Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-09
Federal Court.

Federal Court.
The District Court OF the United States
for the Western District Of Virginia, COM
menced it, fall term on the ID inst.--his
Honor Judge Jno. w. Brock enbrough pre-
siding. The grand jury was empannelled,
and sit until Wednesday evening-mak-
ing one indictment only-which was
against Jno. M. Meeks, the young man
who was indicted at the last term Of the
Court. This presentmen. was an addi-
tional one to that found at the May term.
The case was continued at the instance of
the prisoners counsel. He was again
bailed, in the sum of $4,000.
The case Of J. NJ. Whitmer, Post-mas-
ter at Parnassus, indicted at the May
term, for unlavfully opening letter. was
taken up. After a brief hearing, and a
few remarks from F. B. Miller, ESQ.,. for
the U. States, and Col. Baldwin for the
defence, the jury returned with verdict
Of guilty. The penalty Of the offence was
fine Of $500, or six months imprison-
ment. The Judge, after very gracefully
abiding to the nature of the offence-the
law applicable to It, and the motives which
evidently governed the defendant, reduced
the fine to mere nominal one-($1) and
dismissed the case. The Judge remarked
that the act Of opening the letter was. ~
he thought, very imptuden. and improper.
and coming under the penalty Of the law !;
but there being no evidence 10 establish .
criminal purpose on the part Of the defen-
dant, be felt jastiae,}in awarding the pun
ishpaent rs above Indicated.
The evidence in The case was highly
favorable to Tie: ebA,artsr ef Mr.. Whit
mer. No man could have had stronger
testimony in bis behalf or esssblished 4
more enyiable reputation % citizen. and
business man. The offence might. with
proprlety, be termed an act Of isdiscrssios
unaccomPanied BY any impure motives. =.
The Harper's Ferry case was taken sr
on Friday. in which the Court il now en-.
gagged. The counsel in this case rank
among the most profound legal minds in
the country. and hence we may expect {
conflict Of talent rarely witnessed.
The case stands jacob B. Brown and
ethers--upon acknowledgment BENZ
Huaer, alias United States.
Counsel-Hon. James NJ. Massn, Gen.
eral F. Bewyer Miller. fes defeada.ss.
and Thomas ]. Niche, Andrew II. Hen.
ter, A. H. II. Stuart and GeaeraI Jeues,
for tho plaistias.
| The jury in the case ars.--Jacob BAY,
Tor. J. B. BferkiDridse, ". A. Abaey
Benz. Cnwford. James Walker, jos. A.
Thonpson. Jos. Long. 9. y. Cars. n. u.
Garrison. Jno. Hindmaa. Wn. Harris, Wn
Jones'.
twill be noted that this 10 sesg intel
ligest jssy-oae which reflects credit upon
the efficiency and sagacity Of the excellent
deputy marshal. Major Jno. B. Watts.
The true merit Of this important case
might be stated in nut shell, a. we un-
deastand it. and the case decided without
justification. But this VIII not be the
case. After about 40 or 80 Witnesses have
been examined. anu 8 or 8 halliday speech
es have been made. by men who are fully
able to make "ecniilsion worse eonfound-
ed, and who will strive to reach ''diree-
ton by indirection." we may expect to
find very simple and plain case, tortured
into very insricate..and unsclvable prob
lem, which may possibly oafle the intelti-
i.
w mere seems ~ W "y"e'y aDou
."e c"''e'', ".e'e INC spectator "'."esSeu
n,'''' seemingly from the mead Of those
""o .'ee "'o "e ':se" ""'A .a'
oeeP gentleman informed u the