The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-17
[rRoM ora SPECIAL REPORTER. ]
TRIAL FOR MURDER

Trial In the Circuit Superior Court of Rock
bridge County,
HELD IN LEXINGTON, va.
JUDGE LUCAS P. THOMPSON, Presiding,
The prisoner, CHARLES b. CHRISTIAN, of
amherst, accused of the murder of Cadet
THOMAS BLACKBURN, on the evening of Sun
day, the 18th day of January, 1854, in the
town OF Lexinton. He was examined before
the Examining Court soon after the murder,
ana sent on to the Superior Court for further
trial.
FIRST DAY.
THURSDAY, April 18th.
Yesterday, the Court was opened-the
Grand Jury charged by the Judge; and their
first act was the finding a true bill against
the prisoner. After some civil business had
oeen disposed of, the Court adjourned until
this morning, when the prisoner was put to
the bar. A jury was very promptly formed,
not however, without exhausting the panel
and resorting to the bystanders for nine of
the twenfy-four competent jurors. The Jury
OF twelve men ultimately chosen for these.
are regarded as most worthy and correct ci-
tlzens, and the remark was that there never
was more upright jury empanneIled in a
case of the kind in the county The jury
being sworn, the forms in the case provided,
were complied with.
In answer to the interrogatory aguilty or
not guilty. The prisoner responded mot
gnaity." He is a very youthful looking
person, much more so than his wears would
imply. He is about 49, and he has even a
boyish appearance. He is, however, not de-
icate looking, but thick set and muscular
lie had an air of seriousness, without appa-
rent agitation. y
Ihe case was not opened, as usual, with
speech from the prosecution, but with the
the testimony without prelude
Counsel for the
H. MOORE, Commonwealth Attorney, assist.
ed byIHoS. j. NICHE, of Staunton.
FOR the Prss0ner-A. FL H. STUART of Au-
gusta, CHARLES L. MosBY of Lynchbure, and
JAMES Is. DoRMAN, RoBT. L. DOYLE, SAMUEL
LETcHER, and JOHN d. STERRErT. of
Rockbridge -
ihe Commonwealth introduced and exa-
mined the following witnesses:
JAMES w. MAssIE deposed, that on Sunday
night, the 18th of January, between quar-
ter before or after o'clock, was going to
church in company with lady. I was on the
cross street leading from McClelland's 8 to
Main street, on the side next to McC.'s, about
half way between McC.'s and Main street
and nearly opposite the engine house. 1t
was dark night. Do not remember that
there were any stars shining The ground
was wet which increased the darkness. At
that point heard little scuff1e, Just at or
about the engine house door. 1t was on the
opposite side of the street from where was.
continued walking on and Immediately af.
ter the scuffie, there were sounds of licks or
strokes in quick succession, and more like
whip than stick l am not familiar with the
sound of a stick, when used in striking any
one; but it suggested to my mind the idea
that some one was whipping negro with a
cowhide. l walked on some Is yards and
came up with Mr.. TIL. Burton Taylor, who
had stopped in front of me. The upper win
dows Of the Presbyterian Church illuminated
the pavement on which stood. The shut
ters of the lower windows were closed.1-
About the time l reached Mr.. r., the strokes
ceased, and a atolerable violent scutf1e ensued
The ground being muddy and soft, it did not
make much noise, and therefore may have
been more violent than supposed. look ed
around and saw two individuals on the
ground, about one and half yards from the
pavement on which stood, and about Is or
20 feet from me, with their heads directly to-
wards me, locked in close embrace, and
their heads close together. heard no noise,
no blows-they seemed entirely quiet. The
light fell upon their heads. 1t occurred to
me that they were hurting each other; and
remarked to T. that / would go back and Sc
parate them. He offered to GO; but insist
ed on going, and placing the lady had in
charge in his care, and handing him book,
1 turned and went rapidly, perhaps ran, to-
wards the individuals. About the time
turned, or before, the persons rose up. / did
not see them rise. They stood, after they
rose, and seemed to have hold of each other
One of them had on dark clothes; was low
and heavily set figure. The other, whose half
front and left side were towards me, was
dressed with lighter clothing. As reached
within a yard and half of them, the one
with his back to me gave the other a violent
shove with his right hand, which seemed to
have hold of his coat collar. The person
showed, staggered some three steps and fell
heavily, like drunken man, with his head
towards Main street, in line with the cross
street, about 10 or Is feet from the point
where he received the push. He lay on his
back, and rather upon his left side, with his
left arm under him, opposite the upper cor
ner of the hay scales He fell SO lumberly
and heavily taking a step or two in the di-
rection he fell, that it occurred to me he was
drunk.
The man who gave the push sprang actively to
the side walk and passed me / came up. He
stopped. looked over myirighti shoulder at him
and we looked at each other. did not recognise
him. Icould see he was white man. The light
was full in his face which looked red. turned to
the 1ailen ulan ana tne OtneT moved ON down the
pavement. The fallen man lay as have describ-
ed, with his head partly in a rut. He made no
moan or groan but there was gurgling, snuffling
noise made in his breathing. l could see he was
a white man. The lower part of his face was black
as though he wore whiskers, though it afterwards
proved that this was occasioned BY the blood.
took him by his right hand and lifted his head out
of the rut and brought him more within the light
of the Church, which had been intercepted by the
scalehouse. l called to him and asked who he
was; but he gave no sign of consciousness. / then
exclaimed Il believe eome one Is killed here" and
cried "help! help!" tall gentleman came up and
asked what was the matter! said some man is
killed here7" something to that effect He made
an exclamation of horror and ran Off l then, still
endea vorRg to raise the man. discovered the cloak
of the cadet and upon closer examination, recop.
missed the features of cadet Blackburn, whom
knew very well.
A tall cadet and another gentleman then came up
and informed them that believed some one had
killed cadet Blackburn and requested them to 20
for physician. The cadet Immediately started
and the other person from whose drees took to be
q musician recognized the person as cadet Black
burn, and STOPPING down near him called his name
loudly several times. There was no answer and
the gureling sound continued. We raised his body
md fod tn