Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-28
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TRIAL OF CHARLES b. CHRISTIAN.
SATURDAY, April aad.

minds pfecOnceved nOtOns OF
the guilt of the prisoner and confne their
70 the legal evidence In case and remember that
he was out youth, and stranger here without fiends
fore the facts Of the had been heart aud before he
had had tral-Aud hero revenge had purchased with
base ucre the services Of advocate pursue priso
ner to his death Gold had been siveo to purchase the
blood Of the prisoner and the funds Of the friends of the
deceased aud the " had been appropriated here to
purchase this young mans blood Mr.. n. showed from
his declarations that he should have been here and
he had known the motives Of those who employed him. he
would have herc-There had been attempt
made to impeach the character Of b. and he had been
upon under this PreteIt to come into this
Those who employed him actuated BY other mo-
tive than 4 fell spirit of revenge. Mr. NJ. had like
politician, several times explained his position hero He
although faithful and able always looked his side
Of 4 cause and pursued the utmost extent without
seeing anything on the opposite side would DO EN-
ployed to assist to prosecute prisoner for the wealth Of
Golcoudss mnes.-The court could appoint counsel to
or to ASSET the prosecution but the court would
employ man to prosecute who had in bis pocket
fee from the avenger Of blood FROM the Of kin TO
him who was slain. The repudate the doctrine of
private vengeance This doctrine Of private vengeance Il
also repudi.tcd by the divine w-it is there SAID that
| "Vengednes 10 mne"-Under the Mosaic dispensatlop
there cities of refuge where the murderer
until he could have fair nal II Bs parents have,
learn they have the proper Christian spirit they would
not wish the prisoner offered up sacrifice to the re-
mains Of their departed Mr. NJ, thus hired by the
friends OF the deceased, could help but be biased in
favor Of those who employed him, aud he could not occu
py that impartial position that the intended prose
should occupy-Hs has several times uiug his ar
gumen reminded the Jury that If they have doubt in
relation the guilt of the prisoner they should AGO m
him. Mr. A. insisted that all the statements Of h. u re
ston to this controversy and that all Of tho
of o. false He insisted that O. be treated A.
of bad character until he shows tho contrary aud
hat il il crime in O. upon few days acquaintance tn
talk Of being in love with Miss A, and that CRY.
ing sin wish walk With he 70 church aud that
Was indeoatc ask Or when she broke her
engagement 60 viii, him church. These positions
# course cannot be sustained Hs note to her
p-ctfu stated that f she had acted from her own
<him the should end here. Mr. d. read the
aud commented upon large aud IL
meaning hostile purpose but merely st.tip, In
Mss A. that he could disabuse her mind aud The ,cor
any idea that his character good The Sian
ierer the of all enemies and h out venom,
a, the worms of the N- and some cases there ia M
mher remedy against him but bowie knife psto and
although the avengers course 10 he altogether
flied by the laws yet public opinion usu6es it, and IN
res If the country inact punishment on the often
der. Property OF all kinds is protected by the laws hu
there is CHI racter OF greater value than all prone rty
which left without any legal protection that can b.
| made available. A. II any come into n Court u
Justice demand damages for his lost cnIracter he !.
| iuot.d at aud every tells him that he should hav,
killed the sanderer and after Sards those same person,
found among the crowd demanding m irder,
| .hould be condemned TO DEATH Infamous punish
,ng, for doing that which they themselves would hay
lone. had injured Ca. character by his communica
ton Miss A, wneu he might have easily known that
n man of good character aud that his association
those OF u ,nt'emsn. Il wing thus il ircd c. D.
with other large you * Cadets Ia te
y. "in courteous manner, that he his 'eaiaui
Tor" Taking o. along passage of the hote
While the other Cadets stood outside and Their
U. was not expecting any such thing and when
without any friend baud, kes his Insulting com
municaton him. g. told him that he would 's,s him
again " c. man of mild and gentle disposition su
.ow take offence. b then toasted that he had tn
umphei over c., and sent word Miss A that b.,
| &" had taken nosice Of the natter
Mr.. d then commented at large upoa the evidence an
the circumstances proved showing the killing aud tn
| yas lone "A
read the law showing the degrees Of murder tn,
tights OF self deierce aud also the rules on crcuu
autial evidence, shovn g that the wealth mu.
prove that the prisoner is cmnaIly gu ~ moral Gel
ttiny and actually exclude every other hypothesis 1ce
The guilt o. the prisoner and that the defence were
clear any OF Inconsistencies of the com
inon~ ealth's evidence.
have given but very slight sketch of Mr.. DnyI.
able and Argumenative speech taking up hours
tie went into full review Of the evidence which has u.r
published in the papers and which it is unnecessary Il
detail. Mr.. Doyle handled it ably and drew out ever,
circumstance that was favorable to the prisoner.
TENTH DAY
MONDAY, April "a.
The Bench was crowded this morning at an early hou
with ladies' who had assembled TO hear the argument
Charles l.. Mostly, Eq Of Lynchburg II was however
made known to the crowl assembled that Mr. Mos
confined his bed By sickness aud that his DIV
s,can said would be impossible dangerous for hin
attempt address the jury. Hon. A. Ii. H. Stuar
announced to the Court the condition Of Mr. Mosby ant
Judge Brockenbrough would conclude the argumen
on behalf Of the prisoner.
Judge THOMPSON expressed his regret that the
that the prisoner had SO much relied for his defence
should be unable to argue his cause and that it un
fortunate that Mr. Mostly could not address the jury
his behalf that he had him tDat morning, and h
unable from his prOsration by sickness dscharg
his weighty drty TO the prisoner. Judge Thompson re
marked that under these circumstances nuthin
improper illegal in Judge Brockenbroughs taking hi
place in the argument aud that he thought it entrel
proper for him to do So
Judge BRocEESDRouGH then addressed the jury begin
ming with feeling and affecting statement oi hi
in thus appearing before them aud the i'm
mense responsibility deyoying him. lie quoted
most beautiful and appropriate passage from .Parads
LOST where the Poet calls the divine power OF heave
assist him, aud empower him discharge this mos
Weighy duty in manner consistent with It's wsgby re
sponsibiiy.
He then referred to Mr. Miches position In this
aud that he had been employed by the friends OF the de
cea4ed aud the w. ~ nterpose his great intellect Il
sustain the of tho common wealth. The funds ap
propriated by the Legislature Of the State purposes
education had been improperly contributed add adj
tional malgnity and to this This conduc
in pervertg these funds worthy Of all detunoiaop
IL had been done for the alleged purpose Of proec Ing
the memory Of b. Bu who here who would plant .
nettle the grave Of that young man! All will
ling to extend to him the most irreprOachsbe character
IL has also been st that this fund sh ,ud be thus nsd
purpose OF sustaining character aud DO
siion oil the V. VI. 1. Col SUith has, through gray.
mistake desire to pander public prejudice thus sp
propriaeJ these funds seek the blood the prsoer
This is singular Of patriotism be thus sppropris.
ting these funds TO private prosecutor, who has witt
great ability discharged his duly and carrod his fee.
reflect Mr.. Niche. as know him DO incapable
at doing any thipR which he believed to be wrong for
any pecuuiary consideration believe that MOTIFS n
heart beats in his boaom any mans He has how
ever, thrown Of the every circumstance
d ration that could weigh behalf Of the prisoner anu
ged his conviction by every argument aud every cir
Instance that could drive the Dnds Of tho jury to
conviction OF the prisoner Of murder 10 the first degree
Mr.. N. had his clients behind him urging hun on, and
party give satanic laugh at his and jokes at
the positions assumed by the defence, and thus at
temps nv that vpers breath Of popular pr dce which
has pervadsd this community and entered this sane
tuary Of justice give weight to tho prosecution
the Conviction Of the prisoner This Ia thu thai
pursued by special aud private
Col Smith. The Comm ,nweah's Attorney bss not gone
thus far but fairly considered the aud
Deuce IN this cause.
Judge then went into a ds,aled stattnsn and con
sid ration Of the evidence Of the cause.
q snd had como here high minded respectable
young men, and upon perfect equally, aud had bee,
received in the community ss Gentlemen u becomes
acguan'ei with Mics A, beautiful and accomplished
you x lady snI engages her company 10 60 with him
lurch, aud sometime Afterwards she had even though
proper TO remind him Of his engagement When his
warmed and enlisted for young lady by her
smiles, elected by his respectful attentions and when he
tho nf har