The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-24
Our Ohio Correspondence.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1853.
The "Maftha Washington" 11iais--Great Excite
ment-7ico Hundred Lawyers and -Four Han-
dred Witaesses- Constitutional Questions Coz
eminent Jurisd,ctioa in the States and on the Ri.
reys--7h acknowledging Irains-Ia,mense
Station House, &C., &c.
arrived in this city last evening, attracted by the
trials progressing in the notorious "Martba Wash
ngton' case. 1t was alleged that the captain clerk
and several others, conspired early in 1852 to burn
the Martha Washington, sor the purpose Of detraud-
ing the underwriters, who had insured suppositious
shipments of goods. The parties were arrested and
brought before the United States District Court
last year, which is now having the second investga-
ton, Judge Mclean presiding.
The case is far more exciting than any other of the
kind ever brought before an American court Many
of the parties Of fair and even high stand
ing before the community, some of them being en-
gagged in extensive and profitable business. All the
persons indicted have appeared on their ball. except
John Nicholson, who absc0ndsd. The city is full of
LAWYERS and witnesses TheTeare OF least two hundred
lawyers in attendance, merely FOR the purpose OF wit
Messing the investigation There are about four hun
bred witnesses in ALL Everybody at ell familiar, by
acquaintance association or business, with the par
ties, has been subrnaed, the goyernms mt having dc.
tenCd to push the prosecution with vigor IN every
point
Hon. Henry Stanbury, late Atiorney.General Of
Ohio, is employed by the government for tue pro.
secution, ard tie defence embraces Judge Walker,
o. Cincinnati, Hon. Thomas Ewing and several
Others.
The defence made yesterday motion, which will
he discussed to day TO quash the indictment for want
OF jurisdiction in a Uued States Court. The in
dietmeL. is brought uIdcr an act of Congress In
1926 dosigned for the protection Of unisrwritrs on
he oh n q In gxfc
this statute over the rivers and interior navigation
Of the United States solt be unconstitutional ~ It
would clearly infringe On the rights Of the States to
which alore the rivers belong. did not hear the
arennent, Snd do not consequently, exactly know
the points; but from all that ] co1ld gather from
judge Mclean and the parties, have no idea that
the defence will be abe 10 quasi. The examination
will occupy several weeks.
took glance at the great new State house nov
erecting. IL is au immensc building, larger In area
than the Cspitol in Washington, bat by means 50
comely in its general appearance. tits simply vast
pie Of iue blue cliff limestone, In the ma. sive Gre.
Glen style, with small windows, or rather, enpst
portfolios the Whole structure bcing q. least twenty
feet too low for effect. IL has porsos, but simply
a on each of the four sides, filled by several
large and perfectly plain and short columns. IL
cannot cost less than s22O0O0O bat Is archltcctu.
rally failure.
The railroads In this State, especially
those accommodating the thror Oh Southern aud
Western travel, are carrying an unusually lar 20
plumber OF pas eDgcr5 There are tnrCe usy Iaius
from Cleveland to Cincinnati, come OF them having
at times ss high as fourteen TO sixteen cars. Yet,
with the great rush Of business, these roads have no
accidents. On the road from Cincinnah, but three
persons have heen killed In nine years, while the
Cleveland road from the east has had no accidents.
This shows that these roads must be very ably
managed. Short roads are branching from aud
crossing them in all directions. AT Cleveland, the
Cincinnati, Pineburg and Lake Shore roads have all
combined and built the most specioua depot In tho
United States. Il Ia 700 feet long BY 100 wide.
Passengers take the cars It Eric, Pa, and never
TaA MAyoa.