The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-13

CalNssAL Counr.--On Saturday the case of the
United States -. William B. Sasscer wac taken
up for triat--Mr. Fsndall, the United states Dis
trict Attorney, and Mr.. Woodward appearing for
the prosecution, and Messrs Bradley, Carlisle. and
RAtclife for the defence. r.rf.a,rf sts ha
There was large attendance of spectators, and
much interest manifested In the proceedings.
It appeared from the indictment that the pris-
oner stands charged with having killed and
murdered" one Emelns johnson, " feloniously,
wilfully. and with malice aforethought," on the
fifteenth day of September last. There are four
counts in the indictment, two Of which say that
he administered to the deceased two grains of
! strychnne, deadly poison, and the others that
be administered two grains of some drug to the
grand jury unknown, all between the fifteenth Of
August and the fifteenth of September, 1852.
The indictment having been read to the pris
oner. be pleaded not guilty"
The court now proceeded to select jury, and
the persons called for this purpose were severaly
put on their roT dire, in the following FORM
Have you at any time formed or expressed an
opinion, or even entertained an impression which
| will influence your conduct juror Have you
any bias or prejudice your mind for or against
the prisoner? Are you twenty FIVE years of age'
Are you worth eight hundred dollars, Have you
| scruples OF conscience about convicting a man of
| or the twenty EIGHT jurors Of the regular panel,
htteen had expressed an opinion; three, for ca use
were excused from service; six were challenged, ,
and one was declared legally incapaoitated, not
being worth eight hundred dollars; while but
| three of the entire number-Messrs Lewis, Scrv
ener, and MISUNDERSTANDING answered the ques-
tons properly, and there heng no objection to
them, took their in the jury box, after hav
| cd nj fbch ,r ~ nd
subscribed to the usual OATH
The regular panel being exhausted, a hundred
or more talesmen were summoned out of whom
to select the full complement of jurors. Eight of
them were peremptorily challenged, nine were
ruled out because they could not answer to the
| property qualification, several were excused, and
| the greater portion of them had expressed an
opinion" Finally, after consuming about five
| hours, twelve men were selected, namely: Samuel
Lewis, John Scrivener, James Fullalove, William
NJ Shuster, George ID. Spencer, Peter F. Bacon,
John Wagner, w. G.. Harper, James l.. White,
| w. p Shedd, George c. King, and James B4rnes.
The lsst-named gentleman was not, however,
sworn,the oath being omitted on the occasion in
order that the jurors might retire to their homes;
whereas, if he bad then been sworn they would
all have been locked up together till this morning
it is usual pending trials for capital offences to
guard the jury against all outside influences. This
/ morning, however, Mr.. Barnes will be sworn and
the trial proceeded with.
! By consent of the counsel on both sides the iu-
rors we're discharged until to-day; Judge Crawford
cautoning them not to speak about the case or en-
| ter into conversation concerning it, meanwhile.
| The witnesses in all the other cases were dis.
charged until further notice.
In the course of the above notice. it is stated that
| Ope IF he n;n
were pronounced legally incapacitated from serv-
ing because they did not own eight hundred dol.
lars worth of property, Notwithstanding in other
respects they might be fully qualified to act as ju-
rors.) This feature in judiciary was transfer
red by Maryland, with the cesson of the territory
which now comprises the District of Columbia.
The act passed by the Legislature of that State in
iii, requires the juror to be freebooter owning
fifty acres of land, or three hundred pounds cur
rent money and this is now IN ade the quaihca ton
OF juror IN our criminal court in trials for capital
| offences. Mr.. Carlisle, In referring to it, appro-
| priately said, at bad rule to measure any
body's brains by the length of bis purse;' and the
Court remarked that "there are great MANY
gilded spoons in the world" and that the law
| ought to be repealed.
The AUXILIARY GuARp-A new set of rules and
1
| Guard has just been prepared and signed by the
| Mayor of Washington, (Mr. Maury,) the Attor.
ney of the United States for the District of Column
bia, (Mr. Fendall,) the Attorney of the Corpora
ton of Washington, (Mr. Carlisle,) and approved
by the President of the United States, and there.
fore will go into immediate operation. The great
object in the establishment of the Guard is annoupc.
ed to be the PREVENTION CRIME, and to this end
| every effort should be directed. The security of
persons and property, and the preservation of the
public peace will thus be much better effected than
by the detection and punishme mt of the offender
after he has succeeded in committing the crime
fsThis should constantly be kept in mind by every
member of the Guard, and they must endeayor to
| distinguish themselves by such vigilance and ar
tivity as may render it difficult for any one to
commit crime within their respective beats. -
Proceeding on this general principle the rules first
define the duties of the Captain of the Guard:
among which are, that it shall be bis duty to re.
pair to the scene of all fires riots, and dsorderIy
assemblages of persons, to take charge of the
Guard present, and use every exertion to save
and protect property, prevent riots, and arrest
such persons as may be engaged in disturbing the
peace, or who may be aiding or abetting others to
do so; and he shall have the power to direct any,
or all Of the Guard, to any part of the city where
their services may be deemed necessary.
As to the members of the Guard they are to be
distributed during the day and night, from time to
time, as the Captain may direct; the headquarters
to be for the present at the "Guard House." at the
Centre Market. They to be designated by
badges, and to be provided with such wea pons as
the Captain, with the appreciation Of the Mayor OF
Washington, may prescribe Every member must
devote his whole time and attention his business
as guard, and shall not be engaged in or follow
any other business calling; and although GER.
tain hours may be allotted to each mans duty on
ordinary occasions, every member must be pre-.
pared to act at a moments notice whenever bis
services may be required. "No member of the
Guard shall drink any kind of intoxicating LIQUOR
or smoke in guard lock up house, nor use
protane or indecent language therein;" nor shall
he, while on duty, "use any kind of intoxicating
drink, or enter any tavern place where intoxi-
eating drink may be sold, nor enter any house,
except in the immediate execution of his duty
sobriety IN every member of the Guard be-
ing considered absolutely essential, a single in.
stance OF lntoxication will be promptlv follouea