Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-10-14
RICHMOND WING.
N'LEOD'S TRIAL.
Correspondence of the Times AMI Star.
UREA, Friday cycninc. &

MLEoD's TRIAL.
Correspondence of the Times AMI STAR
UREA, Friday evening, Oct S.
Dear Sir,-Af'er dinner, the counsel for the pri.
soner called several witnesses TO show where Nc.
Leod was upon the night in question. The first
was man who was an innkeepor at Niagara at the
time, named William Press. His appearance was
psepoSsessing. lie stated that, on the evening pre-.
vlous to the destruction of tho Caroline he took
Mcleod into his wagon ut Chippewa between sun
down and dark, aud carried him about SIX miles on
the Niagara road TO the house of Lieut.. Morrison,
where he left him.
Lieutsnant Morrison was then called to the stand.
He is n ScOtchman, SIS years old, aud avery pleas
ing specimen OF straight forward open hearted old
soldier lie declared that he knew Mcleod; that
in 1887 he was on terms OF intimacy with him; that
on the night the Caroline was burned, Mel cod was
Mt his house, SIX miles from Chippewa; he arrived
there about seven o'clock, and he did not know I'm
what manner. Mcleod was accustomed TO keen
horse in his stable, and would go to the stable him.
self II he required his horse turned out aud no one
was at hand to take care of him. The witness
pressed him To remain that night as u unplca-
SAINT and late, and he consented He drank tea with
the family and remained IN the parlOr until the fc.
male members OF II retired, at about 10 O'Clock
when the witness had some toddY prepared aud sat
up with him until after midnight A bed had been
prepared for him IN the parlor, and the witness ls
him, bidding him good night. Previous 10 this his
boots had been taken off and carried TO the kitchen
the witness was called TO his gate distant some 20
yards from his house, TO see Colonel Cameron, ar
old military friend, who sitting in a wagon with
another gentleman. On meeting HIM the Colonel
Informed him that the Caroline had been Gu, out nj
Schosser and sent the Niagara Falls and lac
showed him piece of wood which nc said was a
piece OF her. The witness took it, asked leave TO
take piece from II, and to the house with it,.
lie went 10 the parlor door, found Mcleod half
dressed, and told him the story. Mcleod remain
cd until after breakfast and then went 10 Chip
pewa.
The witnesses was cross. examined at very srea,
length by MIR Hawiey, on behalf Of the people, the
only apparent effect OF which was TO impress all
who hcatd 1t with convictions of his integrity and
sincerity. His son, fine LAT OF Ia, his wife and
daughter, wore then examined 20 the same point,
and all testified to the fact Of McLeod's passing the
night at his house. The son testified that Mcleod
arrived ON horseback, and the mother and daughter
had the same impression. The examination OF these
witnesses has occupied all the afternoon and until
this hour e o'clOck.) portion ofthe cross.exam
iOation gave occasion for the court 10 administer q
very severe re5uko to Mr Hlwley, one oil the coun.
sci. The testimony on the part of the defence will
probably be finished this evening, when the At,or-
ney General will have an opportunity to offer re.
butting testimony. IL is hardly possible that the
trial will be concluded tomorrow. As the case
now stands, the prisoner can lay very strong claim
TO the reasonable doubt as TO whether he was or
in the expedition. IL is impossible that al,
the direct positive testimony IN Relation the quCs-
ton can be true. Mistakes cannot account for the
conflicting statements, and unless new light is
thrown upon the testimony on the part OF the de-
fendant It will be difficult to convict him.
SATURDAY, Evening.
DEAR SIR-My letter las; evening closed wiki
the testimony OF the Morrison iami V. The effect
1t produced II is fiicut accurately to estimate. At
the time the counsel for tile people res ed, il was
conceded on al! hand, that he had made q very
strOng case. The concurrent testimony Of so many
Witnesses and the i'm posing statement Of the witness
had IUfsn ypn l.1
extremely difficult - establish an abi with any
show Of probability. The dispositions Of the boats
crew were, however, direct and oil such nature rs
To produce the idea that the witnesses making them
could be mistaken, and 10 render il certain either
that Mcleod was not of the party, that the wit
nesscs were stepped IN perjury from Col. McNaU
down. In this posture oil affairs, the examination
OF Lieutenant Morrison gave an entirely new face
TO tho cause. IL was impossible TO hear him testify
without full conviction OF his sincerity and veracty
AMI more perfect specimen Of thoroughly loyal
Eritlsh veteran we have rarely seen.-Upon beng
asked to what political party he belonged, he laugh
ell a. the idea OF belonging 10 any one. ~ let The
parties fight out their battles" said he; al have
fought enough In my day without troubling myself
with their SqpoOblcs. | am for the Government
whatever II ls.S The peculiar circumstances which
he rc.a' ed Us tending to fix in his memory the
particular right Mcleod stayed at his house. were
such as rendered Il extremely improbable that he
could bG mistaken, and when his rccolcctiOns cor
robOTatCi 10y the testimony OF the other members Of
the family, 1t became very evident that unless their
testimony could be overcome the part of the poo
pie, must at The very least throw TOO much doubt
upon the question Of the prisoners being in the cx-
peduOn, to suffer any Jury TO convict Inn.
After the daugh OF Mr. Morrison had left the
stand, Judge McLane, of Buffalo, was called for
ward. He stated thutR few days before the de-
s.ruclon OF the Caroiinr, Mcleod in Buff o,
and That mob being IN pursuit Of him, the wituC
aided him 10 escape through window Of one olthe
public houses. That he heard more Ofhim and N:
SOciIOus TO learn whether lie arrived safely in Ca
NADIA. That he was al Chippewa during the night
the Caroline was burned, and in Colonel McNaU's
quarters. He there inquired for Mcleod, and
the witness was proceeding 10 relate what reply
Col McNab made TO EIs inquiry when he was top
ped by The counsel and the court prevented the
testimony being given. The following morning he
me, Mcleod between and 10 o'clock, on the road
from Chippewa TO Niagara, somewhere between
Chippewa and the residence Of the witness, Morn
son. Mcleod was going 70 Chippewa.
A Mr. McGlchry was then called, who testified
to meeting Mcleod on his way from Morns9n's to
Chippewa, at about the same hour.
The court then adjourned.
This morning, at the opening Of the court, the
counsel for Mcleod called as a witness Jared
Stocking, Of Niagara. HCtes,ifed ihat he was COM
mander Of a detachment ofihe provincial Dragons,
nnu was stationed az Chippewa at the time the
Caroline was destroyed. He knew the witness
William Press lthe person who stated that McLeoI
iccomr Rned h m to MOrsou's) lie remcmJ sr,d
Press being at Chippewa the day before the boat
was burned, anu that he dECd al his quarters, and
left the village on his way homowlrd about four or
five O'Clock. lie also stated that on the evening of
that day he received a note from Col. McN1b, tC-
q1esting him 10 furnish from b corps swords and
pistols for an expedition, and that he directed his
command TO lend their arms If they chose, but In-
formed the messenger that he had no conuo. over
them. On hls cross examination Mr. Stocking sta
ted lac was native Of tue United States, and brJ-
th,r Of MIR Samuel Stocking, of Utica; that he
Cmlgmtod 20 Canada in 1915, and has since rcsid-
ed there. lie had taken no part iu Canadian 20.
ItIcs The company Of dragons under his COM
mlnd was organized ten years previous 10 the trou
hos, and he went into service MS rs commander as
a matter Of ordinary duty.
At the close Of The examination Of this witness,
Mr. spencer Informed the Court thai the testimony
on tho par, of the defence was now concluded That
hc was prepared with mass of evidence which
had not been PRODUCED but the decision Uf the court
having confined the issue 20 the simple quest. n
whether Mcleod was present or cuglg.c in the en-
terpriso Of destroying tho Caroline, o. was inrom.
peten and be should therefore rost the Crusa os it
stood before the Court.
The Attorney General tacn commenced she rro.
GuruOn o. testimony in answer 10 that offered ry
the counsel for the prisoner. Hc read the cgrgf.
cate OF enrolment and the cols.Ing license Di the
Caroline, dated Dec, !, 1857. lie then produced
ths statement of the prisoner made upon Boo. ey1mI.
nation ieiorc justice Bel oi NHa1ra county when
Hu.s'od DOB Nov. so, aud the dispositions of Irr
Morrison and his son Archibald, on Che same or.
'lGon. On this oIamn ton the prisoner stated
th'f on the afternoon preceding the destruction of
the In1f. Ir "a fIIfuryyn. that If ,yr.