Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-01-11

is very kind-werry." Lord Ash
grove resumed the game-in an hour
and a half he was again pennyless.
TRIAL OF WHITE FOR BURNING
THE TREASURY BUILDING.-The trial
of White, charged with burning the
Treasury building about three years
since, has occupied the Circuit Court
of the United States for the District OF
Columbia during the whole ofthe past
week. Counsel for the prosecution,
F. S. Key, Esq. District Attorney, and
J. r. Key, Esq for the defence w. L..
Brent and R. J.. Brent, Esq's. The
case was opened by the District Attor-
ney, who stated hat in connection with
other testimony, the declarations of the
prisoner would be adduced to prove
him guilty of the charge alledged, and
the object was effected by the use of
chemical preparations. Mr.. Key also
proposed to show that but a short time
previously to the fire, the traverser
had removed his family, furniture and
goods, from New York to the city of
Washington; that on the night OF the
disaster he started from his lodgings,
stating that he was going away, which
he did in q gig; and that he was follow
ed by his wife on the Monday follow
ing, since which period he has not been
seen until brought to the city for trial
On the present charge.
The following condensed view ofthc
testimony in the case was prepared
from a detailed report which occupies
a page of yesterdays National %Intelli.
gencer:-BaH. American.
The first witness produced on the
part Of the prosecution was William
Hicks, whose competency as d witness
was objected to on the ground of his
not believing in the existence ola God,
or a future state Of rewards and punish
ment. Mrs. Harker, the mother in law
ofthe prisoner, being brought forward
to testify on the point, discussion arose
whether the witness should be allowed
to state his WI religious belief, or
whether the declarations of Mr.. ii.
should be received as the best testimo-
ny, which ended in the latter being
sworn. Mrs. Harker stated that she
had heard William Hicks declare in
her house when he went to see White,
the prisoner, that he did not believe in
a God, and that when we died we
were no better than horses and ows.
These declarations, she said had been
made in the presence of some ladies
whose present place of abode she did
not know. Mr.. Moore, member Of
Congress, testified that he had known
Mrs. Hdrker sixteen Or seventeen
years, and that she was a respectable
woman.
William Hicks, the first witness, be-
ing permitted to state his religious be-
lief, said that he does and always did
entertain a beIiefin a Supreme Being,
and as for future rewards and punish
ments he knew nothing about the sub
iect, but believed that he would be pun
ished for all wrong actions here or
l|leICdllGIs WI. MtiIICh, tColIilCu LlNt
he believed in the Bible. He was
finally admitted to the witness box;
when he stated in amount that in 1882
White had told him in New York that
he had been offered a large sum ofmo-
ney if he would burn the Treasury, as
certain persons had over drawn to a
large amount, the proofs ofwhich would
be thus destroyed. That he intended
to 90 to Washington, and afterwards
did go with his wife, and that in Febru>
airy, 1888, he had, after his return from
Washington, told him, that he had sue
| ceeded in destroying the Treasury, and
had cleared enough TO pay his exPen-
ses.
Hicks further testified that he had
gathered from several conversations,
that White had entered the building
by false keys, and had placed the fire
in several Of the desks and bureaus,
and had told him that he knew enough
of chemistry to place a fire that would
burn when he pleased. 1t appeared
on examination that the witness haC
first known the prisoner on the Lines
where witness was a custom house of
fcer and prisoner a smugler, in 1924
thew had lived in New York, and tina
their acquaintance has been continued
ever since; that the witness had neve.
disclosed the communications made Il
him for fear ofboing killed by men wh'
he knew to be under the command o
the prisoner. On cross examination
it appeared that witness had been un
der very suspicious circumstances con
) nected with uttering false money, AM