The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-07-11
DEVELOPMENTS OF WARDS AcQuIrrAI.

The Louisville Courier publishes an expla-
nation of one Of tho jurors in the trial of Matt.
Ward, from which wo extract tho following:
Mr.. Crutcher says: Whilo tho trial was
pending, and after the evidence was all taken,
both for and against the prosecution, discov-
cred part of the jury wore for the prisoner,
and few of them said very little any way.
After the pleadings were concluded, and the
charge given by the court to the jury, we re-
tired to tho jury room. and very soon ihere
was proposition made by somo one of the
Jury, for all those in favor of the prisoner to
manifest it by holding up the right hand, and
eight of them Immediately showed their hands.
Failing i'm that effort, tho next proposition was
made by r. McIntire, by drawing three col
umns, and heading them
Guilty. Mansaughter. Not Guilty.
McIntiro and myself set our names down
under the head of fManslaughter; all the other
jurymon set their names down under the head
of Not Guilty. We remained in that cond-
tion about an hour, deliberating in tho differ
ent versions Of the law and evidence given by
tho lawyers whom McIntire invited mo INTO a
private room. He then told mo the odds " ere
too great, and wo had as we'll 60 with tho
stronger party | told him | could not do that.
Ho then told me he should go for the prisoner,
and he did leave mo alone and turn over TO
tnc Quiet uTyHlcll, III idNoI VI ui uCquilldi.-
The next morning we left our lodgings and ro-
paired to the jury room in tho court house. l
told them did not feel wiling to give up my
position; that was not satisfied about tho ev-
idence. had either forgotten, or did not un-
dcrstand as they did, and if they would send
down to the court and get the evidence, and it
was in accordance with what they said, and
tho instructions of the court would certain
ly hold out no longer.
McIntire then drew from his pocket paper
containing notes of tho evidence he had taken.
He said he would 60 before magistrate and
swear they were correct and that Quigley
had stated that Butler bad pressed Word back
to the wall. and proffered to give me his GER
tifcate to that effect, if l required. told him
he was q sworn juror, and was bound 10 take
his word, for the other jurymen concurred with
him in saving he had tho evidence of Quigley
verbatim and that his evidence sustained some
Of tho evidence for the defense; and that we
would be bound TO acquit tho prisoner, accOr-
| ding to the instructions Of the court; that il
Ward was pressed back to the wall, and was
| in danger of his life or great bodily harm, II
would bo their duty to acquit.
The instructions Of the court, as well as
| can rccollet them, were about these, in mean
ing, at least: If tho jury believed, from the ev-
dence, that Butler was killed through malice,
they would return a verdict of guilty; if they
believed it vas done in tho heat Of passion
and not through malice it wonld be manslaugh-
ter; and if they believed it was done in selfde-
fense, that Ward was in danger of his life oil
great bodily harm, it would be their duty tc
return verdict of acquittal.
had told the jury, from tho poor, weakly
and emaciatcd condition of the prisoner, if
could believe he was pressed back to the wall
and acted only in defense of his person, that
he was in danger of great bodily injury, wod
| hold no longer, but would be bound to agroe to
| his acquittal with the rcot of the jury. Mcin-
tires notes of the evidence, and tho concur.
reaco of the other jurymen with him, did
cause mo to give up. / believed them to be
honest in tho opinions they expressed; did
not suspect them of imposing on my credulity
and can only say, if did wrong in agreeing
to Wards acquital, did it unintentionally
and did it through the best and purest o
motives,