Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-11-28
wIScONSIN-TRIAL OF ]. r. VINE.
YARD!
Correspondent Of the N. Y Tribune,

| was at Milwaukee. Since then, my
course has still been westward, and Thurs
day night found me at this place, which is
the county seat Of Green County. The
toute which have pursued from Milwau-
kie here is most beautiful, and the country
| passed over such as the eye delights to
gaze upon. had heard much OF the beau
" Of the Rock river country, but when
came to survey il myself, had to acknow
ledge that ''the one half had not been told
me-"
crossed Rock River at GAINESVILLE, a
beautiful and thriving little town with a
pretty court house, and what is rare in this
country, two elegant and well kept hotels.
On arriving here, | found that the court
was in session, and that The celebrated case
Of the United States rs James X. Vineyard
was about to be brought to trial. Never
having been in Western Court, had
some little curiosity to witness the manner
in which the laws arc administered in Wis
consin; and as this case was one ihIt had
excited much interest, thoughtthe present
favorable opportunity. The history oil
the case is no doubt fresh in your recollec-
fion, and is about this: j. X. Vineyard and
G.. p Arndt were members Of the Legis-
lativc Council Of the Territory. A dispute
arose in the Council Chamber between
them. Vineyardcharg Arndt with lying;
Arndt returned the charge by striking
Vineyard with his fist and Vineyard there
upon drew from his pocket pistol and
sho, him dead The offence was commit
ted at Madison, but a change Of venue was
taken by the defendant to this county. For
some reason or other the indictment instead
of being for murder, was simply for man.
slaughter, and upon the CHI rye he was
tried here.
The Jury, as finally settled, presented
an interesting group assure you, and it
would DO no figure of speech to say that
such another could not be obtained this
side Of Botany Bay. noticed that the de-
PENDANT managed to reject every man from
the Jury who presented any outward APP
pearance of intelligence. You have read
Pickwick, and must rccollect the inteli-
gent Jury in the noted case of Bardell VS..
Pickwick. Just turn TO the inimiiabe IL
lu ,trltion of that Jury by "Phiz," and you
have perfect facsimile of The intelligence
Ol VIC jury tiitt tIiCu ' llIc
The examination Of witnesses occupied
an entire day, and many were examined on
both s'd.s, principally on the part of the
defendan, to show that he acted in self de-
fence Witnesses were, however, ex-
amn"d who proved the previous good char
meter OF the accused, and th"t he was uni
formly considered kind and humane man.
After the closing Of the evidence, the
case was opened by the Prosecuting At.
,orney for the county, but think | have
he ard James r Whiting display greater
ability on similar occasions. The prose
culion was followed on TIE part Of the de-
fence by man by the name Of s.,
who understood lived somewhere over
near the Mississippi, in the Mining Coun-
try, in q speech Of abou, three hours in
length, and such speech | guess, was
never made before or since upon such an
occasion. | would like to give you an
idea Of il, but it would be hardly possible.
Before commencing he had pitcher Of
Whiskey brought into the court room. and
set on the table before him, from which he
drank long and frequently, SO frequently
that before he got half through with his
speech he reeled TO and fro and staggered
like drunken man. He commenced by
telling the Jury what an intelligent, high
MINDED, and honorable set Of men they
were, giving them first a compliment all
round; then ter going through with de-
tail of the case, he selected out one Jury.
man, whose name was Rutleigc, Zone, who,
when examined as TO his qualification for
n Juror, said he could neither read nor
write,) and addressed him about thus: Sand
YOU, Mr.. Ru,ledge, cannot pass you by.
You remind me of your noble ancestor,
Edward Rutledgc Of South Carolina; him
who signed the Declaration Of lndepen-
-lence. What would your noble ancestor
ward was, in the Hall Of Independence?
would he not have done as Vineyard didl
Would not you have done the same under
like circumstances know you would,
kuow you are not the man to stain the
glory of your worthy progenitor." And
ihen, after going on a while and saying a
great deal that had just about as much to do
with the trial Of Vineyard as the man in
the neon, he says. "Gentlemen of the
Jury, don't know what your religion is,
nor don't care, hant got much myself,
though Jesus Christ was a mighty good
man. Now gentlemen am one ofthose kind
of men who live pretty fast. believe men
generally live over about the same surface,
some live long and narrow, and others live
broad ard short.
| am one OF the kind who live broad and
short. | would not like to live TO be as
old as that man Brigham (ailuding 10 a
witness who was member Of the Council
at the time ofthe difficulty, and who told
a very straight and clear story lest |
should become forgetful like him. As TO
that other old gentleman who looked so
sleek, / don't mean 10 say he testified
falsely, but that he was mistaken. would
not like 10 charge him with periuring him
self because he and were members Of the
Council together. We were tolerable good
fnisRss, though always quarreling. He
vac always on one side; he was Just like
the handle Of this pitcher, (iaking up the
pitcher and pointing to the handle, hara
gentleman this was hin, and haro thar,