Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-13
From the Pcnnsylvsnia Freeman.
MURDER NO CRIME IN KENTUCKY.


An extraordinary criminal trial has just been
concluded in Kentucky, which possesses more than
local interest, and especially concerns the people
Of the North in their relations to the South and
its slave system. We refer TO the trial and ac-
quittal of Mathew +. Ward, the young Kentucky
arstocrat who murdered Prof Butler of Louis
yille last autumn, i'll open day and presence Of his
school, A brief and simple statement of the facts,
as they proved the trial, is enough to con-
vince any candid mind Of the enormity of the muir
der, and of the mOnstrous mockery OF justice and
law that has acquitted its pcrpetrator and thus pro-
claimed impugint to such crimes.
Prof. Butler was young man Of education,
from the North, who had resided for some years
in Louisville, a classical teacher; part Of the
time private tutor in the family Of the Wards,
with whom he had continued to hold the most
friendly relations BY his private virtues and
worth added to his accomplishments as a scholar
and teacher, his general intelligence and gentle
manly manners, he had won a large circle Of warm
friends among the most intelligent classes of Louis
vile, and was generally popular.
On the first Of November he punished William
Ward, one Of his pupils, and younger son of the
Ward family, for ialsehood and other misconduct.
It was not pretended that the punishment was un-
duly severe or cruel; but the pride of the family
was wounded that one of its members was thus
publicly disgraced
Early the next morning. Matthew +. Ward, an
older brother Of the lad, went to gun-shop in
Louisville, bought two sef-cocking pistols and Or
dered them loaded with bullets. Then putting per-
cussion caps upon both and thrusting them into
his breast pocket, he went home and told his moth
er he was going to demand and apology Of Butler
for his punishment of William. BY his mother s
advice he took his brother Robert with him "as
Butler was larger man than he was;' Robert
taking with him also a large bowie-knfe. Thus
armed, the two brothers went to Mr. Buffers
school-room, and found him engaged with his pu-
pills. At their call he came forward, when Mat
thew asked Of him an explanation of his having
whipped his brother. Mr.. b. requested him to
step into his private room, but Ward refused say
ing thai was the place to settle it, And then in an
oyerbearing tone he began to question Mr.. Butler
as to his conduct toward William. Mr.. b. calmly
refused to be thus interrogated. Ward then de-
manded an apology Of Mr.. b. for calling his broth
er a liar, which he mildly declined to give. To
this, Ward replied with an oath, calling Butler "a
scoundrel and coward" with the evident design to
provoke him to some act that he could make the
pretext for shooting him.
Robert Ward, the partner of his brother in the
crime, swears that Butler struck "Matt" and
pushed him backward, which the pupils present
deny, though they say Mr.. b. raised his hand, and
one of them that he gave Ward push toward the
door. Instantly Ward drew his pistol, pressed its
muzze against Buffers breast and fired. Butler
exclaimed, MY poor wife and child" and fell.
His pupils rushed to his aid, and Robert Ward
drew his bowie-knife and brandishing it ordered
them to stand off, and then the Wards left the
room, leaving their murdered victim weltering in
his blood He was carried to his home and his
agonized wife, and died that night.
Was there ever q clearer case Of murder than
these facts discloseH Is there room for shade Of
doubt in any sane mind as TO the commission the
character Of the crime And yet, with these facts
proved beyond all question, Kentucky jury, sol
emnly sworn to render true verdict, declare thai
homicide is no murder.
But this perjured verdict is but part of a sys
tematic course of measures TO override justice
Butler was a Northern school-master. His mur
derers were members Of one of the wealthes
and proudest families Of the Kentucky aristocracy
and their fellow aristocrats joined with them t
save the class from the shame of having two o.
their number doomed to the gallows. The acquit
tai Of the murderers must be secured at any cost
Every means that money, station, power and inau
ence could command, was employed TO create pub
lie sympathy for the young Wards and excite
prejudice against the murdered man. The press
was muzzlod. The trial was removed from Louis
vile, where the parties were known, and where an
intelligent and independent jury might be drawn,
to distant county, where juries and judges could
be more easily controlled. The ablest counsel
we're secured. IL was ostentatiousy proclaimed
that Gov. Crittenden the senior counsel, had vol
unteered in the case, and that man so high
minded and honorable would never volunteer to
defend guilty man. The witnesses for the pros
ecution, principally Mr.. Buffers pupils, were bad,
gered and bullied to confuse their testimony. All
testimony touching Buffers character was, OF
course, ruled out, while multitude Of rich and
influential friends of the Wards were brought for
ward to swear to the amiabilty and the gentleness
OF the prisoners. The judge appears to have ruled
every thing for the defense, admitting and exclud-
ing testimony at their suggestion and in violation
OF precedent and law; and finally so charged the
jury as to permit them TO consider the homicide as
committed in selfdefense.
The result is just what was to be expected. The
killing Of Northern school-master by scion OF
the slaveholding aristocracy is declared to be no
murder That aristocrscy are banded for mutual
support and Defense by a bond as strong and sure
as ever leagued company Of free masons together.