Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-19

III I'd
tary confessions were read in evidence against
him by the prosecuting counsel. and proofs of
bis riyally Of McCloud. and other circumstances,
were established Then Miss Lawson was
brought forward TO give testimony. She came,
leaning on her fathers arm-her pale. Intelligent
and interesting face WAS modcsily concealed by
aveil and bonnet. All eyes were fixed npon
her us IN object of pity and extreme beauty.
She came forward, trembling with sensibiy
and fear, to give evidence agains, her benrIac
tor, her preserver, and idol of her heart. The
tremor of her voice and the gentle undulations
of her bosom evinccd the embarrassment uf her
mind. and the peculiar dclicacy Of her position,
and aroused the sympathy of Il crowded assem-
blv. After few moments Of composurP, she
gave the following statements OF facts /" WAS
dccoyed off from home, some months since, by
Mr. McCloud. We started 10 meeting and at-
Ter riding some time, ! asked him if were not
lost He said he believed 50; then he said he
knew where we were, and thai we had been lost,
but were now in The road back 10 town; and rs
the time for meeting had passed, we would 60
on TO town. After much conversation, he re-
marked, in an angro tone Of voice, swell, Mary,
clearly see, under all these circumstances, you
intend marrying Col. Van Dyke, and before he
shall thus trampe over my exalted claims, YOU
and myself must fall victims to your inflcHible
obstinacy" So saying, he turned our horses
out of the road aud we had not proceeded TAR
before he dsmountrd and hurried me from my
saddle down into deep, irgilfuI cave. Now,
Miss" said he, death or the full assurance of
your hand" and at the same time waving q pis-
to in one hand and a dirk in the other.
plead for life, but he seemed unrclen,ing; his
eve flashed fiery Indignation; IL, length ceased
to speak. "Then," said he, die, obstinate
Mary" raising his dirk over my head and point
ing it to my heart. Not get sounded in my ear,
followed by the report of 4 pistol. McCloud
fell turned my hcad-bcheld my dcIivcrer,
and exclaimed, thank Heaven. am safe Col.
Van Dyke then conducted me 10 Mr. Whites,
where remained until my father clme and con-
Quoted ME home"
ais this the man you call your drverer,"
asked tho attorney for the defendant, pointing
to the prisoner, who had remained unprrcciycd
by Mary until that momc"t
She gave scream, and fell in state of in
sensibiIity, from which she did Eot recover for
some days.
With the testimony Of Miss Mary, the Aitor-
ncy for the Commonwealth closed on his part.
The counsel for defendant then remarked he
wanted no witnesses, his client relied alone upon
the testimony of Miss Lawson for his jusliIic:;-
ton. The attorney for the Commonwealth then
gave to the jury brief summary OF the prnci-
Piles of the law and of the evidence bearing up
on the case, and pressed upon the jury The inn
portance of enforcing the laws Of the land
against every offender, however distinguished he
might be- The counsel for defendant then
arose, and with much ability, and more than ar
dnnry eoquenre, addressed the jury in the de-
fence of Col Van Dyke. lie denied the legal
positions assumed by the attorney for the prose-
cution. He conended that the prisoner had
not violated the aw-lhat the act complained
of was necessary to prevent the commission of
an atrocious murder. That instead of shame,
degradation and punishment, Van Dyke glurled
in The deed, and felt that he deserved the ap-
plause and appreciation of the community for
the rescue Of innocence and virtue from the en-
brace of desperation and death. HledweIt upon
the high and noble inspirations of love-lts i'm
perative claims upon all who would worship at
its pure and holy shrine. He insisted that The
law of nature, which was paramount to all hu-
man law, the sacred statutes of love and atec-
ton, that commanded him to cherish and pre-
serve its idol and inspirrr, was Col. Van Dykes
justification for the death of McCluud.
The attorney for the prosecution responded
in 4 strong appeal, rcleraling his former posi-
lons assumed in the opening of the case, en-
forcing them by new views and arguments. lie