The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-04-27
From the Reporter.
PRETENDED RIOT" CASES.

PRETENDED "RIOT"' CASES.
The prosecution commenced by Stevens,
Burrowes and Penrose, against several gen.
tlemen who had been selected as the the OBJ
jecIs OF their party vengeance, on an alleged
charge of riot in December last, when the
schemes of these conspiraiors against the
laws and the constitution OF Pennsylvania,
were so signally defeated by the calm de-
termination of an insultcd people, came on
yesterday before the court of this county.
The known efforts of the conspirators to
procure a conviction IN this case, in the
vain hope Of producing reaction in pub
lie opinion, which they feel has placed the
the seal of everlasting iniamy upon their
foul plot, gave TO this trial peculiar interest,
and attracted to the court house a large
crowd
The court having ordered the trial to
proceed, Mr.. Fisher, for the prosecution,
stated his intention to try but two or three,
or one Of the inviduals at time as the case
might be.
When Mr.. Pray was called on to plead,
Mr.. Barton rose and stated, that he had GER
tain affidavits TO present to the court, pre-
preliminary to motion which, as one of
the defendants, and as one of their counsel,
he was about to make in their behalf.
Mr.. Fisher strongly resisted the right of
the defendant to have any affidavils presen-
ted until they should haze been Submitted
TO the private inspection of the counsel for
the prosecution, IN order that THEY might
judge Of their pertinenCe and releUancy!!
The court promptly decided against him,
and directed Mr.. Barton 10 proceed and
read the afiidavts: notwithstanding the de-
cision of Judge Blythe, Mr.. Fisher persis-
ted in his objections, evncing the utmost
perturbation, which was evidently shared in
by Mr.. Stevens, who sat by his side, whis-
pering in his ear, and prompting his course.
Judge Blythe, reiterating his decision,
directed Mr.. Barton TO proceed and read the
afidaviis, which he did as follows:
DAuPHIN County, ss.-Chares Pray,
member of the house of representatives
from the county Of Philadelphia, and one
of the defendants in the Indictment for riot
and conspiracy, found by the grand iuquest
OF Dauphln county at the January tenn of
the quarter sessions of the present year, be-
ing duly sworn, in open court, before the
Hon. Calvin Blythe, deposeth and saith -
That sometimes after the hour of ten, one
evening, about the middle Of March, A. d.
1889, he was in the bar room of Mr.. Will
sons hotel, in the borough of Harrisburg,
at which house he boarded; that John Ad-
ans Fisher, Esq. attorney at law, of the
said borough, entered the bar room-Mr.
Fisher being the principal counsel retained
to prosecute tie said case, and by whom,
as defendant hath been informed and be-
lieves,) the bill Of indictment was prepared,
and on whose motion, and at whose instance,
the trial was postponed at the January term
of the court.
Mr.. Fisher commenced a conversation
respecting the trial of the said case, at the
approaching April term Of the court; in the
course OF which he remarked, among other
things, that The defendants Were set of
damned rebels: thai he aOOuld pack an an
h-maSOnic jury, and he aOOutd be God,
damned II he could not maize them do as
he pleased, right or ,0rOng, and thai, gull.
ty or not guilty, by God the defendants
should be convicted and sent to prison.
These remarks, with others of a similar
| character, were repeated several times by
Mr. Fisher, in an angry tone of voice, and
under the evident influence of highly excl
ted feelings. Deponent Immediately re-
quested the bar-keeper, Christian S. Ken
Orig, to remember the names of the gentle
men present. Among them were Alderman
John X. Walker, OF the city of Philadel-
phla, editor of the Herald and Sentinel;
John Naglee, Of the county of Philadelphia;
James r. Templin and David Pool, of Har-
risburg; Gen. VIM. Il. Rogers and William
FIeld,members of the legislature from Bucks
county, and several others. And further
deponeni saith not.
Sworn and subscribed before me, in omen
court, this 18Th day of April, A. ID. 1889.
CALVIN BLYTHE.
Here follows the dispositions of Christian S.
Kendig and James r. lemplin, to the same con-
versation, which we omit
After the afiidavts had been severalIv
read, Mr.. Barton proceeded TO remark -
That in bringing forward the afiidayits which
had just been submitted 10 the court, he wa
actuaied by no spirit of resentment of hos
tility towards the individual whom thew i'm
Plicated. His motives had their origin in