Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-06-27
JOHN j. CRITTENDEN.

Mn. EDITOR Ever since the termination Of the
trial Of Ward, who was arraigncd for the murder
of Prof. Butler, the press of both parties, with
very few exceptions, have been loud in their de-
nunciations of Mr.. Crittenden for the part which
he took as counsel for the accused. 1t seems to
me that very great part of this censure has been
heaped upon him rashly and without due rehec-
ton, by those who have been most unsparing in
their invectives against the course which he tho't
proper to pursue. The facts of the case are
these:
John J. Crittcnden has long been an intimate
friend and associate Of the Wards. Shortly af-
ter the killing of Butler, by Matt. F. Ward, Mr..
Crttenden received letter from his father, sta
ting that it was his desire, if unengaged, that he
should become one of the counsel for his sons
This letter was addressed to him the strength
of their firm and long continued friendship. 1t
was addressed to him at a time of need, when
many, from a fear Of the consequences, would
have shrunk from the task. 1t is true that he was
a volunteer counsel in one sense of the word. He
would not receive any compensation for his ser
vices in the case. He we'll knew that his clients
would willingly pay any that he was dis
t,lents in conducting the trial. The Wards were
then in prison, awaiting ''their trial under a
heavy load of prejudice and excitement" AS a
professional man-as a lawyer, he had no right
to refuse them his services under the circumstan-
ccs, without appear ing, to say the least of it, a
tin'id larger and a arorthless friend. Upon con-
si.erat on Of the matter, he decided to brave the
arprobium of public opinion, face the excitement
that pelvaded all classes alike, in the ncighbor-
hood where the crime committed, and appear
at El:zabethtown as one Of the counsel for the de-
fence. His course in examining witnesses, and
conducting other details of the trial, no one can
say but that it in keeping with his character
as high-mindcd, talented and accomplished law
yer. With the selection, challenging and empan-
neling the jury he had nothing to do, being unac-
quaintei in tho vicinity of Elizabethtown. He
also decided that for his services he would receive
no compensation. That in view Of the situation
of his son, he would not seize the opportunity to
speculate upon one of his oldest and dearest
with the generosity of deeply distressed father
He felt that the time had come when his friend
ship was to be rut to the test. Could h, in this
view of the case refuse? He could not.
Whatever may have been the guilt of the ac-
cused, and that he was guilty of murder, none
who have read the evidence adduced upon the
rial, can for a moment doubt, but the jury tho't
Otherwise AMI he was acquitted. With that ve~-
diet John j. Crittend N had nothing to do. With
the manner in which he conducted the defence
the counsel for the prosecution were perfectly
satisfied. He defended the prisoner with the abi-
ity for which he is distinguished, and if again
placed in similar position, have no doubt he
would pursue the same Independent and honora-
bic course. There has never yet been a single
imputation cast upon John J. Crittcnden's fame,
but from the investigation Of which he has
come out, like gold, purified from the fire.
In kcnu XIV, his native State, he has always held
apostion in the affections of the people, second to
nom, except the lamented Clay. 1t is no doubt
in the remembrance of many who read this, that
Henry Clay was at one tine in precisely the same
position now occSried by Mr. Crittenden. The
'Great Orator. had, in the beginning of his ca
rcer as lawyer, defended young Man who had
committed the crime of murder, with such I'M
passoncd eloqucnce and pathos, that the jury, al
though II was Il Gear case or murder In the first
degree, only found u verdict of manslaughter.-
This at first turned the current of popular opn-
ion against the sGoliath Of the Wcst,' but it did
not last long. The sober second thought of the
people came to the rescue, and the fact that he
had done nothing but what it was his duty as a
lawer to do, soon placed him unalterably in the
hearts of the people of Kentucky. So it will be
with John j. Crittenden. Already revolution
has begun in his favor: and so soon as the preju-
dee and excitement engendered by this trial shall
have passed away. he will shine still brighter than
ever, as the fearless advocate, who nobly dared,
at the risk of public Indignation and censure, to
stand by his friends, as well in adversely as in
prosperity. FRANK.
St. Paul, June o, 1854.