Washington telegraph., 1854-04-12
The Ward Trial, and their Acauittal.

The case was submitted to the jury on the
evening of the 26th, after very able speech from
the District Attorney. They returned into court
the next morning, and rendered verdict of Nor
GUILTY of either murder or manslaughter. In
mediately mile proseqli was entered in the case
of Roberto. Ward, jr., it was impossible to
convict the second after the principal had been
acquitted. The verdict created great excitement
at Louisville. SO much SO that at one time it was
feared that violence would be done On Friday
night last, Col. Nat Wolfe, one of the Wards
counsel, and a member OF the CITY Council of
Louisville, was burned in efiigy by the incensed
public.
OF the result of this trial and its probable con-
sequence upon society, the Louisville Democrat
says:
To those who have read the testimony. this re ,
suit will be read with amezement! Is It possible
that man can enter the house of another, with
concealed weapons-insult. abuse. denounce and
even strike him; and if he lifts hand in defense
shoot him down, and be adludged innocent by
jury? Kentucky has been notorious heretofore
for acqmttals in cases of murder; but this murder
surpasses anything that we have ever heard OF
here or elsewhere. The shocking death of Butler
did not astonish us more than this finding of
jury. 1t was not for want of testimony-nor for
want of able prosecution. The former was
plain and clear; the latter was as powerful as ever
prosecution in the State. TIE rulings of
mad never occurred to us that person could be
competent witness when his testimony would ac-
quit himself of crime; but such we are told is
the practice In this State. Moreover these ru-
Ings of the courts we are satisfied did not affect
the result. Neither testimony. law nor argument
had anything to do with it. 1t would have been
the same, whatever might have been the law. the
facts, or the arguments. The iury did the
business, regardless of facts or law They are
strangers to us; but it was remarkable that the
knowing ones about EliZabethtown foretod the
result and never wavered in their opinion except
that they admitted the jury might hang from the
time it was empanneled They swore they had
not formed nor expressed an opinion. Some of
them swore awfully, if the statements of men
who are not known to be addicted to alsehood
are to be believed. The rumors not to say the
positive statements about Elizabethtown induced
us to abandon all expectations that either the law
or the testimony would amount to ANYTHING
Perhaps the people of Hardin county may throw
some light on this strange verdict At present.
1t looks to Us inexpIicable and confounding Plain
testimony and plain law, set at naughtl Are onr
own houses to be invaded, and the law and iuries
give no protection? Are our school houses. Where
our sons and daughters sent for instruction and
protection, TO be invaded by men with secret wea-
pons, and teachers shot down with perfect rnpu-
nItys
VIM. H. G. Butler had done only his duty. set
the integrity of his own heart and a spotless life
Surrounded by his confding and beloved pupils,
he is insuted villified struck and shot He was
faultess to the whole transaction. His murder
ers did not assail his noble character Who then
is criminal?
1t is time society should take serious survey
of our criminal laws as they are administered by
courts and jurIes. They are only farce in .her
operations We are sliding into state of society
IN which protection is to be sought in the Bowie
knife and pistol. Who can trust his person to
law and juries7 Your neighbor can enter your
own peaceful home, insult and vilify you. call you
liar, or coward, and if you undertake to eject
HIM or not you can be shot, and jury will say
it is all right
We have been denounced for the mildest notice
of this case heretofore. We We're told to wait
for the regular course of justice. Well, we have
had the regular course of iIstice-we have had
law and order; and what has law and order done7
God deliver US from law and order if these are
their faults. We know that the popular mind
and heart are right on this subject Public senti-
ment did not do the deed 1t seeks no vengeance
but justice; justice is outraged one of our purest
and neblest, and most useful citizens has been
slaughtered in our midst. Law and order SAYS he
was killed in sell defense Was ever such judicial
lie uttered before high heaven? We care not
what others may think; nor do we wish to wound
the feelings of the innocent; but we shall write
and publish what we please in the name of insul-
ted lustice-in the name of the insulted memory
of the righteous dead most wickedlY assaed by
this verGct There remains but one tribunal this
side of the grave where Butler sleeps; that is the
tribunal Of public opinion. There are some men
seeking public favor of the people in this region
who have made themselves very officious in this
business. They shall have the attention they
need. The whole case and the testimony will be
laid before the public, as well as the testimony
excluded by the court. The court would admit
no testimony about the whipping in school; but it
was Indirectly brought in by the defense, and cut
hgure IN the speeches. The prosecution was
ready to have annhilated all that could be said on
that point by overwhelming proof. but it was shut
out The deceased was not to be assailed-a
pledge promptly given. but not redeemed The
treLds of the deceased will see to it that this sub
terfuge shall not avail the living nor iniure the
dead. Memphis Whig.