Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-03-18
Fl IN he vi ,vauSne Dai y Sentinel
The lrquiltal Of Radcliffe.

i painful shock was given to the pub
lie confidence in the efficiency Of the law
to protect right aud punish wrong BY the
announcement. yesterday morning, that
the jury IN the case of William Il Rat
clife, indicted for the murder of David
Ross. had, after five hours deliberations
brought in verdict of Not Guilty w-
The intelligence, rs it circulated through
our city, was received everywhere with
uuseigncd a-tonishmeat and almost every
where with unqualified and unsparing con
domination. The zeal aud ability of the
Counsel for the Defence and few minor
discrepancies in the evidence had led some
TO doubt whether the jury could agree
upon a verdict; but few if any. Of the in
tcrestcd aud attentive thousands who had
followed the case through. from its com
Increment 80 its close. dreamed Of the
possibility Of the Prisoners acquittal.-
The mass Of our community confidently
al rlg.tfulsy expected a verdict of Gull
+ aud we should be as derelict IN our
duty. as we eiiuk the Jury were in theirs.
if we die not pronounce their decision a
lfo-kcsY IF Justice
Itwas thra' no fault Of the public Pros
5cgtor that this unlocked for result was
reached. The case lad been most ably
aud faithfully prepared The Grand Ju-
ry. W.Jh rraiscwurthy diligence. devoted
two weeks last year to a most thorough
Investigation Deputy Sheriff Page was
iudefatigabIc in his efforts to get out eve
~ particle Of evidence that could bring
to light the porpetrator of the bloody deed
Mr. District Attorney Butler tried the
case with consummate skill and had the
aid and advice of one ofthe first lawyers in
the West. T. G Ryan, Esq Judge Hub
bell. who presided, held tic scales Of JUS
tlca with a firm and impartial hand. ex-
planned the law TO the Jury fairly and in.
teliigently. and finally committed the case
to their hands in a charge which is a mod
el of its kind. To all this the Defence
had nothing to oppose but the profession
IL skill and Jealous eAertions Of two emf
rent Counsel, and the chance of 4 flaw in
the chain Of circumstaatial evidence pro
ducei By the prosecution. And vet this
Stre1C has saved the Prisoner A man
whom the whole community believes to
be the cold blooded murderer Of David
Ross q murderer for money Is let loose
uroH society. because a Jury of twelve
tt+--rt "a ~ bC E-bittNA lbAtlii-tIl
aud conscientious, set up the possibility
of doubt against the thousand strong
damninE, incontrovertibIe facts proved
upon the trial and all pointing to the pris
oner as the assassin. 4 Jury refuse to
convict although believing themselves. a.
everyb adv believes the prisoner TO be
guilty because they shrink from the re-
Sponsibjlity Of deciding. as Jurors. what
they understand, believe and kilolo as
men.
Is it any wonder that the community
should be shocked and outraged by such
verdict Is it any wonder that conf
dence IN the Law should be shaken by
such a result Is it any wonder that
faith in the integrity Of iuries, trust in the
administration of Justice. the sense of Sc
curity in life and property. under the
protecting -f.gis Of the Law, should all be
disturbed, when Murder, prcmedtated
mercenary Murder. thus walks abroad.
unwhipt Of Justice. In our streets. and
when the blood of the hapless victim. smo-
king mp To Heaven cries aloud. but cries
in vain, for Vengeance upon the Assas-
sin