Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-09-12
THE LATE TRIAL IN CLARKE COUNTY.

This unfortunate affair being under Judicial inquiry
had intended (says the Chacstown Spirit Of Jefferson
introduce in columns until it had been passed upon
by the courts. But tho concerning it, which
have appeared in the papers at Winceste-he Repubcd,
and Iuginian spring directly from tho most exaggcr
ued rumors, that have been pains TO learn the
facts and now give them, they have u.s. from
personal presence the day trial less than from other
| sources entirely reliable
At the late August Court for Clarke county, Col JAMES
CasTLEnAS, and his son, STEPHEN ID. CAsTLEMAs were
charged with causing the death OF negro Les slave the
property OF the latter The court consisted of five Magis
iraes and after the hearing, three Of the Justices bcng
majority of the cour determined that they should be-
on for further t5iaand they were admitted TO bail.
1t that negro Lewis, who had been much trusted
by his MASTER and another named Reuben, blacksmith the
property james CaScman had been for time strong
y suspected by Stephen d. Casclnan of stealing money
from the money drawer Of his tavern, and liquor from his
celarsums of money amounting in the whole to hun
dreds of dollars and liquor in large quantities. had from time
time disappeared Constant watch had been kept far
practicable detect The perpetrators but without cf
feet. On Tho evening when The affair occurred Stephen
Caseman accidentally through another SERVANT discovered
the hiding place ut the stolen property with proof of the
guilt of those suspected. He Immediately communicated il
his father and determined that The servants should
both be- punished after being confronted and examined in The
presence of each other, with view the whole
Lewis had been work during the day. with Wiley
white man, land the only witness present when he
whippcd Smelling in the lott nf ware house connected
with the store oil Stephen d. Castlcrnan
The Caslemans went together to the ware house,
and after Lewis had been whipped they left with him Wiley
the white man. a proceeded together the blacksmith
shop distant about hundred yards whore the other
vant Reuben ut work. He was also whipped and
severely than Lewis had been BECAUSE will be seen
he was the principal offender (avng forged the keys and
the obstinate in his dcmcanor. They absent,
would seemE about hour when they returned to the
house, taking Reuben with them, Wiley gone and
Lewis found hanging by The neck, and dead.
1t was in proofthat Lewis tied with rope and whip
ped with leather strap the lower part OF his person.
where least susceptible of injury He punished with
severity, but in manner 10 endanger life To him
during their Absence his got chain from his
store and fastened around his neck locking the other end
beam jost in the loft. Wiley the white man.
quescd u remain with him, and agreed TO do but he
OIL it appears in about half hour. The Chain
loose around his neck and he had abundant turn
round He conversed freely with Wiley after The Castle
gone, and did not complain Of the chnin Of
tho he under. Whilst they putting the
chain li he asked that they would give him something
IL stand uu that he might lump oil and whilst alone
with Wiley asked him il he had knife and being answered
in the negative said that if he could get knife and could
get hand loose he would cut his throat. Whilst under
punishment Lewis promised that he would show all The
ney he had and Reuben, after much delay, confessed to
stealing money and produced the forged Key with which
door OF the bur-room had been opened.
Ii agreed by the Surgeons that tho death caused
by hanging and they of opinion that although the
punishment such DEATH vet il might |
have caused the TO tall from exhaustion But would
seem from the appearance the brain after DEATH that hi
could not have tainted. The negro Reuben punished
with fur severity than Lewis and without any serious
consequences As will always be The case The neighbohond
was hied with the most exaggerated rumors which would
seem To be the material which the Winchester papers
based their statements of the affair As sample of them
gentleman who was riding towards the ferry the day
lad died OF his whipping; and when he got TO the black
nths shop this Reuben there and shod his horse
II should be added that Col. Castleman who coroner
II the county, after the negro found dead and before he
removed from the spot where he died the
nearest magistrates and communicated the event, with
uest that jury Of inquest should be held by them.