The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-25
The Ward Trial In Kentucky.
Correspondence of the Louisville Democrat.

49, EIIABEr1uowN, April 10, 1854
Yesterday morning the case OF the ommonwcalt
| vs Mat r. and Robert Ward, was called The de
| fence moved for separate trials and the Judge he'll
their right to separate trials the right OF the Com
monweah to elect which should be tried first The latte
chose 10 try the PRINCIPAL and the defence announced
themselves ready The next step was the great point o
interest-the jury After exhaustng the panel and call
ing forty more-sixty four in ala jury obtained
| and here are the names:-
1hos. III. Yates, Asa Buckles, r. McIntyre,
John Young, Thomas Thurston, Green Walker,
.'as. Crutcher, Geo. Stump, Abram Neighbor,
III ehard Pierce, j. G. Chenoweth, ". Edison.
II the afternoon the examination of witnesses COM
mend and four OF the boys belonging TO Buffers school
We're ,~amned-Messrs. Knight Worthingon, Prtle and
Pope. "A rigid examination made material modi-
fcaton OF the direct statement.
The reporters are busy recording the testimony, but
they were admitted to seats only condition that the
testimony should not be pablised until the trial
over do not question his honors motive for he has
won golden opinions By bis digniaea and impartial
firm, and just; bat submit il this restriction upon re.
porters is founded in reason sense. trial
is 10 be open by tho very sprit OF our institutions.
Every man who get into the house is entitled
to be there. There be trial with closed doors
Now, have not the whole community iust much right
10 The facts as the few who crowd themselves Into
the court house? Is not tho truth accurately published
better than thousand inaccurate versions and false
morsy In fact the urt has only followed thcElshion
derived from time when tribunals sat in secres ;.u
which has not been discarded in this State grant that
plausible reasons may be given for the restriction and
ey l. may result from its removal. So plausible
y b given for ecret trials but still the objections 70
u n are too obvious to need repetition. Justice VIII
u States is to publish the testimony fast il
gAtn There is no such restriction imposed; and the
me Practice viii obtain in this State Crimin,l trials
need the vigilance Of sound public opinion Let it be
understood that jurors must go before the public with
the facts and the verdict to be sustained condemned
and jury packing will be end and verdicts in de-
fance Of testimony will be impossible At present,
jurors are subject to no responsibility for corrupt
pieposterous finding Few know the facts and few
form an intelligent opinion in the most important
The trial proceeds this morning At present rates it
viii require several days to get through the testimony
the defence II all their witnesses are examined will not
get through for several days Then the number of
sci indicates long period of speeches shall keep you
advised Of the progress of the business.
annex list OF the counsel for the prosecution and
the defence, and the names of the jury.
Counsel for prosecuon-Alfred Allen, Of breckenridge
Commonwealth's attorney assisted by H. b. Carpenter
OF CoNngton f. W Gibson, of Louisville; Sylvester Har
rs, of Hardin
Frankfort; Hon. 1hos. f. Marshall, of Woodford; Hon
John l. Helm Of Hardin Hon Geo. A. Caldwell, Nathan
iel Wolf, Thomas w. Riley Of Louisville; James W.
Hays, r. B. Hays, Of Hardin
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.]
ElIzABE1rHowS, Ky, April 10, 1854.
This case was called yesterday morning, and most of
the forenoon spent in impannelng jury. or sixty
three men summoned, ftyone had formed opinion.
Every man that would say he had formed opinion was
accepted and there was challenge either side. A
severance was granted ard Matt +. Ward only is on
trial he is in very feeble health and looks miserable
One Of his legs is all shrunk up with rheumatsm he
looks thin pale, with hectic flush his check In
addition, he is suffering from pain in his
head 10 which lie has to apply wet cloths while in the
court room He has evidently slept bed of roses
for the past few months His wife has shared his sorrow
with him in the jail and sticks by his side the court
room with unmstakeable marks of anguish stamped on
every feature OF her countenance Judging from her ap
Iearance she is full miserable Mrs Butler since
the melancholy event which sent the husband of one TO
the grave and OF the other to the Jail.
The entrance of the Ward family into the court room
yesterday morning, WAS most touching scene. The
sobs Of the ladies tears into the sternes eyes,
Al the associations the most melancholy whether
We consider the the result the past present
cUnLiton cf the parties
But for witnesses have yet been examined. They
all boys in The school, and testify TO the same
gene raj iacts-Gt Mat +. and Robert j. Ward came in
and inquired for Mr.. Butler that Batter came ont of his
recitation and advanced towards them that Mat
made inquiry of butler and Butler asked him
his ard he would there explain that Ward refused
TO 60 and sad the matter must be settled there; that
utter cnc or two more questions and answers Ward called
Butler liar; that then Butler raised his and made
step towards Ward, at the time Ward fred pis
tcl; fuer fell Immediately; that Mat Ward drew ano
,nv, pistol and Rohert j. Ward knife, and cried stand
off that the WARDS then went out Butler arose stag
eered few steps, and assisted by the boys to
dwelling
This reveals the point which the defence will rest
self defence. The raising of Buffers will lie
defend himself.
Thos Marshall occasionally gets up rich scene, to
vary the monotony of the testimony We shall lively
es should he continue to progress as Mr. Carpenter,
of Covington, replies with equal spirit.