Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-04-19
THAI of c. B. Christian for Murder.
feoNTINuEp. |
ItHNlINtIsIssI
ReeKBRIpGE CIRCUIT CouRT--SEeoND DAY.
1pr1Anprrn nm 11in NIpnIN1AN.


Miss. JULIA JuNRIS. examined.-Mr. Black
burn accompanied me to chnrchon the night he
was killed. His manner not UNUSUAL but
perfectly natural lie did not seem to be excl
ted. He accompanied me to the inner door OF the
church. was well acquainted with Mr. Black
burn, and am well acquainted with Miss. Ander-
son. Mr. b. was not sutton of Miss A Miss
As father and Mr. BIS mother are first cousins.
Miss A. staid at S. Med. Moore's White here
Came here the first week in December last.
DIR. L. GRAHAM. examined--I attended the
post norton exam ination. ! am under the i'm
preston the wound in the back, and the wound
in the neck were inflicted while the parties were
down and that the wound on the left temple
could have been given either standing or lying
think the two first mentioned wounds could not
have been inflicted in any other position
think Blackburn could have risen TO his feet at
ter receiving the wound in the neck.
CADET HoRNrR, examned.-On Saturday the
18th of last January, Cadet llnmes aud myself
were together in the Mess hall, when Blackburn
entered and said "You the very men have
been looking for. ] have just seen a most ride
ulous letter. directed to my cousin, from Chris
tian. which beats any thing ! have ever seen
speaking of n ''caumniator." ] going up 10
see him, and will tell him ! gave my cousin tho
advice. not to go with him to church." | ad-
yised him not TO be too hasty, and whit till after
dinner, and would go up with him. After din
ner, we went up TO MeDowell's tavern aud
sent up for Mr.. Christian. lie not in his
room. We then went up to Mr.. Moore's tavern.
and, not finding him there, came back down
the street. and c. standing IN the door OF tho
tavern, with Cadet 1.anghorne Blackburn walk
ed up to Christian. and told him he wanted to
speak with him. They vent into the passage above
the office, and entered into conversation. |
heard nothing said, except the last sentence,
which sounded to me as il spoken in C's voice
II honor you for your noble prineipies'.' WINS
standing about feet from the passage door, aud
Mr.. Humes about o feet from Il. then came
out, bidding {. good evening, and We left. |
asked b. what was the result: he replied Just
as / expected. He has not the courage 10 strike
child He repeated TO us the conversation
he had with C;said he told { that be the mau
who had advised Miss A. not to go 9TH him; that
he had done account of the al character
he Co bore in the town; that IL rola-
ton of Miss A. and did not want te 90 her assocl-
ating with any man of his reputu' on-that {.
replied, ~ honor you for your noa principles"
Il. was not armed. as think. Ind known him
for two years, and had never seen him my
weapons. ! have seen him in several difficulties,
and never saw him take an improper advantage.
{. had stick under his arm, the only weapon he
had. Ii was a black stick; not the one exhibited
in court, but larger. b. came to us in the
Mess-hall about = o'clock. We accompanied
him as friends. Did not anticipate my serious
difficulty. Did not think that Il. would be in any
danger, to como by himself. Came along to
make the parties equal, if b. should get into n
difficulty, and any of G's friends should be pre-
sent, and to separate them if fight occurred
We waited outside the friends oi H., and re-
manned as such, until the interview would tcrmi-
nate. have no intimacy with c .,nor did have
any very great intimacy with b.. only ns Il class
mate. b. had no hostile purpose as | saw |
think b. expected that c. would cover. Mr. C's
conduct dishonored him in my estimation, and in
the estimation of every honorable man. | did
not think {. coward, previous TO that time. but
!. thought his character blasted and gone forever
by his conduct at that time. | thought the re-
suit would be a blow, or challenge, Us b. went up
10 give him his name. and information in refer
enee to the things mentioned in Cs. letter to Miss
A. As ! came from the Institute told b. he
would probably have to fight. | was of that opin-
ion, btcause | thought b. would insult c. and
that c. would resent it, think if {. had resent
ed the insult, b. would have attacked him. b.
was not remarkably large or strong Ills eour-
age was undoubted, and he was quick to resent
an insult have seen Is. in two difficulties pre-
vious to that time-one with Mr.. Mason Did
not assist Is. Did not see him in the fight with
the eow-driyer. | have not, nor will contribute
to the promotion of this prosecution nor has any
application, as know of been made TO me To as.
sist in forwarding it.
The letter of Mr.. c. to Miss A was read in
court. The followingisa copy
LEX, Dec. 30, 1853
Miss ANDERSON being induced by my ex-
allied opinion of your refined feelings to believe
that you would not wantonly wound the feelings
OF any gentlemen, and being yself the unhappy
victim OF your malztreatment, must conclude
that you had an apparent cause. And failing in
my attempted interview with you, ON last even
ing, deem If necessary in justice to my reputa.
ton- as gentleman To find out the mysteries oi
the matter, and to clear my skirts of all mputa.
tons incompatible with the character of a gentle.
man, and the strict rules of courtesy Then
ask 1t of you, as last favor, to tell if any there
De- the causes that actuated you to do illibera
an act. And If there be Il calumniator SO base
so enuious, as with his own vile {abricstonsl I,
break the friendship heretofore existing between
ns--do tell me, and | will bring the cuIprt 10 ius
tee, and prove TO you and the world that | am
innocent; and that snch deeds beneath the dig
nity OF those principles of honor that was the care
OF my aged parents, to instil into NV youthful
bosom, and my constant endeavor to practice
But II the said causes are not the work OF sian.
derers, but phantoms of Your own creation. eau.
ses terminating in your ewn breast-say SO. and
all Is well. l write not these lines in order Ia
piace hysel1 m Stdfu quo, for lis done; the die is
cast; the Rubcon is crossed; but write with
the yam hope of proving to you and the world
that could not treat any lady otherwise than
strictly courteous and respectful And in CLOSING
these lines, j bid you an affectionate ad;en Ia
voking the blessings of Heaven, and bonng tba,
your paths may be strewed with flowers. Will,
sojourning in this world of care So, Yole. YoIe
fformosiss'nd puetta) iterum yaie,
Peace to thy heart, though another's il be.
Health to thy cheek, though it bloom not for me
Your humble friend.
CHAS. b. CHRISTIAN.
You will please answer, addressing me through