Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-09


Trial of Rev. Geo. w. Caravan, for the Murder of
Clement H.. Lasaiter.
There has been great excitement in Washington
the past week on account of the trial OF Rev. Geo
w. Caravan, for the murdertof C. H Lassiter, in
HYDE county, In November of last year. Caravan
arraigned before the Superior Court of Hyde at
the Spring term of this year, and on his affidavit that
he could not have justice done in HYDE the was
removed to Beaufort. The trial commenced on We'd
nesday last in the Superior Court Judge Bailey pre-
siding Tha case managed on the part of the
State by Geo. S. Stevenson, Solicitor E. ]. Warren,
and D. NJ Carter. Esq. and for the defence by Jas.
w. Bryan F. B. Satterthwaite, and w. B. Rodman,I
Esqs., and Hon. r. s. Donnell We doubt ifa cause
was tried which was more thoroughly prepar-
ed on both sides than this, in which more "a
bty and fidelity to their trusts were displayed by
Counsel.
The first half of Wednesday was consumed in en-
panneling the jury, which selected from spe-
cial venire of one hundred summoned by the Sher-
if the day previous The names of the jurors
as follows
Joshua Roe, William j. Adams, Jesse Spear, David
r. Brooks. Christopher Bright, George s. Brown,
Benjamin Patrick, Nathan Cooley, John G. Jones,
George R. Dixon, VIM, R. Tripr, Benjamin Robin
SON.
Mr. Stevenson then opened the case for the State,
when the examination Of the witnesses for the State
commenced and was continued till Friday night -
Saturday morning Mr.. Rodman made the opening
address for the defence, and at o'clock D. m. on
that day the examination OF witnesses closed. Sat-
! urday afternoon consumed by Mr.. Carter in his
address to the Jury, and the court adjourned till
! Monday morning at 9 o'clock.
Mondays proceedings commenced with a speech
| by Mr. Satterthwaite for the defence, who fol-
lowed by MIR. Stevenson for the State, and Mr. Rod
man for the defence.
On Tuesday yesterday Mr.. Bryan closed for
! the defence, and Mr.. Warren for the State, each
| occupying about four hours. At half past six o.
! clock p. NJ. Judge Bailey commenced the charge to
the jury, the court house being thronged to its
most capacity. The delivery of the Judges charge
occupied only one hour and was strongly in favor
of the prisoner requiring the jury to reject entire
y the testimony of the main witness for the State
The jury then retired to make up their verdict; but
in 30 minutes the Judge, officers of the Court. and
counsel were again in the court room, the prisoner
again brought to the bar and the jury sent for
when the Judge stated that he had called them back
to correct into which he had fallen in his
charco IN regard to the law applicable to the at
tempted impeachment of the main witness for the
State. He then stated fully what the law was that
it did not require them, as he had first charged,
reject his testimony, bnt allowed them to weigh it.
! and give it the consideration which they might
think it entitled to. The jury again retired, and
the time we write Il o'clock Wednesday morning)
have not agreed upon verdict. :.
| The testimony adduced the trial was so volum-
nous that we cannot give synopsis of it, and
if we cond it would not be understood unless ac-
companied with map of the localities where the
transactions connected with the murder occurred
n
containing accurate report Of the trial prepared
by member of the Bar, when every wishing to
acquant himself with the particulars of one of the
fouIest and most extraordinary murders perpe-
trated can do so. We can give here only the main
facts elected during the trial.
! Caravan is Sc years old, and for many years has
been popular preacher in the Baptist Church--a
man of strong will, exercising powerful influence
over his friends and feared much hated by his
foes Lassiter was quiet young man, engaged in
the business of teaching. Some months before the
murder Lasster boarded in the house of Caravan,
and quarrel arose between Them Caravan al
lodging that Lassier too familiar with his &C. s)
wife. Caravan talked very freely among his neig h-
bors the subject-said that l.. ought to be shot
that shooting too good for him, and that he and
L. could not both live in the neighborhood Sc,
&c, and finally tried to get out peace warrant
against L., alIedging that he had attempted to take
his life. He went on in this way for some time
when L. sued him for SANDER, laying the DANA ges
at $4,000. few hours after the writ was served on
c., Lassiter killed.
He had finished school on Rose Bay and on
Monday the 18th of November, started on foot with
carpet bag in his hand to go to the Lake where he
had engaged another school. About 3 o'clock D. NJ
he passed Cs house, on his way to the Lake Short
y after he passed. c. left his house and went
the field towards the woods which lie between the
FL house and the spot the road where L. killed.
his wife following with gun wrapped up in her
apron. She returned to the house Immediately
Caravan not till sun down. That night he was
gone, the witness could not tell how long-he was
not at home when the witness went to bed. Tues
day he remained at home, but "Wednesday, a
rainy day, he took hoe and went into the woods,
and was gone several hours. Thursday, before L.
) was missing, (the people on the Lake thinking he
was at the Bay and the people on the Bay thinking
he was at the Lake, C. went to one of the neigh
bors and inquired if he had anything of L., sta
ting that his (C.'s) family had him pass his
, house on Monday with package of Clothes and he
was thinking he had run away. Friday evening
when told that the people searching for L., he
expressed great surprise that he should be missing
never had heard anything of it, Saturday morn
ing, the search for L. still going he wrote to
friend to and see him-that L. was missing
supposed to be killed-and added that he co. was
at home all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,
and that he could prove it by Caravan Sawyer, (the
main witness the trial for the Stae,) his nephew
a boy who was living with him.
The body of L. was found Saturday evening in
the dismal back of Cs house, in open spot which
was surrounded with briers, underbrush, &c, and
e which covered with moss. The moss over the
] grave had been carefully removed the grave dug
just large enough to hold the body, the body press
Il ed into it, the grave filled up even with the sur
i rounding earth and pressed down, and the moss
5 carefully laid back upon it. The moss leaving nc
f trace of foot print there sign that anybo
dy had ever been there, except that the ovel
the grave had faded little, and about a hand full
of fresh dirt near it, and dead limb of tree
, had apparently been recently disturbed, the bark
= which had evidently just fallen off it lying in one
q spot, and the limb in another. The men who were
searching for the body had stopped in this lonely
spot to rest having gwen up the search for the day
when these appearances attracted their attention
;, and the body was found
. L. killed by gun shot wounds. Several sho
were taken from the body, three from the heart
There three sizes of shot found in the body-an