The Sierra citizen., 1854-06-10
Saturday. June 40. ASA.
Twelve Impartial Jurors.


CALIFORNIA courts have been cited as
examples Of corruption by certain tran
ccudentalists in the older States, where
the OPT ion generally prevails that in this
State unofending, defenceless people can
be hewed to pieces with impunity, and the
murderers escape by judicious applica-
ton of few hundred dollars. 1t is a
melancholy truth that such instances have
occurred, either through the corruption of
the court, the imbecility of counsel, or the
perjury Of jurors
But our good State will have to divide
such honors for the present with chival-
rous Kentucky, the land of Clay and
Marshall. It is hard to believe that twelve
men could be chosen indiscriminately in
one city, inhabited by warm blooded
Southern people, who could listen to the
recital OF murder SO cold blooded and
cowardly as that of Butler by Ward, with
out pronouncing the sentence of death by
reclamation. 1t is true that great talent
was brought to bear in the defence, but
had the case been reversed, and had the
poor unknown schoolmaster, even in de-
fence of his honor, slain one of the wealthy
debauchees who would desolate his hearth
and home, not even the pleadngs Of an
archangel could have saved him from in
generation or the halter. People would
pity the unfortunate man, but the majesty
OF the law must be maintained the victims
blood was smoking on the altar and cry
ing for vengence, and the district Judge,
the personifcation of Justice and Mercy,
with tears IN his eyes would pronounce
sentence, that the murderer was to be
taken "thence to the place of execution.
and there be hanged by the neck until be
was dead &c. But the patrician neck of
Mathew Ward, the son of millionaire.
was not to be dislocated thus ignomin-
iously. By some means a jury was col
lected, il comparison with which Gaia
lines famous colonists were quite sanity,
if we may judge by the character given
by the Louisville Democrat.
"A glance at their faces by stranger
would at once have led him to conclude
that it was sentence day in court, and
that the convicts of protracted term had
just been brought out to receive sentence.
There was but one man on the jury whose
face would not have condemned him in
any civilized community. One had been
indicted for burning his neighbours barn,
and never acquitted. Another was well
known to have committed base perjury
Another had visited the prisoners in Jail
repeatedly, and had said again and a, ain
that the prisoners were innocent, and vet
had sworn as juror that he had formed
no opinion. Another had brought bov
with him from the country to take back
his horse, telling his family that he ex-
pected to be caught upon the jury to try
the Ward case; and yet, when sworn as
to having formed any opinion, with the
most affecting air of innocence asked what
case it was. and had to study some time
before ha could remember whether he had
ever heard Of the case before"
How happened it that this villainous
looking crew became the arbiters of life
and death in Hardin County Kentucky :?
Hoa. John J. Chittenden volunteered
as counsel for Ward, and, assisted by
Thomas F. Marshall, their united powers
of eloquence added the brains of twelve
intelligent, impartial jurors as above de-
scribed. The lunky press also came to
the rescue The Elizabethtown Register
says: "All who knew the high moral
worth of Mr.. Chi,tenden, and his great
purity Of character, will at once concur
with us in the opinion that he would never
volunteer to defend bad man, much less
murderer"
The Louisville Journal, the great Yves.
tern leviathan Of Wit and hlaskguardism
Vas likewise in at the death, 20 render a
quid pro quo for some hundred gallons o.
old Bourbon from the cellar of the eide,
Ward. But after the rendering of thi,
Ubiquitous verdict, justice to the murdered
man. found q response in the great Warn
heart Of Southern community, end hi
venal bar, jury and press, received tn
execration of outraged humanity. an,
their eMgies received the kicks and cuif
which they deserved in person. Never
theless. Mathew Ward Esquire, still goe
rnhuns.