Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-25
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TRIAL OF CHARLES b. CHRISTIAN.


TRIAL OF CHARLES b. CHRISTIAN
THURSDAY, April go, 1854.
skvEsrH DAr.
The argument was delayed this morning for some time
by the ind'positon Of juror Alfred Douglas but The
Juror coming into Court, the trial proceeded crowd a
adies-an unusual thing here-appeared In Court and oc
cuped the bench on both sides Of tho Judge to hear III,
argument Of tho Hon. A II. II. Stuart who, they kue,
was to address tho jury this morning on behalf of hs
prisoner. -t- LtA 81 E.NHE+.-.
Mr. Stuart then arose, and after alludng to his own
ate ndisposi''on lhe complained of being stl unwe
spoke OF the indspositon Of the JURORS worn out by
this proracted trial, he then referred to tho weigh
" responsibilities resting all connected with this mos
important trial. and tho duty Of the jury in clearing from
their minds all preconceived ideas aud OF their
their minds with fixed attention the real evidence Ia
this cause Tie warned them of the deep prriu
diees that existed after the sad tragedy in this
g-that they meet this pr'udced public sentiment and
repel IL ard drive IL hack with hus shalt thou come
and no farther aud here shall thy proud waves be stayed
This sentiment OF bias aud prejudice vrtuous feel.
ing, but IL operated at times unattended injustice lilo
alluded to the TACT that friends and great CORPORA
ton were arrayed to support aud sustain the Common.
weaiths Cause but tina, the jury should remember
vengeance belongs only the High He referred TO
the course Of the head Of the " NJ aud insisted that
he had been influenced by improper real aud that he
MI 81 could not see the proprey OF bringing the weight
OF that Institution against the prisoner and that he was
not aware tina; the head Of that Institution could divert
the funds from their Legitimate purpose the support
criminal prosecution, when the prisoner in the hands
oil the law, and there provided by law for
prosecuting him. and ageneman recognized aud appoint
ed to attend TO that duty and that law
cuted IL was not necessary employ counsel defend
the reputation OF the deceased lie was brave he was
vittuous, he was young of noble aud
sctuied by good feelings vet he Arbitrary he was
dicatoral he overoearug aud naughty in his do
meanor. think the less of him for these qualities
but they led TO the unfortunate .edy lie to the
Virginia Military Institute where these feelings would
be aud he is there found be ged seve
raj difficulties. He there referred TO the excellent
Character aud oval disposition Of the prisoner shown
by his highly respectable neighbors aud that he
kind aud ahectonatc aud all his associations those
gentleman. lie had come to this community study
law with Judge Brockenbrough. and received into
the best company young lady Of extraordinary beauty
aud attractions here from Boteourt. C.'s young
heart touched by her charms and sought her
quaintance and gave her the devoted attention. lie
had even formed in his mind the determination of
seeking her hand aud reveals his OF his
companions He with her the festivals and par
ties Of the winter aud shows her the
uniting attachment and devotion. He looked forward
with painting breast to his engagement go with her TO
church, and his feelings rise reminds him Of his
engagement TO accompany her church. Thus elated
aud his heart oouyan with hope aud he receives the
cold aud chilling note from Miss A, declining 20 with
him to church, and is given for singular
course lie then goes to see her, aud she refuses
him. aud he had the modification to find that from
she had lost her kind and respectful feelings
him. He then writes her note, thinking that
had been sinderng him, aud asks who lad injured him
in her estimation. This note written in confidence
aud II IL had been Kept in confidence this jury would
have had this painful determine. Q. had written
{, Miss A. in the most respectful aud aattering manner
aud gave her tho opportunity Of writing him Of
turning this note to him through box lOl-the deli
cate mode that he could have adopted. This
done, hut the letter made a subject Of merrnent at
the expense Of Mr.. C.'s reputation.
Mr. Stuart here went into full investigation of the cir
cumsnces that led TO the interview the passage
Hotel and the aud object of that interview and to
the fac: that Mr. b. had taken Cadets Horner Humes
with him TO that interview aud the fact that b. and
not acquantances-and that had sought that in
terrew for hostile purpose intimidate O.
him before him and that b. had boosted afterwards
OF his triumph Z. lie then referred Mr. C having
consulted with the other members Of the law class aud to
his having asked their advise before he took any steps
the matter q. was bound to notice the insult in some
obe ostraczed from society aud from the company ofads
aud all gentlemen who highly estimated character and
white iyered coward who condemns hui con-
demned degraded man in their estimation aud he
would have felt OF degradation Then il was an
imperative duty O. TO his friends and him self to de-
mind OF b. apology explanation for his conduct-C
prepares himself a single barrel pistol a re.
Vover and bowie knife for offensive purposes but
be prepared assault his wn proec
| ton against combination. g. had right 10 call on b.
for satisfaction and he bad right prepare himself TO
resist any attack that might be made on him. B. knew
that the matter Lot ended aud Z. had right 10 sup
pose that Is woul be armed for he had eyery reason IN
suppose that b. armed the other interview Mr.
here referred 10 Mr. B. and his associates following cow
drover and beating aud abusing him even alter he had
gwen them an apoogy-and referred declaration of
Mr. T. made To his companions before after tho rem
counter, and introduced by the Common eaths Council
that O. carried the arms for defensive purposes ouly He
then detailed the evidence Of the meeting IN toe ybule
0 the Church, and that consecrated ground and tb
parties having walked out into the towards Nc
Clellnds, aud that c. then demanded an apology and
refusing SO give IL called him rascal and g. srized him
aud had him down choking him, aud when in the las,
gisp. he inflicted the fatal wound. Mr. > statements
a1out the reucounter confirmed by the te,mouy Of
Aessrs Mase and Taylor and the b)od on the parties
and to the fact tia. the stick dropped near the DO ut
where the parties were dosn together.
Mr. s. here exhibited the bloody clothes OF tho parties
10 The jury md the weapons carried by O. and referred
to the TACT that there were no missions the
breast OF BIS clothes and the mud the knees of B.,
pius and on he back OF Ca clothes as showing that c.
vas down on his back aud down on top Of him when
the X lie drawn and the wounds cted lie also re-
erred to the position and direction OF The wounds to
show tha the parties could have beer stindng bui
the ground as above stated lie also referred 10
he TACT that b. was taller by sone two or three
nches than c. aud was much larger aud gtoucr aud to
the fact that the through the collar of b. coat when
g. standing would be some one aud half inches he
the wound in the neck showing he must have been
Town. aud the coat collar showed for ard tho ear Tine
Wound about half an inch below the earl c ala,
'"rcd 20 the fact that the stain Of blood on the Goa,
from the wound on the buck gre above the wound
Deo. u, showing shat the blood did not run down
his back He Insisted that the blood Mr. Cs face aud
mead gushed out Of the mouth and of Mr. b. when
O., and whed the wound given lie also account.
for the blood the left side and in the left sleeve OF
Mr. o., in the same wiyi and he insisted that II the wound
mad been given when the parties struggling on their
feet, the kno would have IN font ani the wound
would have been cash instead OF stab through the
neck wider than the knife ITSELF (ho knife was one
and halt inches wide aud the wound about the same
aud that the doctors, with perhaps Que execution
thought the wounds inflicted while the artes were
down.
Mr. 8 here referred to tho fact that it had been coz
tended In the called court that the fatal wound given
after the parties had rseU and that IL it had been given
when they down, b. could have arisen; now
they have changed their front, and cOntendng that
b. twice down after the fatal stab was given Thi,
position in such questionable shape that mu,
speak to it. will acquit the Common weah's attorney
of all blame in the matter, he did know Of the evil
dencc in relation to the alleged third pool OF blood I'm
III during the progress oil this trial Tbis IL n remarkable
circumstance first known aud proved during progress.
Of this trial. As the Commonwealth has introduced eyi.
dence in relation tn this 81 pool Of blood it Is incumbent
them to reconcile IL with the other facts proved and
to establish their hypohses beyond reasonable doubt
and II reasonable doubt 10 Left the jury bound 10 give
the benefit Of that doubt to the prisoner lie then com
mehted upon the testimony establishing the existence of
this third pool aud the evidence OF the number of respec
table witnesses denying that such pool could have
had any existence and that it impossible that the 3rd
pool could have been where described by the witnesses
aud no blood from that point to the spot where h. and
we're down together and that " the wonni had been in
Hicte1 at the pretended 3r1 pool b womb n.vcr hoe,