Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17
MISCELLANEOUS.

FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER AND ARSON
The Circuit Court Of Goochland county engaged the
las, week with the trial of named B. Currie charged
wilt, numbering Royal w. Blackburn Of that county, the
the 2d of February 1853 the residence of b. and then
setting FIRE the house and burning the body
pondent Of the Penny Post has furnished that paper with
the evidence In case from which it appears that Black
burn and Curer lived neghbors not more than mile apart
Blackburn constable and had claims against Currier
which seemed to ALLEVIATE the feelings Of c. from B., who
had at times been of neighbory friendship On the
day of the MURDER c. mill in The neighborhood
short distance from BIS where he accidentally disclosed the
fact that he had pistol in his pocket He left the mill be-.
tween il and IL O'clock and in the direction of home
B's house between the mill and Cs residence Soon
after he left the mill various persons heard reports from
gun or pistol In the quick succession and few minutes
later BIS house discovered fire. The neighbours
gathered around the burning house and found that per-
home. also went 10 the fire, and while there
betrayed evidences Of guilt In various ways He called upon
persons feel his heart TO how 1t beat arising
said from excitement In running 10 the fire. When ques-
zion was as 10 wIese D. Gooa O some person
"B. surely would be foolish enough go in
house and ge! burnt" And when 1t was proposed TO dis
uneasiness and attempted to convince the company of
folly of supposiug that he 3D. was In the house.
ed the Are he answered. sat the OF the fences" and
when asked "what fence, pointed 10 direction In which
shs when he discovered the fire. Of Proceeding to
he home to tell his wife, fearing that she would be
frightened After his arrest he asked different persons what
they thought of the Being told that suspicion rested
on him, he replied "Well, they esnt hang man
picion-I may be TO the Penitentary few years."
the murder Welt neighbours "a fact which c. knew
The body of B. discovered after the burning of the
house. beneath lower floor In position and under cir
cumsanccs which created belief that he shot while
sl,t,ng desk In which he Kept his papers The body
had fallen through the floor after the fire had destroyed It,
The evidence against him wholly circumstantal yet
made up of q variety Of links which made formidable
chain The Court laborously engaged several days
with the investigation His counsel defended him with
marked ability but the evidences of mis- guilt TOO over
whelming allow him to escape He was found guilty OF
murder the first degree and the Court has refused TO grant
him trial. which his counsel pertonod for
the verdict was rendered Bills of exception to the Judges
opinion rejecting the motion for trial fled and
the stands. The facts In this afford strong
emplihcaon of the truth of the old maxim that "muder
will out" The very efforts employed by the accused TO
tened guilt upon him. His heart violently apI,aed
6rs remained restless and caused him 10 exhibit guilt TO the
last.
REORGANIZATION OF THE JUDICIARY SYs-
TEN OF THE UNITED STATES.-In conformity with
vote Of the Senate the President has communicated
Congress elaborate letter from Attorney General Cush
log upon the defects of the present Uoed States judicial
system and the remedy therefor. Dir. Gushing says:
change felt all hands be desirable neces
cary And there Is form of experimental change which
easily be made and easily returned from If 1t fail TO
ceiye the public confidence trial. which my Judgment
meets most of the advantages aud avoids the
of either of the other plans which does not involve any
complex LEGISLATION; and which Is respectfully proposed
solution Of the problem.
s TO have present nIno. and prospecvey ten cir
cults; rearange the existing niue circuits 80 as to COM
prehend within them all the judicial districts except those of
1afoTnis TO appoint pine assistant circuit judges for
sach circuits preserve unmpaed the jurisdiction of the
circuit courts Ia all tho districts, well those within
the clrcui,s those without; Withdraw the circuit pow.
ers from dsrict judges and them in the proper
circuit exclusively TO have the ordaasy circuit
holden It is in each judicial dOrct and composed Of the
natice of the Supene Court residing the circuit that
the court shall be holden by Justice of the supreme
and the assistant circuit judge bat TO associate
with him assistant circuit judge either of them in
sca OF the district Judge the latter being left TO his proper
district duties aud there being real and effective circuit
Ia OF The necessary occasional absence of
the Justice of the Supreme Court
LATER FROM EUROPE.
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