Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-02
TIE TRIAL OF WARD FOR SHOOTING PROBES.
SDR RITTER
from The Cincinnati Gazette, April2.l
= ..;I on


THE TRIAL OF WARD o SHOOTING PROBES.
SOR BUTLER.
From The Cincinnati Gazette, April N.l
ELIzABETHrowN, April 2O, 1904:
Tac trial "f II. +. Ward is progressing rapidly. Inc
courarI for HE State closed their testimony in chief ycstef'
day, und the defence commenced and seldom has sucn an a,
,rray OF names known TO fame been called in any case. clSn
ar criminal, as were produced in this case. James GuthIie'
SECRETARY Of the Treasury; William Preston, member of Con
sress IRON the Louisville district; Judge Perkins. member OF
Congress from Louisiara: Mr.. Sturgeon, Assistant Unlteo
S,atcs Treasurer at ST. Louis; George D. Prentice, and q
number of other influential men in this State, appeared and
testified TO the good character Of Mr.. Ward Their united les
limony wCs that he was a mild, peaceable, quiet. urbane,
courteous man. How sucha man came in such a condition
is a wonder. Rev. MIR. Sshon could hardly find terms 10 ex'
press his high opinion of his natural inability.
I do not think the Stale has made out q very strong caee
for this latitude. That Butler was shot. and shot BY Ward,
there is no doubt. Yet nearly every witness testlfes that
Butler did lay his hand on Wards shoulder, and some say
that he uush. ID him back. The ply sicians with Butler in his
last moments, testify that Butler told them that alter Ward
called him a liar. he struck Ward before the shot. Alter
such evidence ne VIII MOI % con'lc'eu VI musue'' Pe'n'P'
no, OF mansaughter.
The Courthaye!prohibi.ed the publication Of the ,esiimo-
nv. and we shall have a second edition OF the Martha Wash
,npton affair, with this tlfference-thst public sentiment mere
in the country will sustain the Judge.
A most uHsclins scene Occurred yesterday in The lnsroduc'
ton of Mrs. Butler, the wife Of the deceased, as a witness Tor
t, Stair She conducted herself with the greatest propf!e-
~ and there was no aiiectation OF grief. Yet the simple
story Of herself, and the lady with her, produced the deep
est sensation. There was scarcely a dry eye IN Inc mouse.
H,rs fraIlreJ old men bowed and wepl at the relation oil ms
dying recncst Tint lhose around him would be END 10 Ms
wife and oaby. Tie Ward family were "a deeply hIiec'eu Us
oihers. -. ,,,,ioo,v m
each side, and the pleading will commence and the case
may yet be finished this week. 80, ..,
The weathc. here This week mas oecn 'e'y co'o' III AZ
fvsIs have been severe.
From he Louisville CourierJ TO-,
EL:ZABgTHTOwN, April Il, 1891.
Las, evening the defendants announced that they o' con-
cLrtcd their testimony. but desired court snoulu aoJou'h
Ill this morning, in order that they might hold a consult
To.d,y The Commonwealth will bring forward lis reout'
ling evidence, ind then the arguments VIII commence. TOT
the nros.crlion, Z. B. Carpenter, Esq, OF CoVington, VIII
make the opening speech. This was not inc arrangement
al first, but Dir. Z. Is forced TO leave town IN order 10 DC pre-
seat OF hi. Trial of an important cause In Glilatin county,
nr,t Monday. There is very considerable anxiety 10 neal
This gentleman, who, aside from the reputation nc o'onSn'
with him as an able prosecutor, mas atlIac'eu 20 nise ~
small desrce Of public notice by the indetdugehie nlannetln
which h. has conducted the present cause. his aoiil1Y ahu
ingenuity rs an examiner OF witnesses is university Gomez
died., while his extraordinary Guinness and pertlnacity Is IRE
quenlly remarked. an aoic au eloquen' epe@1" 10 N"''
palcd. ~ ,,d Gilman
len will speak, and for the prosecution, IN aoolHvn !" MI W.
Carprntrr, tciure mentioned, Messrs. Harris, Hlhsrh anu
Alter. Mr.. Harris is very well known as inc ola'e oeh'
,ror from Hardin and Meade counties. 1t was my ptlvliese
turinn The past winter al Frankfort, 10 near MN On se'eia'
occasions, and he aIways impressed me as q warm, energctc,
at nussionare spcaker-one who had great power to sir Inc
feelings. Being on his native heath. he ought 10 MAKE .
speeb that would tell with the Jury. Captain uiosoh Is u
Huntsville, but has recently removed there IRON clarke coun'
,y, la, where III figured tor many years as q prominent d W
yer and politician. He is a gentleman OF noe enucluoh ~
,,nd address. and a regular graduate OF the Military Acaae'
NV of West Point, and for some time served 10 the army
Al the ha.t!c of Hucna Visru he was commandant OF a com
many Mr.. Allen, the COmmOnwealkhs Attorney, Is 4 cit-
zen of Breckenridge county, and from the limited oppotluh',
~ | have had the last few days OF judging OF his no'lHies'
can but Join in the general opinion that he Is a most excel
lent and rigid prosecutor.
Durino Yesterday the defence entered into u Justification
Of the murder Of Prof. Butler. They proved TO Their saus-
faction that the DECEASED made an assault, upon Matt. ware,
and would have Frustrated and perhaps killed h!n' hu ne
not sho, and thus ended the utiray. They also Introduced
! witness to testify that Prof. Butler had, told hun. while
anon his dying bed, that he (B struck Ward hrst. But the
si,trmcn.s of This witness were 81 contradictory, ne became
30 entanpIed and confused IN the course u q cross eAaWina-
nor, ina, his testimony operated against the defence.
mir Jobu O. Bullock. editor OF the Times, was again upon
The stand Yesterday. He testified 10 a redneSs upon the
rnr,s ui Matt Ward, noticed By him some few hours aver
the alray, lha: had evidently been produced by a blow. buI
during the cross examination by Mr.. Carpenter, the witness
mad To- concede that the Iedness might have been produced
by rubbing the cheek with a coarse towel.
Air and NJ RS. Robert J. Ward were introduced as evidence
"a IN what Matt. Wards intention was when he started 10
thr school room. Most of their testimony was illeeai ono
excluded from The Jury. but not till after II had been given In
and had its desired elects.
IN The cuurt room, occasioned by her iain'ing.
Mr.. Crirendeu conducted tho case for The offence yestet
Jay, il having been discovered by the counsel that the In!u'
dIciOGs course oil Capl. LON hdts"u' d oP''"''"s N"N
v1rapIy uron the cause.
Some rare devclopements were made yesterday by witness
ps for the defence, concerning the manners ano customs pre-
valrnt in Louisville, the fashion of prisoners IN la' ana lhe
turnkey playing cards together. the posaioiilty ol q murderer
sscauiDp, according 10 Larry .. "nNcJ ttc minute w.
.lap.ing alter he had committed the crime before tho Chief
of the Police was ndviScd OF The Deed.
hid prepared 2 list OF the distinguished wi;ncasce Pre-.
cent eu, can only give you Il few this morning. l present
hcir naures and high positions as lncy were Introduced l"
Daniel McCalister, cx-pIas,erGr and man Of fortune.
Coleman Daniel, ditto and ditto.
Ben. ". Pollard, ex.President Of the Common Council
and candidate for Clerk OF the City Court.
Ju,re Walker, editor of the New Orleans Della
l. T. Crensiaw, nephew of Judge Crenshdw, OF the Ap.
peIIate Court. OK. pubhsher Tor Mrs. Lindsay, ex.prcacher and
agent.
rel Cx.Midshipn,un in the United States Navy, ex.candidaIe
+ : Iirhpow, mechanic end ex. alderman.
James 5. Speed. Mayor Of Louisville, eZ ~bricklaycr, ex.
City MARSHALL, ex-Uniued States Marshall, and eZ-"severul
distinguished positions
But my lisl swens in magnitude, and l must close, without
a. apo3t,ophe to The deity of %toadysm.
ErzaprrHrows, April %, 1854.
Yesterday, after The examination OF two Or three Witness.
~ as 10 the character CT the prisoner, the defence announced
that its testimony was concluded. The remainder ut tue
morning hour was occupied by the commonwealth IN the
presentation of rebuIlns evidence. 1T was matter OF no
difficulty 10 successfully establish the truth oil what mad been
testified 10 by the Smallest and largest oil the schoolooys,
and with the audience, at least, the impression was very
general that the i"o grown men ALIEN ana uuoee'Ij VINO
,wure that they were present at The occool mouse dlfecty
after the ufftay. and heard the boys say that butler hfsi
struck Ward, were mistaken Chat being the most charitable
word III is possible to use The evidence OF a man named
s,aiemaut, 10 the effect thath he had first struck ward wasas'
sailed al all points, und with what entire success the reaotr
ran determine when Inc lul IepOTts dic uoh"ieo D''N
d. Thomson being a contradictory witness, ana tesihylng
directly u The opposite Of Blrlo~, Mr.. Wolfe raised a ques
| ton as to character, and pronounced before me court 'hat
Barlow was as good ani honorable a nan as DR.. Thomson
The utlcr abaurd;ty Of the comparison, alter all mat hao
been testified To, was so apparent, that it excited u general
manifestation VI deriSlon.
Pending this matter. q question OF a theological nature
was mooted By Mr.. Wolfe. II was based upon the hypo.
,bcsjs, that Dr.. Thompson was q member OF the church, and
/ wss his Whether or not it is consistent with The duty Of
members of tie church and Sabbath school teachers TO car.
ry deadly weapons' Judge hincheloe promptly ruled The
question out OF order, and instructed the Doctor 20 answer
il. Allow me to respectfully suggest this novel question to
the considera ton OF the approaching General Assembly OF
the Presbyterian church.
Long before The hour OF the afternoon session, the court
room was so completely damned, that II was a matter next
10 ;mposaibiI.y 10 a1ovc within-ihc space around the build.
inr was entirely filed up by eager listeners, and every win
dow of the house was filled with l0okers On. At hall past
one, Mr.. Carpenter arose, and opened tho argument ior the
Common wealth.
A, len minutes of 6 O'Clock, Mr.. Carpenter said that he
had no, concluded, and desired the Court should adjourn
until morning. The Judge readily acGuiescsd In The wish Of
the gentleman.
This morning at 8 o'clock, Mr. Carpenter resumed his
argument for The prosecution, and continued uoll the hour
of IL.