Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-01
The Irish Trials.

1He lf1Sn 1rIakSs
The Circuit Court has at length got through
with the trials of the four Irishmen charged witt
the commission of the outrage, in August last, OF
the person of young female ofthis -County-torr
from the side of her betrothed on their way to the
marriage altar.
The unparalleled atrocty of the crime. in all its
attendant circumstances, has excited wide spread
indignation and attracted general attention to tn.
trials of the accused.
Two separate indictments in each case-as prin-
cipal, and as accessory-were found against MALo-
NEY, BRoGY and MCTAIGE, respectively HAL
LON was indicted as accessory only.
On arraignment the prisoners petitoned for q
change of renue, the ground that the public ex-
element was so great that they could not expec,
an impartial trial in this County. On the evidence
adduced, and argument, the Court refused the pc
tition
MALoNEY and BRoGY elected to be tried sepa-
rately; McTAIeE and HALLoN were tried jointly
The special defence of an abb was relied on in
each case. The trial of MALoNEY, who was ar
rested near the scene of the outrage and shortly a
ter its occurrence, resulted, as our readers have
been informed, in verdict of guilty on both in
dctments, and sentence to the penitentiary fol
forty years, Gin the aggregated the utmost limit Of
the law.
BRoGY, McTAIGE and HALIoN were arrested
in the course of the night after the occurrence, al
the Irish shanties along the line of the Railroad
consequently the proof of identification in theil
cases was more difficult. The jury in BRoGY's
case being unable to agree were discharged, and he
remains to be tried at the next June term. In the
cases of McTAIGE and HALLoN, the jury found fol
the former a verdict of not guilty on the indict-
ment as accessory, but guilty as principal, and
fixed his term of confinement n'the penitentary
at secenteen gears; HALLoN was acquitted on the
Indictment against him, and discharged from Gus
tody.
The Court and juries manifested the most com
mendable patience during the tedious, laborious
and protracted investigation of the cases. These
trials have occupied the Court to the exclusion ola
other business of importance, throughout the entire
month"; of November the estimated total cost o
the trials and conviction is near $1,000.
The prosecution was conducted by Col WIN
H. HARTMAN, Commonwealth Attorney, aided by
JOHN d. IMBoDEN, Esq, and the defence by L
J. NICHE, Col. J. b. BALDWIN and R. P. KIN
NEY, Esq'rs. The Counsel on both sides have
added to their already high reputation by the abl
ity displayed in the conduct of these cases more
than ordinary skill was exhibited in elciting ties
timony, and the argument was marked with un
usual power and oloquence.
Such, for the present, is the result of this sub
ject Recently upon the commission of the out
rage the public mind was SO exasperated, that
was feared the law would not be permitted to TAKE
its slow but sure course. A public meeting was
called in the height of the excitement to conside
the subject, but after thorough discussion, 1t was
resolved to abide calmly the issue OF the law
The event has justified that course "a more pa
tient and impartial investigation of such cases was
never given under any administration oflaw ;-tht
culprits are now to atone for their foul crime
with the remaining years of their life, immured il
feon's cell beyond all hope of pardon. Thus
has the efficiency of the law been vindicated-
public justice avenged, and at the same time the
character of our community established as lava
bidng and order-loving even under the most aggra
waited circumstances. But may the day be far dis
tant when ever again such an occasion for public
excitement shall occur, or such dark chapter o.
crime shall disgrace the records OF our County.