Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-21

DOMESTIC.
PETERSBURG, Va, May Ia, l6il.


tn the Editor of tho Star:
Dear Sir: AS was the means, though uninten
tionaly, of giving extensive circulation TO the partI
culars Of the murder of John Long, BY Mark l.
Beazley through your columns, and furnished thereby
If your information be correct-food 10 sundry vora
cious editors of whom exercised the art OF ap
preparation in q style that would have thrown the
'Arlful Dodger' and DR.. Hines completely IN the
shade, it is but due to your numerous readers-you
editorial friends who have forgotten the spirit and let
ter of the 9Th article of the Decaloguethe dear peo
ple-l say il is due all that the result OF the affair
should be made as public the crime and lis par
tculars, at the time OF its commission.
Beazey has been sentenced-not to the gallows-
not eighteen years confinement, but to the Peniten
tary for treire years
Ifeyer murder was committed under circumstance:
of an aggravated character, that of poor Long was
and if ever individual deserved the halter that per
sonage is Mark l.. Beazley. However, it has become
80 Questionable to swing murderous villain these
times, that we may reasonably calculate that Inc lie"
gullows we have still standing, will gradually sue
cumb' 10 the worm, and the places that know then
now, will know them more forever.
The murderer, by his admission, was withou
hope lie had murdered his vlciim-laId down nea
the corpsc-arose TO behold its CLASSY eyes fixed u
death-had cut the limbs from the body-burned tht
trunk or rather essayed to do So but the fire refused
lis duty-h had then carried il in his arms, buried 1t II
hollow tree, and then afraid the dogs would find 1t
lowered the spot 10 prevent them from 'ioidIns
their carnival, and, as he remarked TO me, feeling al
the time "a hell raging in his bosom.
lie kept back nothing, entered curIously INTO an
analysis Of his feelings during the progress OF his
crime and after making voluntary confession OF all &c
clared that his conscience did snite hun Tor the
Decd but that he attributed his unqu'e state OF feeling
change Of beds, that Of hls prison not being quite
so comfortable as his own. How scared how harden
ed his heart
The wre,ched man employed his time between his
commitment and final trial. in drinking strong liquors,
undertaking his Bible! endeavoring apparently to stu
pity himself against the dreaded hour of e1ecuontor
he had 10: the most remote hope-and poor fool, wildly
dreaming that the merit of reading his Bible would
turn aside his punishment in another stale OF being.
On Tuesday, 9Th ult., Beazeey was arraigned be-
fore the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery
for Caroline county, for the murder Of John Long
Judge Lomax presiding.
T. B Barton, Esq, appeared for the prosecution, ana
james A. Thornton and James A. Seldom, Esqs, Tor
the prisoner
The speech of the prosecuting attorney was charac-
tcrizcd By his usual forcble and clear manner. Mr.
Thornton followed on behalf Of the prisoner, with an
appropriate and admirable Defence but renamed lot
Mr. Seldom 10 win laurel on that OCCASION wh'cn
trust he will long wear, and add to- as he assurediy
will where intellect is admired where talent respect
ed where genius revercd and where the Hottest or
der of eoquence binds the spirit OF the listener win us
ma ical chain.
| have not the pleasure Of Mr. Seddons acqualnt-
and therefore speak not Win TIC MuiPru
Of personal predilectIon but is Dut rendering uho
Cusar his lawful tribute.
The scene was one of intense interest-the eager
crowd thronging the Courtroom the prisoner in the
box baggard and alarmed the judge serious and COM
posed in umaesty severe; the wife of the prisoner,
LOOKING eagerly from face TO face trying 10 read IN the
looks Of the bysanders her husbands doom; while
above the hush of the scene, the clear voice OF the
prosecuting attorney, revealing the strong points OF
the case, and making papahle as sunlight the quit oil
the cupr made it indeed one OF thrilling moment
Mr. Thornton succeeded Mr.. Barton, IN speech
which-as is usual with that gentleman-was to the
point.
When Mr.. Seldom arose, the interest of the crowd
was almost at its highest pitch. How beautiful, how
appropriate his exordium Nothing overstraned no.
thing unnatural lie adverted to the Nervousness OF
the crime charged upon the prsoner-hs own peculiar
position as his counsel-his responsibility and the re.
sponsibility of the Jury | have spoken with old
men, individuals who have grown grey IN attending
that Court members of the bar, and visitors present
on the occasion-nnd all have united in the expression
Of ore opinion viz that it the most splendid and
ingenious defence they had ever heard. Such law
yer is an honor any bar, and your city may well be
proud 10 own him for citizen. After e1haustng
himself by his almost supcrhuman effort, Mr. Seddon
concluded. IIe was, of course, succeeded by Mr..
Barton hut the triumph was won; that eloquent voice
was still ringing with its earnest appeal in every ear,
and on Thursday morning about 10 o'clock, the Jury
found verdict Of Guilty Of murder IN The second de-
gree against Beazey, and fixed his term to IL years I'M
prsonment in the Penitcntiary
Poor devil. He so happy at the result that ne
took up his line of march for the Penitentary as tn
umphantly drunk MS though Temperance Society
had never been heard Of the gallows been robbed
of its just dues. oAIS.