Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-05-10
She Ward Trial.

The Louisville Democrat gives the following
summary Of tho testimony in this case.
After all the efforts OF counsel for the accused
taking the case as the defence have tried to
make it oLt-and it is murder, by the law and
by the common sense Of mankind. The accus-
ed prepared the means of perpetrating the deco;
he brought two pistols; took his brother with him,
armed with l,r- e tiri knife, entered the school
room; commenced with violent and insulting Ian
guage; refused all peaceable explanations; and
pronounced Butler scoundrel and coward.-
The deceased they say; struck him. and was I'M
medateIy shot down by Il pistol, which Ward
had in his pocket, with Ii, hand upon it, This is
their own showing, and it is murder. But even
this is not true. Ward not only sought and pro-
yoked the conflict, but struck the first blow
This is the statement of eye witnesses, and the
dying testimony of the deceased. The pretext
that the latter struck first. is supported only by
the notorious Barlow, whose testimony Is belieV-
cd by nobody, and by Robert Ward, whose life
depends on his brothers. acquitta
According to the evidence for the defence: the
accused prepared himself to go to Buffers school
room to settle matter with him; he purchased
two pistols and had them loaded, put them into
his pocket, and thus equipped, he was ready; he
goes in preference to his father, because ne is o:
the same age with Mr.. Butler; his mother says,
|
er insists that he should take his brother Robert
along, (who always carries arms as he testfes
bimselt;) he says there is no danger-Mr. Butler
! is lust mani have only to ask an -eXplana
ton, and he will give it. He starts on his fatal
errapd; ON the wav he tells Robert not to inter-
lere unless Mr.. Sturgus should do SO 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,
in bland and mild terms. with the assurance OF a
.ull explanation, and refuses to go. II you VIII
not answer me that question, answer me another
says Matt. Ward, and proceeds in an excited and
Insulting manner to PROFOUND it, with demand
for an apology; he then denounces Mr.. Butler a:
q sconndrel and a liar, in the presence OF his
own school boys.
Just here the eye-wtnesses say Ward added !
blow to the insult, and that Butler sprang towart
Ward with his hand which was proved to bt
the lame one, and incapable of inhcting an in
Jury. upon Wards right shoulder. One lad, who
had a fair view of the parties, said that at thu
same time Butler aimed to grasp Wards righ
hand with his left Robert Ward, indicted a
accessory to the crime is allowed to swear AM
testifies that Butler struck his brother twice, ant
all agree that at the instant, almost, the pisto
was fired, and Butler fell mortally wounded
This weapon was concealed, ana every lao il
the school called to testify, agrees that Matt
Ward held his hand in his pocket never took
out until he drew out the pistol and fired.
Andyet Kentucky jury pronounced this sclo
of Louisville aristocracy innocent
: New YoRK, May 4.-The jury in the Broad
: way calamity brought in their verdict to-day
They say: "The whole building was in ou
. estimation, complete death trap, and could nc
/ have been more insecure and dangerous if it ha
been constructed purposely for the destruction .
: human life. 1t was, moreover, deception in aT
pearance, and on that account diabolcally dar
gerous 81, .4,..ts -5,.5 j. 4. l.... i.3-5.sss
"We find further, that the parties responsible
d for the insecurity of the building, were; the a
: chitect, Charles J. Mountain, who drew the plar
+ and superintendent the work. I'd, the mason,
9 D.. Frost, who did the mason work and inserte
: 1.-The iron grder in the rear wall 3d. the carpel
n Tier, C. j. Ketchum. 4th, the lessees, ]. A. Ia,
= lor, and j. Bagley, for whom the alterations wei
n made. Furthermore, that we believe the fire
It be the work of an incendary. We entirely e.
/ onerate Jennings s. Co.,i from all blame in rel
q ton to the insecurity Of the building and orig