Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-10-27
Trial Of One Hundred and Twelve
Mem for Murder.

Mem for Murder.
The correspondent of the Illinois Free Ira
der gives an account of the trial of the persons
charged with the murder Of the Driskalls, John
and William, from which we gire the following
extracts:
The September Term of the Oge Circuit
Court has just closed, and its session has been
marked by trial, which, in the number of the
accused tried in one Indictment for the crime
of murder, is without parallel One hundred
and twelve men were indicted for the murder
Of John Driskall and William Driskall, in June
last, near Washington Grove, in this county.
About one hundred pleaded not guilty, and
were put upon their trial. Judge Ford, what
ever might have been his feelings, Qhe accused
were his neghbors, Judge F. living in OgIe
county, exhibited on the Bench stern deter
mination that the accused should be fully and
fairly tried. However, the very fact of the
great confusion occasioned by so many names
i'll the indictment, left the accused without any
evidence to contend against. The two or three
first Witnesses, whose names were endorsed
upon the Indictment, (and by the laws of this
State, none except those whose names are 50
endorsed, can be called TO prove the substan-
tive part of the accusauon,) only knew one Of
the preparatory steps taken, which led TO the
supposed offence.
The fact connected with the killing Of the
Driskals are stated as follows: That the Dris-
kalls were a part of an organized gang, en-
bracing a large number of persons in the coun-
ly Of Ogle and the adjoining counties, who car
~ on SyStemj1ed scheme of operations against
the lives and property of the inhabitants. That
murders, robberies and larcenies had been car
ried on by them for number of years; and
that, owing TO the extent and perfection OF their
combinations, it had become impossible 10 con-
vict by the ordinary process Of law. PerJured
members of their gang swearing TO aibls or
such defence were adapted for the occasion,
had for long time, defied and defeated the
courts of Justice. That few days previous 10
the execution Of the Driskalls, a Mr.. Campbell,
citizen Of The highest respectablllty, had been
wautonly shot In his own yard, for his pre-
sumed exerlions against the gang, and that
there was sufficient evidence to leave no rea-
sonable doubt, that the Driskalls planned and
cited and probably perpetrated this murder.
Further, tha, the DriskalIs were the chief and
most dangerous of the gang. They were shot
after an examination which satisfied several
hundred of the most respectable citizens of
Ogle and the adjoining counties of the truth Of
the foregoing facts
The case was submitted TO the Jury who,
without leaving their seats, rendered verdict
of Not Guilty. This verdict was given par
italy from want Of evidence, and from what
the Jury considered the absolute necessity OF
the case The writer says the la1oS could not
protect The community where the banditti COM
mtted their many enormilies-the occasion
was too urgent 10 wait for their uncertain
amendment and adaptation to the emergency
individually they could not protect themselves
mob law they repudia;ed-lh therefore re-
sorted 10 counter organization, ordained new
rules of evidence, and new mode OF proceed
| ing, such, and such only, as in their judgment
were efectual to protect them. There may be
those who are disposed to cavil, perhaps 10
condemn. The judgments and perceptions OF
such, would be essentially invigorated, could
they have dwet for short time here, and sui-
fered the murder of their friends, the burning
of their dwellings, and the plunder of their pro-
perty; and, when they called on the law TO re-
dress these wrongs, 10 see those whom they
knew TO be the perpetrators, TO escape with I'M
punIty.
The New CABINET at Washington Is queer
| IL. r r.