The southern press., 1851-10-28
From The Chariesiopa (ya.) Spirit oJJeGsrson.
Col. James CastIeman.

Col. James Castleman.
The following statement, understood to have
been drawn up by counsel, since the trial, has
been placed by the friends Of this gentleman, in
our hands for publication. We submit il as an
authoritative statement of the case before the
Jury, and on which, as will be seen, they acquit-
Ted him in manner the most marked and tri
umphant, and with the full appreciation of the
court.
1t remains to be seen, whether those editors
end others, who, TO crafty their own vindictive
feelings, or to pander to the depraved excitement
of the times in the Northern States, have manu-
factured or propagated the calumnious rumors
to which the occasion gave birth, will now do
justice to the 9entleman In question:
AT the circuit superior court of Clarke coun-
ty, commencing on the i October, 1851 Judge
Samuels presiding, James Castleman and his son
Stsphen d. Castleman, were INDICTED jointly fol
the murder OF the negro Lewis, the property of
the latter. BY sdvice Of their counsel, the par
ties elected TO be tried separately and the attor-
ney for the Conmo wealth directed that James
Castleman should be tried first.
1t was proved on this trial that for many
months previous to the occurrence, the money
drawer of the tavern kept by Stephen d. Castle
man, and the liquors kept in large quantities ia
until the thetts had attained to a considerable
amount Suspicion had from various causes,
been direc ed to Lewis, and another negro named
Reuben, "a blaeksmitb,) the property of James
Castleman, but by the aid OF two OF the house
servants they had euied the most vigilant
watch.
On the Goth Of August last, in the afternoon,
S. ID. Casteman accidentally discovered a clue,
by means of which, and through one of the house
servants implicated, hs was en- bled fully to de-
tect the depredators, and to ascertain fhs man.
ner in W ich the thefts had been committed. He
Immediately SO for his father, who lived near
him, and after communicating what he had dis
covered it was determined that the offender
should know of the discovery that had been
made.
Lewis was punished first. and in a manner, as
was fully shown, to preclude all risque of injury
to his person, by stripes with broad leathern
strap. He was punished severely, but to an ex.
tent by no means disproportionate to his offence,
nor was it pretended. in any quarter, that this
punishment implicated either his life or health
He confessed the offence, and admitted that it
had been effected by false keys, furnished by the
black ksmith, Reuben.
The latter servant uas punished Immediately
II was believed that he was the
pri cipll offender, and he was found to be more
obdurate and contumacious than Lewis had been.
in reference to the offence Thus it was proved
both by the prosecution and the defence, that he
was punished with greater severity than his &C.
co nplice. 1t resulted In like confession on
his part, and he produced he false key one
fashioned by himself by which the thefts had
been effected.
IL was further shown on the trial. that Lewis
was whipped in the upper room of warehouse.
connected with Stephen Casieman's store, and
ear the pubic Foad where he was ut work a.
the time; that after he had been foggcd, to se
cure his person, whilst they went after Reuben,
he was conf ed by chain round his neck,
which was attached to a joist above his head.
The length of this chain, the breadth and thick
ness of the jost its light from the floor and tire
crclet of chain on the neck, were accurately
measured /; and it was thus shown that the chain
unoceupied by the eircet and the joist, was
foot and half longer than the space between the
of the man and the joist above. Or
to that extent the chain hung loose above him;
that the circlet (Which was fastened 30 as to pre-.
vent it's contraction) rested on the shoulders and
breast, the chain being sufficiently drawn only
to pl "vant being slipped over his head and that
there was no One place in the room, to which
he could be fastened, except to one OF The Joists
above His hands were tied in fronI-a white
man. who had been at work with Lewis during
the day, was left with him by the Messrs Cas-
tleman the better to ensure his detention, whilst
they we're absent after Reuben. II was proved
by this man, (who was witness for the proeecg-
,ion,) that Lew is asked for box to stand on, or
for something that he could Jump off from; that
after tho Castlenans had left him, he expressed
a fear that when they came back he would be
whipped again. and said that il he had knife
and could get one hand loose, he would cut his
tnroar. The witness stated that the negro "siood
firm on his feet !" thar w. rc could turn freely in
whatever direction he wished, and that he m~u-,
no complaint of the mode of his confinement
This man stated that he remained with Lewis
about half an hour, and then left there to go
lome.
After Furnishing Reuben, the Castlsmuns re
turned to the warehouse bringing him with
hem; their object being TO confront the two
men, in the hope that by further examination of
hem jointly, all their accomplices might be de-
ected.
They were not absent more than half an
lour. When they entered the the room above
Lewis was found hanging by the neck, his feet
brown behind him, his knees few inches from
he floor, and his head thrown forward the
body warm and supple Cor relaxedf but hie
vas extinct.
1t was proved by the surgeons who made a
post mortem examination before the coroner's
INQUEST, that the death was caused by strangu
alton by hanging; and other eminent surgeons
we're examined to show, from the appearance of
he brain and ts blood vessels after dea h, Gas
Exhibited at the post mortem examination) that
he subject could not have tainted before the
After the eyiSsDre was finished on both sides,
he jury from their box, and OF their own mo.
ion, without q word from counsel on either
de, informed the court that they had agreed
lpon their verdict. The counsel assented to
Is being thus received, and verdict of
,f" NOT GUILTY" was Immediately rendered. |
The attorney for the commonwealth then in
ormed the court that all the evidence for the
prosecution had been laid before the jury, and
Is 40 nsS evidence could be offered on The trial
# Stephen d. Castieman, bs Submitted to the |
.ourt the propriety Of entering nolle rose9ui. |
rhe Judge replied that the case had been fully
md fairly laid before the jury upon the eGidence
hat the court was not only satisfied with the
erdict, but if gny other had been rendered it
must have been set aside and that if no further