The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-24
The Ward Trial.

We cheeriuily give place below to the
very just and reasonable request of Mat
+. WARD TO the editors OF the u. Stares,
who have with rancor &c unprecedented
as yindic,ive hui ted down and with no eyi.
dence before them, but the extravagances
q. q, s.aob. boldly denoanced NJ murderer;
one who has been tried and acquitted Of
the charge by the laws Of his country and
the verdict Of twelve Of his equals. Is not
ths disregard OF honorable institutions, a
fostering OF that spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION
from which this country has 40 much To
lears. the Press generally have been too
hAsty in this case and owe tho justice
asked.
TO The Editors Of the U. States:
GENTLEMEN Ii | felt less confidence
in the justice and nagnanimity Of the
American people, would not now ntrude
myself upon your notice. My position is
one which may we'll be considered pecu-
liar in the United States, where the laws
have hitherto been respected, and whore
the verdict OF Il jury has been regarded as
final in all criminal cases. Acquitted,
though still accused; free. though still
projecut must appeal. through the
co urnns nj the Delta, 10 your generosity,
cvldcncc III my case can b.: LAID bcfore you.
can u."..,'' no man for feeling strong
prcjudlces against me, for expressing the
louucsi condemnation OF that unfortunate
deed, which hus been so darkly and in.
seni"uSy exaggerated hy my enemies
The bubl.c have AS yet seen but one side.
oi his case, and thai one has been mont
unscrupuInusiy nisrepresenled by those
eager Tor my bond and rum. have been
| acquitted by jury OF my peers, and IN
most cases this would b. vindcal.on suffi.
cicnt, and even in my case. perverted as It
has been. my acquilal should at least .,r.
que presumption oi my innocc.ce strong
enough to Undue e the most hostile 10 pause
| till they can examine the testimony pro.
duced at my trial. This is all desire,
and surely it il not much for a man to
ask who has uncomplainingIy submitted
10 as much as have done.
A full and impartial report OF the test.
nony in the case has been prepared by
Mr.. A. ID. Rn harjson, one OF the most ac-
complislicd shorthand writer's in the West
and Will soon be issued ron the press ol
Messrs. y. Appleton g. Co, New York.
Although ] felt The highest confidence IN
MIR. Richardson's impartIaity. and abIll v,
yet when remember the former course oi
my enemies, the precaution was taken to
gentle the report authenticated hy several
have men, whose posilons place them
above The soaring accusatiuns of the
| Courier.
All that ask from you, gentlemen OF
the press, IL sence until this report can
be p'aced befre the public, and ii you do
| not tn II discover come better reasun Tor
| my acquittal than tho corruption of the
Jury, am willing 70 submit to your uni.
versal condemnation. have made no
previous attempt TO reBist the des.ns oi
NY eneinies-not. AZ they would falsely
insinmaie. because | had 10 defence to
make, but because relied with confidence
OH the just administration OF the laws o,
my 'm nlry. break that sllence now
which the better Judgement of friemds for.
merly imposed upon me. only because my
persecutors seem to have lost ali respect
Tor law, and have constituted themselves
oI jury regularly empanelled by the pro.
per authorities OF the State.
Once more 1 appeal to the generosity
ol tho press in This country, and conjure
every editor, IN The name of justice and
humanity, to read the report oi my trial
weigh we'll the testimony on both sIdee,
and ih.n declare to the wOr d whether /
h W not the right 10 say thai ,n)usucr,
black injustice. has been done me. And :;
y ulany are GosvuICaJ by ,as tasaAppy.