Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-02
From me Penny Post.
The Ward Trial

The Louisville Courier j. publishing the eYl-
dence in this trial, which seems to have excited
an extraordinary degree Of interest not ohy III
kentucky, bat throughout the United States
Having read the testimony as It Is published we
take the substance of It To be nearly this
4 lad named William Ward, brother oi the
prisoner had been for some time pupil Of Mr.
Butler, who having occasion 10 Hog him some
years s.nce had told his father, up u his remon-
stratlng with him, that he should fog him no
more, bat for the next offence. would Send INN
home. Some time in November last young
Ward bought a quantity of chestnuts, and distri-
bnted them among the boys, who after having
eaten them. threw the huii- behind their SEATS
A. this was violation of positive rule, Alr.
Butler felt bound to enquire into the author OF II,
and believing, a. the result Of his investigation,
thnt Ward had not only been guilty OF the ne,
bui had told falsehood, he charged him with 1t
aud logged him. a. he explained, not for the of
fence, but for the he The boy wen: home and
stated the case TO his mother, who had just re
turned from Cincinnati, and to his brother Mat,
the defendant in this prosecution. The latter
became very much excite 4, and declared that he
would call on Butler aud ask an explanation OF his
having called his brother n liar. His mother adj
Yised him not Ia 20 alone, on account of lis Zee
bic health, and the probability that he would get
into difficulty. OF appears that he Is an eX-
tremely feeble man, weighs only one hundred and
eleven pounds, is severely afflicted occasionally
with rheumatism, and is frequently obliged to
use crutches.) His reply was, that he thought
Mr.. Butler gentleman, and that there would he
no difficulty III obtaining an explanation IRON
him. The mother however reminding him of
the fact that he and Mr.. Sturgss, the usher, were
at enmty, he consented to allow his brother. Mr..
Robert j. Ward, Jr., to accompany him. When
they arrived at the 7choo-house, the two Wards
entered the room, and asked for Mr.. Butler
The latter upon being called, came in. Ihercup-
on Matthew Ward asked him (which is the most
contemplate, he puppy who begged chcslnuts
and then lied about it, the boy who gave
them !" 1--WE should have mentioned that one OF
the boys to whom VIM. Ward gave chestnuts,
had been charged by him with making the litter
with the hulls, and had denied it, cndcayorng to
fix the blame on Willam) Butler asked Ward
To go into his room, promised there to explain
every thing but Ward said, "No hero is the
place To answer the question :" aud upon Buffers
efusing to answer with 'ut an explanation, he
then sud, ''you are Il d liar, and add scoun-
drel," and madc motion a. if to strike Butler
with his left hand the right being i'll his brooches
pocket. Butler then rniscd his arm TO strike
Ward, and advanced towards him, when Ward
fired, the parties being in actual contact, and the
pistol sticking in the wound after it had been dis
charged Such is the testimony of the boys,
none of whom saw Butler strike Ward at all.
On the other hand, it was proved hy the dying
declaration Of Butler, that Ward had called him IA
ID laI, that they had clnch"d, and that the
shot was fired while they wer, in that situation.
other evidence was introduced to prove that there
were traces of blow under Wards left eye. 1t
appears also that Ward has heretofore borne the
character of an amablc, mofcnsve man, of retr-
ed hubls aud feeble health