged with circulating incendiary
pamphlets tending to excite the slaves to
instruction. Some difficulty was found
in empaneIling the jury, many persons
being excused or set aside, as having ex-
pressed decided opinion as to the ouih
of the accused Nearly the whole Of Fri.
day was consumed in legal arguments
touching the admissibility of evidence
On Saturday the district attorney produc-
ed and read a paper, stating what he ex-
pected to prove, and this again led to a
protracted discussion. The PRINCIPAL
point was whether publication in the Dis
trict was shown by prooftha the prisoner
had in his possession when arrested, sever
al numbers of the Anti-Slavery Reporter,
with the words "read and circulate this ="
written on the title page by the prisoner,
as supposed. The court decided that the
fact OF possession was sufficient to throw
the burden of proof as to non publication,
upon him.
1t appeared that DR. Crandall opened
an office IN Georgetown, for the purpose,
as he said, ofgiving lectures on botany -
that the pamphlet In question was taken up
In his Office by DR. King, in the pres
ence OF another person, and that DR. King
asked leave to borrow it, which DIR Gran
dali granted 1t was proved, however,
that he subsequently, declared his unwil-
lngness to circulate the pamphlets on &C.
count OF the excitement. 1t was in proof
also, that he had admitted having received
number of similar pamphlets from New
York, all of which, with the exception of
some ten or twelve; were in his possession
when arrested. The inference was that
ne had circulated those ten or twelve,
The prisoner is represented as Young
man of respectable appearance, and of firm
though quiet demeanor His health av-
pears to have been affected by his incar-
ceratlon of eight months. He is said to
be very fond of the study Of botany, and of
considerable proficiency in medical sci
ence. An acquittal was expected; and
we must say that ifno other or stronger ev-
ldenco is to be brought against him than
has yet been adduced, he ought to have his
action, and heavy damages, against some
body or other for his false imprisonment,
Commercial.
REMARK.-We have been acquainted
with the particulars of this case from the
beginning, but have avoided all ATTEMPTS
to awaken public sympathy for Mr. Gram
dali, lest the spirit that aged against him
under the exclusive jurisdiction" should
prove even more atrocious than his actual
suferIngs He has lain in the common
jail, under the most aggravated treatment
since last August For ourselves we
have no hesitation in expressing our be-
lief that his case is one of the most on-
pressive and IN ust that ever occurred r.
this country. In addition to his remedy
at law, for the personal injury, we hone
some one at least, of our representatives +
Congress will have regard enough for orr
national character, to move an inquiry re-
speeding the case, that people of the Uni
ed States may know what is done in q
District, which is constitutionallv under
heir exclusive jurisdiction, in all cases
IN Y. Evangelist
A fighting correspondent ofthe Charles
on Courier, says in letter dated Picola.
a, Florida, March 26.-"I have had the
Iwful pleasure of shooting one Indian, af
er an engagement oftWenty five minutes J,
The aictGt pleasure of meeting his victim
1 the bar of God and receiving the retr;
'utions ofheaven, is yet to be. experienced
4 III