Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-12-18

| proposed 70 submit the case without argu-
| ment
The justice thought this was q very rood
plant was usar dinner tima-and sur.
gestsd that perhaps the jury vas ready 10
give ssverdiet without leaving his seat, vhsn
the jury spoke as follows;
May il please the coart the Jury Is not
ready to give verdict This Is an impsr
:ant niatts=-a matter involving but small.
sum, i is true but the priacie!s to be set.
tied by our dec:sieuNhere to-day is ono which
interests HE whole city--.the State-the
United ssatss--T may say the whole COIN.
mercidl warld The Jury at grea. ipeonye.
nience has been dragged here and eomneEisd
70 Sit in Judgment the evidence being
shroush, This isry would like to hear the i.
gumeatef cauasclt
51.tsia ! /. r..
defenee-an6 immediately poured fofti-
torrent Of eloqaenee in favor of the side he
cspousel, which must have bad convincing
effect in the right quarter, for when the
learned gentleman resumed his seat, the jp-
~ expressed himself ready TO render q yer.
dict but the attorney for the plaintiff nov
insisted upon being heard, and accordingly
setiferth bis view of the case in suth vivid
colors that the jury before he had finished
his hours speech, had evidently relapsed in
TO state of doubt and uncertainty
If the court plcases, remarked tho jury
before this last speech verdict might have.
been gwen which would have satisfied Que IL
tae parties at least; now, it is impossible
this last speech has turned every thing topsy.
turyy, There are some points on which tile
jury. must request the instructions of the
court
The Instructions were given, and it was
generally supposed that verdict would DO
rendered at once, as the dinner bells were
now ringing out in every direction but not
50, The jury preferred 10 retire and coaStddr
upon ats rey,tact. and as all parties. e1cept tle
jury, seemed about obeying the summons Of
the bells, a hint was deIioately given that il
would be no more than proper and, indeed
humane that the jury should be furnished
ahrcfreS tments The hint was seized upon
BY the attorneys, and ttco very abundant
dinners were in few moments passed in
through The window from the neighboripg
Jefferson House, the justice constatles law
yers, and spectators, having left the Office in
possession Of the jury, according to the Gus
tom Of those times Az
After dinner, the crowd gradually reas-
semhied In the streets and Through tho
open window the impertprable jury was seen
with one leg cooked overthe knee Of the 9TH
err looking carefully over the authorities
which had been referred ito by tho lawyers;
then changing his position, and putting tho
leg which bad been under on topdthe upper
wall Of the room was scanned with great ear
nestness for d few minutes after which
large volume containing the statutes Of Mis-
souri, was diligently consulted, and so ~
1t was evident, from appearances, that the
--41, " y ofuUfSs uu1 6I ID 49, ~
tice Walsh, the able inquired as is usu-
al in similar - Has the jury agreed 4
A solemn No was the response, and soon
after candles were brought aud placed upon
tue table by the constable, who after linger-
ing d moment in hope Of an intimation that
verdict had been agreed on. was waved out
of the room by the jury From quarter
past 6 until i O'clock the jury cogtated
without any result At length Busby was
ordered to summon the jury into court,
| which was done by opening the cutter door
and admitting Che justice and crowd into tho
presence Of +he jury, IN
There sat tho jury, as undecided a. at
dinner time.
GENTLEMAN Of the Jury, said the justice,
maiesticnry, Rave you agreed upon your
verdict 2
May it p'Sase The court answered Moab,
with great dignity, believe tits customary
to y,oH he jury, before asking the question
Very we'll replied the justice, who, It
must be confessed, was becoming little
fretful-s poll away
Busby polled the jury, calling Oat from
his list
Noah Ridgleyp
sHere anwsered the jury:
An right reported Busby TO the justice,
Now, then-the jury being polled Gen,
tlencn Of the jury, repeated the justice
slowly, 'have-you-agreed-upon-your-ver-
dict7'
! May-it-pleases-the- NO. an.
| swered Noah, rising, and shaking MS head
\ alphabetically. +
| Is there any likelihood of the jury eefng
| able to sgrec q demanded Justice Walsh,
desperately.
Not the least ghost Of a chance replied
the person Addressed He JURY lS
HUNG = "a
/ A dismissal of the jury followed, snd-a
/. new trial was ordered. The hero OF my
! sketch continues to collect the freight bills
Of the old Hssnibal and believe he Is con
sidered sE.npt from jury duty, BY general
! consent. E