Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-05-18
THE WARD TRIAL.

A gentleman, q friend of the so,genel
ally-beloved father of Matthew Ward, r,
Gently acquitted at Elizabethtown, XIV
OF the murder of Professor Butler. send
US communication, evidently embncin
views of the affair (the trial, &c., hel
by those who conceive that the jury dc
cided correctly upon the testimony be
fore them. As in publishing the most in
teresting news of the day, we have, G
late, had occasion to spread much befor
the Stars readers upon the subject, gen
orally extracted from journals strenuous
ly condemning the action of the jury, W,
do not feel at liberty to refuse the re
quest of the writer to publish his view!
upon the subject, which are as follows:
understand from the Louisville Jour
nal that certified copy of the testimony
as delivered in Court, together with ar
accurate report of argument of counse
on both sides, is in press, and will soor
be issued by the Appletons. Under these
circumstances, it is but justice for the
press to refrain from publishing the yio.
lent paragraphs Of newspapers founded
upon imperfect teegraphic accounts OF
what transpired in Court. ...... =
Mr.. Ward, who has been tried. is the
same person who wrote Letters from the
three Continents" and English Items, ~
works issued from Appletons' press,
which not only sold we'll, but were "a.
vorab'y noticed in the papers at the time
Of their issue. - s@
The difficulty which resulted in his
taking the life of the schoolmaster. Mr..
Butler, who had punished severely his
brother, scholar of his school, does not
appear to have been preceded by any ILL
feeling, or ancient grudge. [ can say
this without invading the rule have laid
down for others, to wait the publication
of the testimony, for it is admitted by all
sides. The deceased had been private
tutor in MIR. Wards family, and enjoyed
their esteem.
Why, then, should an exception be
made in this case, and Mr.. Ward be Wilt
fled, and after acquittal be called a MUIR
derer, and described as a man void of
human sentiments
A man is generally presumed innocent
until proved guilty; and yet, in this case,
with character for amiability and worth
unquestioned-endorsed by the voluntary
aid OF counsel known and respected all
over the land-and acquitted after
rigid and tedious examination of all the
circumstances, the maxim, it seems. Is
to be reversed, and every effort made TO
excite public odium.
The mere fact Of Wards being reputcd
and of an ariStocratic family.
must, fear, account for much of this ey.
element.
1t is humiliating to say this but there
arc few who have observed society in
some portions of our country, without
being sensible of the fact of there beirg
social as Well as political demagoguesE
rlen who are neither gentlemen by in
stlnct or association, and who in their
failure to be recognized as such, by those
who really are, have their worst feelings
excited, and are ready to decry what
they cannot initiate.
We speak thus freely, because disgusted
with the cry of Mr.. Wards being &C
quilted because of his wealth and con-
nection. As a general rule-and the
excitement in Louisville shows it, we
fear, to be so there-these circumstances
usually operate against man in Wards
situation. The fact that Butler had a
large school of boys whose parents were
very naturally attached to him, and the
further fact of his connection with an
influential religious society, aided by the
additional fact of his being a poor man
and boarder in the family of the editor
of an influential paper in Louisville, has
given points of appeal to popular SYM
pathy In this case, that however Just in
themselves, and as the grounds of proper
sympathy for friends of the deceased, |
say nothing g-should not be allowed to
do cruel injustice to the living,
The term, murderer, in any case, is
very harsh, (even the judge, after conyic-
ton. speaking from the bench, generally
modifies it into, the criminal y is revolt
ing to my sense OF justice, when applied
as it has been most ruthlessly to Ward
in this case. Murder is generally the
result OF base, or malignant, or lustful
feeling. In this case, the most that is
contended is, that it was an unnecessary
taking of life on sudden heat, at learning
of his little brothers being severely and
unjustly punished, anu branded before all
his school mates as liar. In the indig
nation of an elder brother at such fact
there is at least something that com
mands Our sympathy, and it should mod
lily the feeling of those disposed on partia
statements to pre.judge, or shoulc
rather say, to reverse judgment of &C
quittal pronounced in the most forna
and authoritative manner.
The father of Mr.. Ward, Robert j
Ward, ST., l notice, coOmands the respec
and sympathy of even those papers il
Louisville most violent against the yer
dict of the jury. 1t should borne in mine
that in this case, as in most other crimi
nal cases, the testimony in favor of tn
accused was not adduced before the com
mittiDg magistrate, while that on the par
of the prosecution was widely circulatet
through the papers.
LETTER FROM A M0BM0N WIFE.
Mrs. Melinda Marden Pratt, one of tn