The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-05-04

Kentucky Disgraced.-Matt. ward.
The condition of things at Louisville, in
view of the acquittal of Ward, appears to
have become little more quiet, although the
papers are in state of happy excitement
principally engaged in fighting each 9TH
er. No people more deeply feel the dis
grace under which Kentucky now labors so
deservedly, than the Kentuckians them
selves. Her fair fame has never received so
foul blow as by the decision of the bribed
and corrupted jury in the Ward case. YET
at the same time this trial was in course,
why was it +" everybody" that notable per-
SON, predicted the Wards would never be
found guilty of the charge of either murder
or manslaughter, when this same "every-
body" knero Matt. Ward to be guilty of a
base and inexcusable murder? All, why was
it! Simply because this is not the first time
Kentucky has been "disgraced " by such
acquittals of murderers-because she had al
ready the established character, of permiSing
wealth and influence to escape unpublished,
while the "poor devils" alone labored under
the direst infections of outraged law.
Bat in this particular case, the people OF
Kentucky have spoken out their honest in
dgnaton SO heartily, and appear to feel SO
keenly the disgrace heaped upon their State,
that we hope better things from Kentucky
hereafter. We do not think another jury
will ever be picked up in the State, who in
any similar case, will dare permit murderer
to escape the vengeance Of the law, simply
because he is backed by wealth and influence.
If such jury ever again be found, and such
an acquittal as this ever again take place, in
stead of hanging up the s6igies of the corrupt
jurymen, we fervently hope their own bodies
will be swung high from the earth they dis
graced.
What must be the feelings of Matt. Ward
and his family at this time. Better had he
died oil the scaffold, or pinned away his life in
the State Prison, than to be free and live the
brief life before him with it's present unhappy
prospects. Young, talented, gifted in educa-
ton and accomplishments, and with wealth
at his command-alas, how unenviable.-
The poorest man that walks the earth, bless
ed by a clear conscience, is a at has side.
Watch him 6eeing from the spot where a
bribed jury of his countrymen acquitted him
of guilt in taking the life of an estimable
man, and his own tutor. He fears to enter
his own native city and his childhoods and
manhood's home-he flies to q neighboring
State. Honest Indignation pursues him
there. He returns and hastens away miles
down the river. He has scarcely time to
breathe as a freeman, ere rumors reach his
ear, and fearful of the Indignation of his fell
low men, he must fly from that spot. He
halls a miserable little craft without accom-
modations for . single passenger. He aP-
peals to the Captain, and by persuasion and
money, gains his consent to 90 few miles
further down the river. He takes his wife
on board, sits up the whole night because
there is no place to lie down, and sick and
harrassed and terrified, he is again put on
shore at small town. But even there he
can scarcely stay long enough to rest
Again he is on a steamboat, and gone
Where can he fly to escape the indignation
and contempt of his fellow men! Will one
ray of sunshine penetrate the clouds OF his
after lifel What q warning is here! What
a worning to those who are in the habit of
permitting momentary passion to sway their
judgments and all the best feelings of their
natures. But we leave the subject.