Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-04-18
Thai of c B Christian, IN Rookbrideo, foi Muir

Roekbridge Circuit Court. April Term lo0i'
Judge l.. p Thompson. Presiding.
THURSDAY, lrnE 2ND DAY OF THE couEr.I
Yesterday eyeningthe Court met. The Grand
Jury. having retired aud examined n number OF
witnesses, brought in "a true bill' against {. H.
Christian, for the murder Of Thos Blackburn
The Court WIS then adjourned over until this
morning
At 10 O'Clock, this morning. the Court met,
when the prisoner was brought IN, nfragned aud
pleaded not guilty. The prosecution was con
Quoted by ID. r. Moore, assisted by MIR. Miehlei
aud the defence by Messrs Stunt, Mosby, Doyle,
Dorman, storrett and Leteher.
The following gentlemen free holders OF the
county, were selected as jurors: james + liam
ilton, Joseph W. kolso. Joseph g. w Bell, Nm.
l.. Ayres. Zaoharah J. McChesney, Moses j.
Ludwieh. John A. Reynolds, Alfred Douglas, Jno.
X. Brown. David Whitmore, w. W. Stuart JAS
7. Bell.
Mn. j. w. MAssIE, having been sworn, tes-
tilted That ON Sunday night, the 18th of last
January, as lac was on his way to church, in com
panv with lady ON the cross street leading by
Mr. MoClellnnd's 10 the Main street, aud on the
pavement next 10 McClclland's house, and near
w opposite the Engine house. he heard slight
scnile, aud "a series Of quick successive strokes,
resembling those mnde by switch or COW hide
struck rapidly. Did not turn round. Walked
twenty steps towards the mhin street, when the
strokes censed A seufie ensued. the parties
coming dingonully across the street, towards the
place where he was. Walked on some twenty
steps farther when the scullle seemed to stop.
Turned round and saw two persons ON the ground
with their heads towards bin and close together
They were under the light from the windows OF
the church. which Illuminated the pavement be-
yond them, but passed over the spot whore they
were lying They seemed TO be perfectly STILL
face TO face, and locked close together Heard
no sounds Of any kind; neither saw nor heard any
ticks Remarked to +. B. Taylor, who in
company, that he would go back; that they might
hurt each other Handed Taylor his hymn book,
turned round to go back, and saw them up--did
not see them rise. One was standing with his
back towards him, appeared 10 be well dressed,
rather low and heavily set. The other was stan
ding with his front and left side of his face to-
wards him. Approached them rapidly One
seemed to have hold of the other by the throat.
Saw the one with his back towards him Witness
push tho other from him. with his right hand
when the other, who was pushed, fell heavily,
staggering obliquey to the right. lie fell in n
line with the cross street-his head towards the
Main street, about one foot and huff from the
lower corner of the hay scales. He was lying
rather ON his left arm, AMI his head in Il gutter.
The one who gave the push, sprang, as he gave
it, baok ON the pavement, and stopped opposite
to the fallen man. Saw his face, but did not re-
cognize him, although the light from the church
fell on his face. Turned then to the man who
had fallen. Thought he was drunk. Heard n
snuilling sound Saw that he was white; the light
from the church falling partly ON him. Thought
lac had whiskers. Spoke To him; but making no
reply called again; he still made no reply. just
then II tall gentleman, dressed in citizens clothes,
cHmo up, and asked, what is the matter He,
twitness) replied: II believe some one has killed
this man" Pulled him up so that the light shone
on him. and that il was Cadet Blackburn
Exclaimed To a cadet, who came up, believe some
one has killed Blackburn. The snuilling, gurg-
ling sound continued. Pulled Blackburn up ON
the scales. About that time DR.. Christian came
aud cul ed for n light. Suggested that Il. be TIA
ken over to Mr.. Whites counting room. lie
was carried over and placed on the cellar door of
Mr.. Whites wood house. Noticed that he was
dying; his eyes becoming fixed, and the gurgling
sound eeasing. He was very bloody. DIR.
Christian examined his neck,and called for bran
dy, and sent for another physician. His gasps
almost eeased. Did not know ut this time who
had done the deed. Some one said the man hat
gone into the tavern. Called for VIM Jordan, the
Mayor and went with him and others TO Nc
DoweFs tavern. There was II talk about nlncinG
=. t..."-1 - d., dVoIs. / he crowd went up thu
first stairway, when MrJordan suggested that the
clerk of the house ought TO be present, to leaC
the way. Some ono then came up and said, thai
Christian wished TO deliver himself up. Mr.. Jor
dan immediately went to Christians room. lie
(the wtness) stopped at the door, which wa,
slightly opened. Christian just then approached
Mr.. Jordan, and said, This is an ugiy scrap,
Ire got into, bm ! couidnt help il. I told hin
10 apologize he moHidHt do IL and told him
he ,eas no gentleman Mr.. Jordan told him tC
put ON his coat and go with him. He said, "Yes
certainly Came by the place, where the tigh
occurred, next morning. Saw n blood stain neal
whore first saw them ON the ground, one and
half yards from the payemento of an eliptical form
about 10 inches by IL. Saw another blood stair
near The scales, where b. fell when pushed; about
the same quantity of blood here as at the frs
stain This was irregular in form. Saw no trac,
of blood between the two stains. Saw another
STAN ON the scales where b. had been laid the
night before. The distance from where the scuf
iio commenced to where they were both ON tn,
ground was about 20 tt. From that to where b
fell was near Is. These three points make {
triangle. The length of time from when iirs
heard the seuftle, until they fell, was near half {
minute. They were ON the ground about ID sec
onds. The whole time from the commencement
of the soule to the time that b. fell was less than
minutes AID until he died : minutes.
CROSS ExAM1NED.-Coud not tell certainly
who under; but formed an opinion Think
IT was Christian, rs that would account for C's
back being towards me, when they rose. Did
not SEQ them change positions. They were on
the groand about 10 seconds Heard nothing
said at any time. Did not hear the fall. There
did not seem to be any struggle on the ground
They were about ID it. distant Could not saw
exactly as to the point at which their heads lay.
Knew them both, Blackburn wen, Christian slight
ly, Did not recognize G. that night; perhaps would
have known him with his moustach. Thought
b. was the largest and strongest man. C's hei6bt
was about . TT in. BIS. ) H. b. was we'll form
ed man, though he seemed to be soft rs to his
muscles. The stroke sounded like switch