The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-10
The ward Triai.

We extract the following statsmsut in
relation to this case from the Lonisvills
Democrat.
After all the efforts of counsel for the
demonstrating the case as The dele6ss
have tried to make il out, and Il is murder,
by the law and by the common sense Of
mankind. The accused prepared the
means of prepefrating the deco; he bought
two pistols; took his brother with. him,
armed with large dirkknife; entered the
school.room; commenced with violent ana
insulting language; refused ell pc, ,abie
explanations. and pronounced Butler
scoundrel anda coward. fhe deceased,
they say, struck him, and was Immediately
shot down by pistol, which the sccpset
had up TO this moment in his pocket. with
his hand upon it. This is their own show
ing, and il is murder. But even thisis
not true Ward not only sought and pro.
voked the conflict, but struck the 6ret
blow. This is the statement Of eye-wit-
nesses. and the dying testimony Of the
deceased The pretexs that the latter
ts,ruck FIRST is supported only by the no.
torious Barlow. whose testimony sis be-
iieved by no body, and by Rober, Ward.
whose own life depends on his brother'ss
acquittal.
| What the defense have to allege, H.
now fully developed. Let them tellahsir
own story, and here it ISL The accused
prepared himself to 60 to Buffers school
room to settle a matter with him; he plr-
chased two pistols and had them loaded.
put them in his pocket. aud thus equip
lped, he was ready; he goes in preference
c,s, ho 10 nf he -
age with Mr.. Butler; his mother says,
Matt, be calm; he replies am calm; his
| mother insists thar he should take his
brother Robert along (who always car
ries arms. as he testiies himself; he ssts
there is no danger-Mr. Butler is . just
mani have only to ask an explanation.
and he will give it. He starts on his fatal
errand, on the way he tells Robert NOT TO
interfere unless Mr.. SturgYs should do 90
in behalf of Mr.. Butler; he enters The
school house, calls Mr.. Butler out Of his
recitation room, and asks . question in
an imperative tone and manner; he is
invited by Mr.. Butler into his recitation
room, for fullaexplanat on, and refuses 70
go. lfyou viii not answer me that ques-
Ition, answer me another, says Matt. Ward
and proceeds in an excited. and insulting
manner to PROFOUND il. with 4 denldssd for
an apology, he then denounces Mrs But
ler as scoundrel and liar. ia the pre-
sence Of his own school boys.
Just here the eye-witnesses say Ward
added blow to the Insult. and that But
Ter sprang toward Ward with his hand.
which was proved to be lame one and
incapable OF inficting an injury upon
Wards right shoulder. One lad. who
had fair view Of the parties, said that
a, the same ,ime Butler aimsd 70 erssp
Wards right hand with his left. Robert
Il Ward, indicted as accessory in the cFiuee,
it allowed to, swear, and testi6es that
Butler struck his brother twice, and oil
agree that at the instant almost the pistol
} was discharged, and Butler fell murtilly
wounded. The weapon was concealed.
; and every lad in the school called to les.
|tify agrees that Ma.t Ward held his hand
I in his pocket, and never took it oui until
he drew out the pistol and fired. Take
Robert Ward s statemenfin all this where-
lever he differs with the others, and you
have the case upon which sworn jury
are asked to acquit the accused. Was
ever such presumption known since The
|! days Of Adam? A man enters his neigh
! bor's house. makes insulting demands ia
insulting tones, denounces. him shstoreslns
own family as ALTAR and scoundrel. his
4 neighbor strikes him and undertakes 10
, eject the ruffian from his house after. he
has offered an explanation. and ie shot
dead with weapon bought loaded. and
prepared for the occasion. Al this ID
: confessed and upon this the accused ssk'
5 ed an acquitial.s sffs