Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-11-17
From tAs +" MsgAoiis" for 1897.
TGR WIDOWS ORDEAL--Or n b
aieial Trial By Cessbaf.

TMR WBDOWss ORDRAL-Or a b.
aieial Trial By Ceabai.
BY the .saiAsr Of " The Sk.ieh Beck
The world IL daily growing older and
wiser. It's institutions vary with its
years. and mark its growing wisdom !;
and none more 30 than its modes of
investigating truth, and ascertaining
guilt OF innocence. In lis non age,
when man vas yet fallible being, and
doubled the accuracy Of his own in
tellect, appeals were made to heaven
an dark and doubtful cases Of atrocious
accusstion.
The accused was required to plunge
has band IN boiling oil. or to walk across
red-hot Piough-shares. or TO maintain
his innocence in armed fight and listed
field, in person or by champion. If he
passed these ordesls unscathed. be
stood acquitted, and the result was re-
garded a. verdict from on high.
II 10 somewhat remarkable that. in
the gallant age Of ehivalry, the eentier
sex should have been most frequently
the subjects Of these rude trials and
Penlous ordeals; and that, TOO, when
assailed in their most delicate and vul-
nerable part--their honor.
In the present very old and enlieht-
ened age Of the world. when the hu-
man intellect is perfectly competent TO
the management Of its own concerns.
and needs no special interpretation of
heaven in its affairs. the uial by jury
has superseded these superhuman or
Deals. and the nnanimily Of twelve dis
cordant minds 10 necessary TO consti-
tute . verdict. Such q unanimity
would, Il first sight. appear also 10 re-
quire miracle from heaven; but IL is
by q simple device ofhuman ingenuity.
The twelve jurors are locked up in
their box, there to fast until abstinence
shall have so clarified their intellects
that the whole jarring panel can dis
eeFn the truth, snd concur in q unani-
nous decision. One point is certain.
that truth is one, and is immutabie-
until the jurors ell agree. they cannot
ell be night.
II is not our intention, however. 10
discuss this great Judicial point, or to
question the svOwcd superiority Of the
mode Of Investigating truth adopted in
this anhquatsd and very sagacious era.
II 10 our object merely 70 exhibit 20
che curious FesdeF, Que Of tho most me-
IDOfable cases Of judicial combat we
find "a The annals Of Spais. II oe-
CURED at the bright commencement Of
ths reign, and in the youthful. and, a.
yet, glorious days Of RodeTick The Goth
Who subsequently issnIshed hia fame
II home by bic misdeeds, and finally
Lost his kingdom and hiss life on the
banks Of the Guadalete, In that disas-
tsous battle which gave up Spain a
conquest 10 Che MooTs. The following
is the story:
There was, once upon q time, q GER
tsin Duke Of Lorraine, who Was &C.
knoWledged Throughout bis domains to
be one Of the wisesl princes that ever
lived. 10 fact, there vas not soy one
measure that he adopted that did not
astOnish ell his pFivy eounsellOFs end
gentlemen in attendance; and said go
many witty things. add made such sen-
sibls speeches, that bic high chamber
Iain had his iaws dislocated from laugh
ing wiih delight al The one, add gapIiug
with wOadeF at The other.
This veFy witty and exceedingly
wise poieniste lived Zoe half 3 centory
in single blesssdnesS, when be eouf-
tiers began 70 think il a great pity 20
wise cad wealthy . prince should not
have q child afleF his own likeness. 20
inherit his taissls and domains. 90 they
urged him most respectfully 70 marry
foE The good o. BIS esists, and the vel
faSs ~ hls suhgeeis.
He turned lbeir ndvica over n kis
mind sens four o. ave years. cad thea
ssndinR eniasa6es 70 all paTts, hs sum
monsd = bic ospa ~ he bssptfel