The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-01
The Administration Of Justice-Thc Trial
of Alexander for the Murder OF Lougec,
the Broker, I'm Philadelphia.


The trial of Alexander, the Young Kentuckian
who killed Lougee, the broker, in Philadelphia last
summer, by stabbing him in his own office at an
early hour in the morning, commenced on Tuesday
in Philadelphia.
The excitement in that city on the subject, is i'm
mense. large number ofhighly respectable ladies
among the spectators. A powerful array of
counsel has been retained for Alexander, and the
trial bids fair possess deep interest and as great
importance in its results that of Colt for the muir
der of Adams in this city. From the tone of the
newspapers there talking of the great responsibility
OF the prisoner, his being young and very handsome
his influential friends, the wealth that can be brought
forward, the tremendous array of eminent counsel
the appearance of Governor Pope OF Kentucky with
his counsel, and friend of the family, the bril-
liant array Of young and beautiful ladies' present, all
OF whom said TO take deep interest in the fate
of the prisoner and the opening bubbles of the law
yers we apprehend that powerful attempt is about
to be made TO defeat the ends of Justice in this case
and either acqut the prisoner of murder alt together
or let him off with some slight punishment.
The principal circumstances connected with this
murder, must be fresh in the recollection of our
readers. Lougee a broker, very industrious
man. who used to open his office in person. and at
tend IL alone very early in the morning. Alex
ander went there either TO change or to steal some
money-and either because he had slight and sud-
den quarrel with Lougee, or else prompted by
thing but his own Infamous passions, he drew dirk
and stabbed Lougee to the heart, who died in
few minutes. Here, as in the case of Colt was
brutal murdar Perpetrated without a single eyewit-
ness except the murderer, his victim, and the God of
High Heaven. But Alexander did part of what il
has been said Colt ought TO have done he rushed
out into the street, but in addition TO this conscious
guilt made him throw away the dirk and try 10 es-
cape. He was arrested and then confessed the
killing, and said II was done III quarrel What if
II vast There never was a more shocking and
wanton murder; and yet there very little doubt,
that great efforts will be made to prove it only man
slaughter.
This is but another instance of the evils resulting
from the unwarrantable efforts made by all parties
IN tins city 10 get Colt clear But If such things are
TO be alowed-if miserable combination of law
yers, who are well paid by the rich relations of a
murderer to browbeat the press (the true po-
lice OF the coHnry) to defy the laws and defeat the
ends OF Justice-if these persons shall be thus al
lowed TO break up and utterly destroy all the safe
guards of civilization, and the only just and light
organization of soc ety-then we may as
well at once expunge every law from the statute
book, and each man go armed with a dirk, a Bowie
knife, or pistols to take the law into his own hands
all occasions and stab and STAY his fellow. crea-
lures Unfortunately
Shocking as such a state of society would be, vet
IT is no more than what fast being brought to
by the tricks, the juggles, the impudence, and the
recklessness of a few well-paid lawyers. Look at
the gross outrage recently perpetraed this city by
Clique of Insignificant lawyers, getting up meet
ing to overawe the Governor and drive him from
doing his duty, abusing and attempting TO browbeat
the PRESERVING II as their opinion, forsooth that
Colt was innocent of murder, and threatening the
Sheriff with violence and probable arrest il ne dared
TO do his duty And look at the entire course pur.
sued throughout by these men, until they induced
even the Sheriff himself to exclaim, "Ibeeve that
Colt is innocent OF murder!' Why, if this doctrine
is to prevai-f these things are to be tolerated it will
only be necessary for one man to kill another (no
matterby what horrible means) when there is no
third person present, say that il was done in quar-
rel, pay three or four impudent lawyers handsomely
TO defend him. in order to be either acquitted entire
ly, or only convicted of manslaugh,er.
But this is not all the evil that has beaen the age
Look-see the miserable attempts OF a few mistaken
phlanthropists-or rather fools--to do away with
the punishment of death in cases of cold-booded
and brutal murder, and crying out that it is purely
republican mode to substitute imprisonment for
life.
II Is on par with the letter of the Infamous
wretch who tired to bribe the Sheriff, and
called on him in the name of repubcanism to let the
murderer escape the doom of the law Horrible mock
ery and Paralleled only by the iends in the DAVIS of
Robesplere who put innocent thousands to death in
the name of Liberty aud Equality, "and guillotined
hetacombs under the banner ofthe Goodies of Rea.
SON." And foremost in this Quxotc effort;we,see