Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-04-24
Trial OF Charles 3. Christian.

THAI Oh Nnafie5 Il. christian.
The trial OF Charles b. Christian, of
Amherst county, charged with the murder
of 1'hos. Blackburn, on Sunday evening,
the Oath of January last IN the town Of
Lexington, Va., commenced before the
Supreme Court of Rockbri1ge county,
Judg Lucas p. Thompson, on Thursday
last. The Dispatch contains notice OF
the first days proceedings, from which
we gather thai the accused is very Youth
fui looking person, much more so than
his years would imply. He is about 10,
and has even a boyish appearance. He
is, however, not delicate looking, but thick
set and muscular. He had an air of seri-
business, without apparent agitation.
In answer to the interrogatory seguilty
or not guilty. the prisoner responded
not guilty"
Counsel for the Commonmealh-David
l.. Moore, Commonwealth S Attorney, as
sisted by Thomas j. Niche, of s;aunton
For The Prisoncr-aA. II. II. Ssuart OF
Augusta, Charles L Mosby Of Lynchcurg,
and James b. Dorman, Robert l.. Doyle,
Samuel Fl. Letcher, and John D. Sterrett,
Of Rockbridge. = Il 81
4 witness describes Blackburn as the
largest, being feet II, and Christian not
more than feet 8. The former weigh
ing 160, the latter 40. The former was
supposed to be the strongest, thopgh nc, .
great deal Stronger, Black ,urn vas lar
ger and fatter, but d.. not Seem TO have a.
much action as Christian. lie seemed Il
De Physically soIter.
..e p...,ncs Of the Jury empanneiled are
! loses j. Ladwick, David " hitmore, JOIN
| A. Renolds, John r. Brown, James I
Hamilton, Joseph w. kelso, w. l.. Ayres
Joseph G. w Bell, w. w. Stewart, Zach
ariah j. McGiesney, Alfred Douglas, an,
James L. Bell.
1t seems from the evidence that the df
fculty originated in young Blackburn tell
ing WISCONSIN Miss Anderson, with whom
Christian had made an engagement To Q,
to church, that G. was not proper person
for any young lady to walk with. Where
upon Miss A. addressed him a.note 'decih
ing his company. Christian replied to he
note, demanding the name of his .Gallrn
niator." Blackburn hearing that such
demand had been made went to G. an.
told him that he was the individual, an,
that his reason for SO doing. was that Iii
reputation in Lexington was not good
&. replied, If those were his motives Il,
honored him {B1 for his principle. Thi
conversation took place OF, Saturday, an,
it was then understood that the matter va
at an end. as Christian manifested no dis
position to make an attack. On Snnda,
evening the day ni the murder, Blackburn
accompanied by previous engagement,
young lady, Miss Jankin to the Presby
terrain church in Lesingtonsss ~ soon a
he had arrived at his seat in the Church
Christian, who was standing at the door
entered the Church, approached Black
burn, tapped him on the Shoulder, and re
marked that he wished to speak awoTt
with him: 70 which Blackburn replies
very well, sit, : and they lctt5th chnrel
together. sAsfew minutes afterwards ant
a few steps from the church uitnessei
heard blows as proceeding from a eovhid,
or cane, then saw them in a senille, and il
the next place. saw them on the ground
one on the top o. the other. Rising, out
pushed the other from him, and he fcl
nike very drulen man." Persons ap
preached and found thar il was Blackburn
who had fallen, and that his throat wa,
cut, he unable TO speak, and was DYING
He was breathing slowly and heavily, ant
blood was DOSING from his mouth and nos
trils. He had a wound on the neck, OF
the left side Immediately below the ear
and directly in the course Of the carotid
artery. The wound on the neck was a.
bout half an inch below the left cart wa,
traverse, from Ii to Il inches wide. par
alel with the bottom OF the ear. There
was also angular wound on the left temple
extending down and back from to 3 o.
an inch. There was also "a cut OH the
light shoulder. s' -
He lived but few minutes, never speak.
ing after he had received the wound.
| The accused had cans in his hand
when be left the Church; and, the opinion
is, that Christian, in the first place, de.
manded au apology, for some conduct on
s'~ P"is VI A''a'h ou. II which -. refused II
j give. Christian then attempted to cane
blackburn, who resisted and threw Chris
sian on the ground, who, tiding himsel
in hard place, used bowie knife in in.
hcting the wounds already described
Several physicians express their BELLE
that the wounds were made while the par
ties werelon the ground. while it is adniitt-
Ell that they might have been made Willie
the, parties were standing up. Blackburn
had no weapons abeuts his person. He
was dressed at the time in cadets fur
Tough coat, with cadets overcoat, with
eapes over the same. t'efi ls1
The argument Of the case. was opened
on Tuesday by D. L. Moore, Prosecuting
/ Attorney, who was followed by James B.
Dorman Tor the prisoner. asdk .Us.aJs
Small Notes, isig 7r,55p0a. :
We received, the other day, the follow
ing note from subscriber to the Vindica-
tor II . IL. \ w.