The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-25

Vital OF Thomas Byer at Choseert0Wns Id
BALTIMORE, March q, l848.
Erotsmsat Among the Country Pecple-Pathos of
Hy1s Co~r"l- Blubberi~g in the Jury Boz
Prospect Of the Case, &c.
The trial of Thomas Hyer commenced at Ches-
sertown yesterday morning, and learn from
gentleman, who lett there last evening, that the
place was never crowded with people before.
The whole population, white and black, tor thirty
miles around, have hocked in to get sight OF the
great pugilis, and board and lodging was as scarce
and high II is represented to be in the gold
regions.
There being NO law IN this State fer the punish
ment OF prize fighting, he has only been indicted
for an assault and battery on Yankee Sullivan;
the State depending on the judge to nete out the
strongest punishment the law would allow, which
is two years imprisonment, and 81 900 fine As
luck would have 1t, however, George h. Richard
son, Esq, the Attorney General, who 10 the war
horse of The Maryland bar, was detained In the
city In the management OF an important will case,
and was compelled TO send down one of HIS
deputies, VIM. Fl Young, Esq, to get the case
postponed until his arrival but the counsel fer
Hyer, Hon. VIM. A. Pearce. and the Hon. Albert
Constable, would listen to such proposition,
and uccseded In bringing 1t on yesterday morn
The State produced five witnesses, consisting of
High Constable Clifford, who commanded the
Pools Island expedition officer Cook, who al
rested Hyey at Philadelphia; Justice Gray, of this
city, who committed him to Jail, and two citizens
OF Kent county,, who witnessed the fight. The
Witnesses from this city testified to all the trlbua-
tons. trials. sutierings, and predcaments OF the
Pools Island blockade, and OF the particulars of
the arrest and commitment, all OF winch are too
well known to repeat.
The witnesses from The country, however, gave
most graphic description OF the fight, especially
the one " no was oveIseer on the farm where the
6U Hp REQ cd I pa m Dle
Ing sight he had ever witnessed, aud thought that
Yankee was served perfectly right He stated
that Hyer was calm and quiet, and stood alto
gt Their on the defensive, whilst Sullivan, tor the
first three rounds, mace the first attack he also
(wh oh is great point in an assault and battery
csse) sw.re, positively, that Sullivan struck Hyer
wac knocked down by Sullivan, that he turned on
hum IN good earnest. He further testified, that,
during the fight, Flyer knocked Sullivan down
thirteen nmes and that, after each fall, he came
up TO HIM ready tor more punishment; that the
blows knocked sullivan down " squash, just like
You would knock Il bullock down y but witness
couldn't Tell whether Sullivan was bloody or not.
for Hyer always fell on top of him."
The evidence is said TO have been most decid-
edly rlch and the important witnesses for the
State were most decided Hyer men, well as the
spectators, and It was thong bt the jury, also At
the time the boat lett, yesterday afternoon, the
animation OF witnesses had closed Mr. Young
had opened for the State, and Senator Pearce was
addressing the jury in hehaf of Hyer. He was
OtPcine, III glowing tcIHR, the prosecutions
which his client had undergone from Sullivan, aud
the repe aed insults and outrages said to have been
perpetrated on his aged mother and wife, before
he could be provoked TO accept If SulIivah's chal-
enge So pathetic WAS he in this appeal, that
there was scarcely dry eye in the ceuIt house
and some OF the jury are said to have - bubbered
right QUIZ
At the latest moment that information has been
received, the chances were decidedly in favor Of
full accultal, as il HAD been inconrstiby proved by
the Witnesses tor the State, that Sullivan struck the
FIRST blow, and hence. was mainia ined by Hyer's
counsel, he acted altogether in self. defence, and
Until seriously hurt by his opponent, he used but
little fort to lnjure him
must not omit to mention, however, that the
grand jury found three indictments against him,
one Tor conspiracy, another for assault with In
tent TO Kill, and the third tor assault and bat
tery: hut the two first were quashed by the Court.
The excitement among the people 10 said to have
exceeded ali belief; and Hyer decidedly the lion
OF the county. 1t was with difficulty that the quiet
of the court room could be preserved, which was
crowded to excess, inside and out. As soon as
they bad given In their testimony, the witnesses for
the State, from this city, il is said, made tracks
Aomeward, having heard some audible murmurs
which were not very fattering to their personal
safety.
The opinion at Che stertown was, that Hyer
would BE- cleared tiIumphantly OF all guilt IN the
matter, MS the country people generally regard
FIST fight as much preferable to duel, or even a
Wit at law, to settle difficulty.