American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-04-02
From the Ladies National Magazine.l
THE MURDER.
BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.
Continued.

BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.
[Continued.l
The day of the trial came at length. As a
matter of course it took place in the village of
-, that beng the county town; and such an
excitement had perhaps never reigned in that
vicinity. The history Of the accused wasswell
known, and men aternated beneath their wish
for his acquittal and their doubts Of his guilt
With large portion, however-mostly rea-
lives and intimates of the deceased-there was
4 firm persuasion of the crimnaHty, and de-
termination, at every hazard, to convict him.
Pity seemed 10 be dried up in their bosoms.-
The most able counsel of the bar had been en-
gagged for the prosecution, ard such an array of
talent was never scarcely brought against sim
gle man. All this contributed to deepen TO an
unusual degree the interest at all times attend
ng trial for murder; and long before the hour
tor the opening of the court the whole village
was alive with persons fastening to the scene
Of the trial. From every lane and street, from
every house and howell they poured along, rich
and poor, old and young, jostling and crowd
ing each other until the ample room was filled,
and hundreds of eager faces peered from the
area, the bar, the bench, and looked down from
the gallery above. Even the windows were
blocked up by the multitude; and the court
yard without was overlooking with hundreds
waiting to catch the slightest sound from
within.
The prisoner entered with firm step and
undaunted look, and taking his seat in the bar
bowed to the Judge, ran his eye moment
proudly round the room, and then dropped it to
the ground before the eager gaze of the thou
sands of spectators HIS sweet wife had resist
cd every entreaty to be absent, and now sat by
his side, clasping his hand and gazing up into
his face as the trial proceeded with that deep,
trusting look, which seemed to say that if all
the world deserted him, she, at least, would
cling to him through woe, and shame, and
mockery, aye! even to death ITSELF The aged
Judge upon the bench, who had known both
her and her husband in better days, turned his
head away, and did not disdain a tear. His
feelings were with the prisoner; but he was
sworn to try the accused according to the laws
Of God and man.
The trial began. The jury was empaneled,
the indictment read and the prisoner arraign-
ed He plead "not guilty." put himself upon
God and his country, and then the clerk, in the
solemn response of the law, answered, "God
send you good deliverance!' There was
thrill of sympathy ran through the crowd, and
hundreds of hearts echoed the pious wish.
The opening speech of the prosecutors at
torney now began, and nothing could have
been more artful and effective. Not content
with stating the evidence against my client, he
dwelt Ihetorically upon the virtues OF the de-
ceased, the history of the prisoners marriage,
and the benefits likely to accrue to him from
Mr.. Wilson's murder. ] saw Duval's eye flash
an instant, but then all again was calm. The
attorney took his seat and, from the altered
countenances of the jury, felt that the tide
was turning against the accused. My heart
failed me, for ! knew that the evidence of the
commonwealth was terribly strong, and that
we had none or little to rebut it. Though
had spent some days in securing the coast, en-
curing if Mr.. Wilson had been seen prosecu-
ting his Journey after the hour of the supposed
murder, | had been wholly unsuccessful. My
colleague shook his head, and with mournful
look, unfolded his papers.
The testimony was the same as on the exa-
mnation. The identity of the body was the
first point to be proved, and though there was
here some doubts expressed by one or two wit
nesses, most of them swore positively to the
corpse as that of Mr.. Wilson.
The prosecution then gave in evidence from
an examination of the skull, that the blow was
by blunt instrument, fracturing that portion
Of the frame The flight, as they called it, of
the prisoner was proved, and various other Mi
nor facts, all, however, strengthening the sus-
picion against him. My heart died within me
as they proceeded. At last the evidence was
closed, and there was mutual exchange OF
intelligence in the jury box, which went ike
uan ce-bolt through my heart.
We followed and opened our defence. Our
evidence was slight, and only calculated to es-
tabish the former high character OF the ac-
cused We admitted there was much to create
suspicion against him, but we dwelt upon the
dangers of presumptive evidence, and appealed
TO the lofty sentiments and unblemshed honor
which the prisoner had ever entertained. But
why continue!
well remember the impression my colleague
made. Up to the moment of his rising to adj
dress the Jury, we had hoped that some lnior-
nation, though tardy, might arrive, accounting
for the absence of Mr.. Wilson, or at least prov
inc that he had been seen after the hour OF the
supposed murder-but when none came, ana
the order of the cause compelled him TO pro-
coed, he almost sank under the dlthcuites
which threatened 10 overwhelm his cause. lie
knew that his own convection of the prisoner $
innocence would weigh nothing with the jury.
At first he faltered and was embarrassed. But
ne soon recovered himself, and launching bold
" into his theme, maintained his brilliant re-
putation. He felt that it was no uncommon
cause, and that tender, confdng heart, look
ed up to him as its preserver All that his
vast talents, all that his professional experience
could do, was DONE AS he proceeded the in
terest became intense. He dwelt upon the
spotless character Of the accused, his behaviour
a, and after the arrest, the contradictions and
lnsstatements Of the witnesses, the want OF