Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-22
STAUNTON VA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1861


through them 10 the byslauders. He enteaed the PAN
ell after they should bring in their verdict for the plain
tiff not to offer violence the defendant, however rich
ly he might deserve ii in other words, 'not TO lynch
the villain Hopkins but leave his punishment TO Cod.
This was the most arfu trick of ALL and tie best cal
cula,ed 10 insure vengeance.
The jury rendered verdict for fifty thousand dollars;
and the night afterwards Hopkins was taken out oil his
bed by lynchers, and beaten almost to death.
AS the Court adiourned, the stranger made known hlu
name and called the attention of the people with the an
ouncement--"John Taylor will preach here this even
ing at early candle light"
The crowd, of course, all turned out, and Taylor'a
sermon equalled if it did not supass, the sPendor oil
his forensic effort This is exaggeration. have
listened to Clay, Webster and Cahoun-lo Dewey, ~
ing and Bascom bu, have heard anything in the
form Of sublime words remotely approXimang the
eoquence Of John Taylor--massve as mountain, and
wildly rushing as cataract Of fire. And this is the o.
'pinon of ali who ever heard the marvellous man.
PERsoSAL IDENTITY following curious cases
showing the mistakes which may somemes in the
identity Of an individual, copied from an English pa
per
young gentleman artced TO an attorney in London,
was tried ON five indictments for different of theft
person resembling the prisoner size and general appear
ance had called various shops in the metropolis, for the
purpose looking ewelry boos and other artcles,wh
the pretended intention Of making purchases, but made of
with the property placed before him, while the shop keep
ers engaged in looking out other articles In each of
these cases the prisoner positively identified by sever
persuns, while in majority of them an abb was clearly
and positively established, and the young was proved
be of orderly habits and eproachabe character, and un-
der temptation from want Of money 10 resort to acts OF
dishonesty Similar depredaons on other tadesmen had
been committed by person resembling the prisoner, and
those persons proved that though there was considerable
resemblance the prisoner he not the person who had
robbed them. The prisoner convicted on one indic
men but acquitted all the others and the judge and u-
rors who tried he three last cases. expressed their convc
ton that the prisoner had been mistaken and that tie pros
ecuors had been robbed by another person resembling the
prisoner. pardon Immediately procured in respect
Of that charge on which the conviction had taken place.
Not many months before the last mentioned case,
spectacle young tried for ahghway robbery, COM
milted in the neghborhuod of Bethna Green in which
neghborhood both he and the prosecutor resided The
prosecutor positively that the prisoner was the man
who robbed him of his watch The counsel for the prso
called gentee young woman, to whom the prisoner
paid his addresses, who evidence which proved com
pete ali6 he prosecutor then ordered out of court,
and in the interval another young man, of the name of
Greenwood who awaited his trial capital charge Of
felony introduced and placed by the side of the priso
The prosecutor again placed in the witness box,
Al. sc,
depends upon your reply to the question am abont to
put win you swear again that the young man at the bar
is the person who assaulted you?" The witness turned his
head towards the dock, when beholdng men nearly
alike he became petfed with astonohment, dropped his
hat and speechess for me but at length declined
swearing 10 either. The young was Of course acqut-
ted Greenwood tried for another offence, and
ted and few hours before his death acknowledged that
he had committed the robbery with which the other
charged"