The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-21

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| Williams herself i11lisalion oi Mfs-
Mr. hooertscn called particular attention TO the
Ies'i'hoay % Leake, showing the intent of Porter
when informed By the negro how that yV;liia,,,s ,s
| az MS nou.e. forter asked Harlow and Leake 10
go with him and help him to tie WiII;a,ns for he
wanted TO carry him to his wife and ies 1sr i; ;se
with him If che chose, and hat he did no. ,rt yv;,
liams hurt This evidence put to shame the ir,n,,.
tation of malice. -
As TO the tracks and the place where the bod
was found, Mr. r. remarked that SALLY Perry "a
Mrs. Williams resided at the same place wt Por.
ter These tracks he might well say were tn hs;rs
and they were undoubtedly guilty; for sucb wa I, =
the argument of Mr.. Jones against Porter A. so
Porter's conduct and his saying nothing-was Il
proved that any one else said anythingi He did
not doubt that Porter was SILENT but ne contender
that he was silent because he knew that Susan VIII
iams had killed her husband, and that in the same
spirit of kindness and forbearance be had ever
manifested towards this woman, and for which he
had suffered so grievously, he did not expose her
oy saying what he felt at the moment.
Referring to some other points in the testimony,
MI. Robertson next argued at much length upon
the supposition which he said was natural one, ii
Mrs Williams was to be believed that without Por-
ter,s knowledge or consent, while Williams was
ned, sally Perry came up and gave him the fatal
blow. AT common law, Porter for knowing and
cenceailng this, would only be guilty of being an
accessary after the fact-while under the Virginia
Statute, If 5rotherinlaw or sster-in-law attempt
TO screen one another to assist the other in es-
Gaping, there is no offence
MT Robertson. referring to points on which Mrs
Williams had been proved to have stated untruths
warned the jury to remember the maxim of the
laws, faisun lnuno, falsum in omnibus" Dwelling
upon TINS view with conside BILE emphasis he con-
cluded.
hr. Fleming would not appeal to the mercy of the
jury, for TO his shame be it spoken he did not Offer
up such prayers sufficiently often to his God He
proceeded to examine the posi- I'd of Mrs Williams
with regard to the death of h. aosband-incidentay
annht ha IL ~
rope of many works" had vet to perfor r. its chief
office, which was to hang the owner on g. Il lliacls)
asked if it did not prove deadly hate between Mrs
Williams and her husband That it was long cher
shed-btter-increasiEg constantly and that at the
time of Williams death the motive to kill was stron =
er than at any previous time ? For she would not
leave Porter though ordered awav because she fear
ed Williams, as proven by John Perry. There was
Williams, on the part of Mrs. Williams, than can be
laid at the door OF any other person. Whose proper
ty ,t was the rope found on the body of Williams? his
some otner evidence than her own. Mr.. Fleming
here quoted the case of man narrowly escaping
conviction of murder because his fork found near
the body of the murdered man. The real murderer
was one OF the jury and his negative vote alone
saved the accused. So must Mrs. Williams, continued
Mr. F. account for the fact of her rope being
found around the body of her husband. Mr.. F.
contrasted the character of Mrs Williams with that
OF Porter WHO could be proven inotfensive and gem
erous hearted, and without malice by the whole
county OF Louisa; and he asked if the woman stood
IN the place OF the accused could she be acquitted
The tracks of her black paramours and the little f
male track, (her own) are seen, and her own rope
around the body of her husband and the fact that she
could command the services of these negroes any
tne, and her deep hatred to Williams, and her own
Daseness as proven by the evidence were all in the
cause before the jury, and carried the guilt of Will
hams death TO the door of this infamous witness 1t
was upon the evidence of this woman that the jury
was asked to convict Porter, whom she on bended
knees had implored to protect her. and who had of
would 60 to her husband coga he be t an II %
had brought about the death of Williams2 Take the
the testimony of this witness and its full only
proved that Porter assisted in tying Williams who
was Fostering about his premises and that he did ony
lawful act IN endeavoring to take him before ma
istrate.
Mr.. Fleming (of whose remarks this is but the
bretest outne) concluded with the expression of his
confidence nm in verdict OF scquitta by the jury.
attorney for the Commonwealth, who enquired how
have the gentlemen attempted to defend their clientl
by making the most ruthless and unwarranted attack
on the only witness who can speak of the transac-
tions and occurrences of that day. Now, gentlemen,
according to the counsel they have placed this
husband and then after affecting her object of turn
Ing around, and endeavoring to swear away the life
OF her nearest friend and protector Porter who has
she!tered her tor two years
She is not voluntary witness she is brought here
by the strong arm of the law, and is there any sane
man who can say or think, that the theory on which
these gentlemen have relied is truel
In arriving at correct judgment to the truth of
witness we must look at the character of the test-
vengeance with which she is charged, would she not
have said every thing to the prejudice of the prison.
er and nothing in his ayor would she not have said
that she saw Porter fire the gun, and yet she says
she did not see him fire it. but only heard the report
of gun and would she not have said that she saw
him inf1ict these blows on Williams head but she
says no such thing. And the gentlemen are ready
enough 10 beheve every thing she says which can
operate tor the prisoner and rely it in their argu
ment, but the moment she saws word connecting
Porter with this crime, she is the basest and most
perJured wretch that disgraces human nature. And
why Is SO much attempted to be made of her inquir
ing for her rope with which her husband tied at
the same time that che asked for her husband was it
not, ask. the most natural inquryfor she had seen
her husband tied with her rope, and if they had pro-
duced the rope 1t would have been the best proof to
her that they had turned him loose and hurt him
as they promised Again-how is this woman sus-
tanned by independent facts in the cause She says
she heard a gun fired; now was not Williams shot ?
were not shot taken from his dead body Does she
not say that the negro and Porter, with Sally Perry
following carried Williams off and are not two large
tracks seen and small one-that of Sally Perry q
II this prisoner was the pure immaculate that
they pretend, and this woman the guilty wretch
they charge guilty of the base practices they allege
why does he harbor her for two years. and suffer her
to mingle In his family and associate with his wife
and chlldrenl If his character good and shat
witness so bad why did not the prisoner charge
Der with the murder of Williams and have her ar
restedl
Mr.. Robertson argued at great length te show tha,
the conduct OF the prisoner the river proof
innocence Look at that conduct and see for YOUR
selves man is found dead Porter comes up, sees
dud gers up after examining
and says not word But to motive and interest Oh
the part OF the prisoner to murder Wiams-is il no,
proved and admitted that W. had threatened to burn
up Porter and his dwelling; and was that not good
cause Tor the prisoner to wish take his life And
tins seen and shown by his threats to kill him. and
going ABOUT with loaded gun, and having persons
brought to whip him. And, again, when that gro
came over after Porter and said that Dick Williams
was at his house. and after Porter started did
boy give him pistoll Why was this9 For what
did the boy bring the pstoli
Mr. Gordon concluded with brief appeal to the
jury.
The discussion here closed and the jury retired,
mained in their about one hour, and returned
with verdict of not guilty. The excitement and
anxiety was great while the jury ont and when
the verdict was rendered, the prisoner greatly af
fected
DEATH OF SIR CHARLES NApIER.-The London
correspondent of the N. Y. Commercial under date
of August 80, says
During the past fortnight large number Of vete-
ran officers have died, and yesterday the celebrated
Sir Charles Napier, the conque-or OF scinde, was
added to the list He seventy one years OF age,
and had received in the course OF his numerous
campaigns a greater number of wounds than were
- her