New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-06-23
The case If Matthew F. Ward.

the trial of Matt F. Ward, together with thu
speeches of Gov Crittenden, Gov, Helm, I. T
Marshall and Nathaniel Wolf, and the reply o
Alfred Allen, Attorney for the Commonwealth
This report is made by A. D. RICHARDSON, an &C
complished reporter, attached to the Cincinnati
press. Thisis the report referred to by Mr.. Ward
as the one upon which he preferred to be judged
rather than upon the imperfect and prejudice
reports that had been published of the trial
The request was reasonable one, which no jus
man could refuse It is true that those VIII.
had already judged and denounced Mr. Ware
impugned the rehableness of this report, an
charged that it was made by reporter EN-
ployed by the friends of the accused; but sine
it's publication, we have waited IN VAIN to Sc
any attempt to question the accuracy OF th'
report of the testimony, On that point the re
port stands intact. The most that has beer
said against it is, that it does not give all thu
speeches delivered on the occasion, and give
but one from the prosecution and four for th.
defence. To those who love to read speeches thi
will be sound objection; but we imagine tina
if persons DESTROYS Of understanding the merit
Of this case had been compelled to wade throug
three other speeches of greater length than thoS
reported, (which take up twothirds Of the re
poIt,) they would have had greater cause Of com
plant for the publication than they now h&T
for the omission. Any how, they would hay
appreciated the justice Of the plea Of the re
porter, that it was physical impossibility t.
report such . number of speeches of such inor
dinate length in the period allotted to the trial
Still, we think it would have been better fo
the reporter to have published an equal number
of speeches on both sides The report of tn
facts, however, is acknowledged to be full an,
accurate, and it is on that Mr.. Ward must rel,
for his defence before the public, rather than o.
the ingenuity and eloquence Of counsel. Z.
what little effect the talents of counsel may b
exerted in such cases before an intelligent jury
will be illustrated in this case, by the declare
ton OF one Of the jurors, made in public, tha'
after the evidence had been heard, and befor
the argument had been commenced, the jury
would have acquitted the accused.
Such declaration as this, from most rei
able source, would certainly exculpate the abb
and ingenious counsel of the accused Of any
such responsibility, as elamorous and passion
ate press and populace have sought to throw
upon them, fer torturing and perverting the lay
and testimony to procure the acquittal of til
accused The truth is, the accused was &C
Quilted upon the testimony, and upon the Ken
lucky construction of the Common or Crimina
law The charge of bribery Of the jury vii
never be entertained without positive or stron,
circumstaptial evidence. 1t will be a bac
symptom, when such charges can be mad
against this high tribunal, which embodies TIL
very core and essence of our criminal judica
ture, upon loose rumor, unsupported susp
oions, emanating from malice, passion or preju
dice. The public journal. that condeseends Il
give place to i4nutations Of this character, O
such foundation, departs gravely from its lin
Of duty, The task Of juror is thankless
serious, disagreeable one, but when to his pro
per and high responsibilities, there is added TIN
liability to be held up in the journals of tn
country, as a perjured and bribed individual
upon no stronger evidence than mere f0atin
gossip, transferred from mouth to mouth, iron
paper to paper, and copied by persons, VIII
would scorn intentionally to do wrong, withou
any idea that they are oyerstepping the path
duty and justice--all, for rendering verde
which may not please an er tied public, "
should be surprised if there we're any citizen
who would not shrink from and evade, by all I'll
acts in their power, the discharge Of such duties
The twelve honest farmers, summoned mostls
from the crowd of bystanders about the Court
house Of Hardin county nearly all men Of indie
pendence, substance and long residence, Of til
class which is the hardest of all others to bride
intimidate or caiole who tried the case of W ard
must be greatly encouraged to see themselvs
published all over the country as perjured an,
corrupt jurors. But the people Of the Unitet
States begin to understand very clearly th69
even newspaper ayerments are not to be re
ceiFed as proof; that it is one thins to oharg
and quite different thing to prove the charge
Hence we should regard it as quite superfuop
TO defend the jury that tried this case unit
some proofs are brought forward against thel
stronger than their verdict in this case, espe
chilly since We remember seeing in the column
Of the Louisville journsA, published near til
scene Of this triai, and strongly enlisted agains
the accused, the fullest certificates to the re
speotabliity, honesty and entire reliablenes
Of this jury, Until the rendition of thei
verdict they enjoyed the confidence Of al
parties. There was not one of the pane
known to the accused or any of his friend,
After they were empanneled they we're mos
carefully confined aud kept apart in the chare
otthe Sheriff and his deputies until their vel
dlGt Was rendered. The Counsel for the prose
cuIion we're confident Of DIVIDING tha inrv-sn,,,