American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-03
[RepOrted for the American Republican,
TRIAL OF THE REV. c. z. TDRRIE
BALTIMORE CTTY COURT.

Present-Judgcs Bricc, ,Nisbei aad U,Ort4Mgton.
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 1874. The Court met at
10 O'Clock. The hall was dcnsaly crowded
with persons, The case Of the State VS., Chas.
T. Torrey, charged with the abduction Of three
slaves, the property Of Mr.. Heckrotte, Of this
city, was resumed
George R Richardson, ESQ, States Attor
ney, in the opening of his address before the
jury, said that in answering the able argument
for the defence, delivered by Mr., Johnson, on
Saturday he should confno himself strictly to
the testimony and the law; without going into
other theories, to inquire what opinions existed
elsewhere, or the probable result Of the issue of
the trial in reference to individuals; nor should
he inquire after the motives of the traverser, or
by what peculiar feelings he had been actuated.
He urged upon the jury, under their obligation,
not to be led astray from any considerations as
to what might probably he the result Of the
trial as regarded the social or political rela-
tons of either individuals or the nation their
oath binding them to disregard all these, and
requiring them to rely upon the testimony and
the facts in the case. in connection with the
law.
Mr.. R. then passed in review the testimony
first tracing the traverser, (Torrev, } from the
time of his employing Woodward's horses, on
Tuesday the Ath; his being seen passing up the
of Peach Bottom, on the 9Th and 9Th; Of his
being seen at Deer Creek, where were also the
same horses and carriage as hired in this city,
and seen along the road by several witnesses;
and of the fact, that he was accompanied by
three colored persons answering the description
of those lost by Mr.. Heckrotte; and OF the
same carriage having been seen returning, in
the care of Torrey to the city, on Saturday
and Sunday, the Sh and 9Th, when they were
returned to their owner.
He next referred to the testimony to show
that the negroes thus seen accompanying Tor
rey, must have been lieckrottes.
Mr. r. having given close array Of facts,
adduced from the testimony, said that though
incidents or facts in themselves, when discon-
nected, might not be of much value, yet when
put together formed the most powerful and
irresistible evidence of truth. Facts and cir
cumstances, thus arrayed, were not dependent
upon their mere arthmetical position in estab-
fishing conclusion; hut, in their combination,
multiplied in geometrical proportion, as one to
eight, or greater, twig might easily be brok-
. en- by child, but place numbers of them in
bundle, and they would defy the power of
man. So facts, multiplied, defy the ingenuity
Of mind to weaken or break them.
Mr.. r., in reference to the ribbon said to
have been put upon the bonnet of the girl a
short time previous to her absence, and found
at Deer Creek bridge, by Mr.. Rigdon, in de-
fence Of position assumed by MIR. Johnson,
that the ribbon found could not have been the
same as placed upon Mr.. HIS girls bonnet,
because it was somewhat of different color,
produced portion of the ribbon as brought
into court the day previous by Mr.. Heckrotte s
daughter, from which he (Mr. r. had re-
moved portion of its color, whoreupon it had
assumed the very same color as that found,
which had the appearance of having faded
the original color being green, and in its chang
ed condition yellow Blue and yellow COM
bned forming green, and removing the green
the color remained yellow. These facts, said
Mr. R., speak more potential than any human
oath. He referred to the Messrs. Regions and
Amos, as being witnesses of unimpeached and
unimpeachable character.
Mr.. r. in referring to Mr. Johnson's having
set up the plea that the offence had not been
committed within the taxable limits of the city,
and consequently the indictment could not hold
good in this count conceived it an admission
guilt.
Mr.. Gallagher desired to correct the Attor-
n ney MIR. johnson had not admitted the guilt
of the traverser; he admitted that the traver
ser might have been seen in Hartford, but he
denied his having Mr.. Heckrotte's negroes.
MIR. Richardson, said he understood his posi-
ton. He rdcued the idea of the slaves run
ming off, and meeting Torrey on the road, and
his taking them off, without previous under
standing; and contended that if they went off
from their master, or left the city, with an I'M
Outstanding that they were to meet Torrey,
either by the advice of Torrey, or any agent
acting for him, he was equally guilty.
Mr. r. cared not if Southmeads testimony
be set aside-the proof was plain and positive;
it had only been introduced to make assurance
doubly sure. He contended that the Informal
ton given to Mr.. Heckrotte by Southmead, in
reference to his negroes, must have come from
Torrey, because nobody else knew any thing
ofit and no person but Torrey himself know
ing the facts, they must have been given by
him to Southmead and though counsel might
paint the character of Southnead as black as
Erebus itself, yet the Devil might and could
tell the truth.
\ q Mr.. R. briefly alluded to Torrey, as having
crept like reptile into the bosom of Mr.. Heck
rotte's family, where he found the servants en-
ioying almost parental care, contented and
happy, and having seducea them away, to SUI
fer perhaps AFFECT poverty in their supposed
free condition.
Mr.. r. spoke of the effort of counsel for the
defence, in attempting to touch the feelings OF
the Jury by speaking of the companion Of the
traverser, as lady who might proudly COM
pare, for all the virtues that should adorn her
sex, with any Of her sex in this community; and
the blow given her husband, if convicted would