Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-01
AcQUITTAL OF MATTHEW F. WARD

The press, with an unanimity hereto
fore unequalled, speak in terms Of con-
demnation of the acquittal of NJ. F.
Ward, who was recently tried in Ken
lucky for the murder of Butler, the
schoolmaster. The Baltimore Clippsr of
this morning says:
The intelligence of the acqulttal of
this man Ward, will excite the astonish-
ment of every law abiding citizen in the
Union, out of Kentucky, and will go
very far to warrant the conclusion that
jury trials in capital cases in that State,
when the defendant happens to be blest
with the possession of wealth, or inhuen-
tial friends and connections, as a grand
humbug. IF Mr.
Butler had been shot under precisely
similar circumstances by poor man
the culprit would, we have no doubt,
been tried and hung within three months
time-but as the Wards were wealthy
and influential, and Mr.. Butler was only
q poor but T0rthy schoolnlaster-such an
administration of justice in Kentucky
was not to be thought of. The whole
trial has been a solemn mockery."
The Baltimore American says:
The Wards were imprisoned and in
legal course brought to trial. On that
trial they were surrounded by all the
influences which their wealth and high
social position put within their command,
and defended by such an array of emf
nent legal attainment and forensic elo-
quence, as has perhaps never before been
assembled in any case in this country.
All the facts were against them, ard the
| youthful witnesses who beheld the muir.
der told their story SO pieinly and with
so much agreement that every one toll
tho cast to be beyond the power of lega'
bubble or question. That murder had
been committed there was no room fol
doubt, and the only question open to The
jury was the decision of its grade Bu
in the fact Of all this, an acquittal was
predicted, and that prediction was veri
fed. =
Whatever of sympathy may be felt fcl
the criminal, and however those bounC
to him by ties of blood and friendship
may rejoice in his safety, there should bt
no excuses accepted, no palliation allowed
for those who, treacherous to society and
to themselves, have pandered to that es
cape, and prostituted the law into mere
convenience for the sanction of gross
and palpable murder. They deserve anl
can expect to receive no consideration
from an outraged public sentiment
| Wherever the details of this trial become
known, their condemnation will be Ger
tain, and, we may hope, the wrong whicl
they have united to commit on Justice
| will react in producing healthier tons
in the public mind in relation to the undu.
influences that are allowed to make theil
way into the jury box, and to cause re
suits so subyersive as those exemplifiet
in the Ward aequittal.
The York Times of Saturday, in com
menting on the result of the Ward muir
der trial, thus charges the Jury ant
Counsel with falsehood:
1.-The whole drama was enacted to in
duce the jury to affirm falsehood. Ant
it has succeeded. We do not believ.
John j. Crittenden entertains in his hear
the shadow of doubt that Butler was
murdered. We do not believe that {
| single man on that Jury believes, that thu
man they have acquitted is innocent 0
the crime laid to his charge"