Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-21

the character of the testimony given in
was understood, have been realized. The
prisoner has been acquitted. At the
conclusion Of the charge delivered by
Judge GridIey, the Jury retired for about
thirty minutes, and returned into Court
and pronounced verdict Of "Nor Gull.
ry."
The New York Express of Thursday
evening says mcleod will leave Utica
to-day for Canada, and the High Sheriff
of Oneida, in obedience with instructions
from the State Executive, will give him
safe conduct TO the line which separates
Canada from the United States. Mcleod
has been about one year in prison. Ills
first arrest was upon the oath September,
the second upon the 18th November,
ls40,-just eleven months prior TO his &C.
quittal.
According to the annexed paragraph,
from :he N. Y. Courier, il would appear
that Mcleod intended to embark for En-
gland in the Cunard steamer which leaves
Boston to-day
ALEXANDER McLEoD. Our Reporter,
who has jus, returned from Utica, informs
US that this individual intended to start on
Wednesday morning or that evening Tor
Albany, and crossing the river, take the
stage route TO the Boston Railroad, and
sail for England in the steamer Of Saiur.
doy, carrying out the news Of his own tri.
al and acquittal. On Tuesday night, al.
ter the rendition of the verdict, he passed
the evening with his counsel and some
friends, drinking champagne, appearing
as perfectly Indifferent as though he had
never been tried for, or even suspected OF
the crime of murder.
We copy from several of the New York
city journals the remarks which this hap
Ply termination has elected:
From the N. York American. Thursday euening
The AcouITTAL OF Mcleod, Of which
the particulars will be found in our Utica
letter, sets al rest an issue between US and
Great Britain, in which we were from the
beginning in the wrong; but it leaves
open and more urgent than ever the issue
as TO the nature of the national outrage in
the capture and destruction of the Caro-
line. There our claim as nation against
nation is clearly right, and must be ear.
nes,ly pressed.
| Correspondence Of the Nep York Ameriean.
Urea, October IL, la4l.
DEAR SIR Mcleod is acquitted
The jury have given in their verdict.
The clouds that have gathered around this
question are dissipated; the busy and
mischievous spirits that have lowered on
the frontier, laboring to involve this coun-
try in a war, are baffled. Never Yves q
verdict given in truer accordance with
the evidence, and never was one given
tina, so entirely gratifed the public expec.
tation. But will give you an outline o!
the progress OF the trial slnc- last evening
Mr.. Jenkins. on the par, of the prosecu-
ton, addressed the Jury about three
hours. 1t is admitted by those who
heard him, that his argument was lucid,
well connected, end well delivered. Mr.
Hall commenced his summing up at 8 o.
clock, and that evening aud tie next day
spoke about five hours. If have done
Mr.. Hall any injustice in my opinion or
his opening, am well disposed to make
oil amends, in my notice of his closing a r.
gument. 1t was, in truth, ingenious, et'
lective, and eloquent it was delivered
most admirably, and listened to with in
tense interest by an audience that crowd
ed every portion OF the room, one quarter
Of whom were ladies'. | am authorizeC
by severa! members Of the bar, 10 say
that it far surpassed any expectations they
had formed of his abilities. 1t is but just
to remark here, that this cause has beer
prepared on both SIDES W tn the utmost dill
gence and fdellty. No tfl'irt has beer
spared by either party to secure triumphi
and if Mr.. Hall has not succeeded, no i'm
putation can be raised against the fearless,
persevering, and able discharge Of his du.
| ~.
The Court commenced the charge about
IA past 9 o'couk, P. NJ, and concluded
about a o'clock. 1t was all that Judge
Gridley's reputation for extensive legal
crudition, and the prompt and ready use
of it, would lead you to anticipate. His
charge went over the whole testimony
but in no part of it did he distinctly and
unequivocally intimate his opinion Of the
guilt or innocence ofthe prisoner. There
was, however, an evident bearing in his
comments on the testimony, IN favor OF
the prisoner. 1t seemed, however, so nat.
ural, from the testimony itself, that he ra-
Their appeared to be forced to the conclu-
sion, than TO seek it.
This charge will long be remembered
among us as evincing a clearness in the
calculation Of complex and contradictory
testimony, an accurate and ready applica-
ton of legal doctrines in regard to it, that
was absolutely essential to the fair under.
standing OF the cause by the Jury. Dur
ing The delivery OF this address, profound
silence was maintained even the ladies
suspended their conversation, and every
eye was turned on the Court. The Jury
were in deliberation only about twenty
minutes. They returned 10 the court
room few minutes before o'clock this
afternoon, and their foreman delivered the
verdict in a clear and audible voice-Not
Guilty! During the entire trial Mcleod
has been calm and self possessed; not a
shade OF anxiety has passed over his brow
during its progress.
During the charge he stood up, facing
the Jury, and so watched him from time
to time. ! could perceive no mark of
anxiety. When the Jury came in he was
equally tranquil and selfpossessed. Al
Il Al. a.