The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-05-01
Matt Ward Acquitted.

The final denouement Of this exciting tri-
al has been proclaimed, and the world. to
considerable extent, is already apprized OF
the verdict of the jury. A verdict Of ac-
quittal on both charges in the indictment
has been duly rendered by the jury, and
thus has ended one Of the mos. magniii-
cent legal farcss ever performed upon the Ju-
dicial stage. To all who have read the evi-
dence in this case, ELECTED either on the ex-
aiming or final trial, this verdict furnishes
disgusting and heart-sickening commentary
upon the administration of justice in Ken.
lucky. Criminal jurisprudence in that State
has more than once before, been subjected to
the aspersion that it was impotent when at
tempted to be used in dispensing justice
against wealth, rank and influence.
In the present Instance, so little confidence
was reposed in what is known in other
States, as the "strong arm of the law" that
grave doubts were ever entertained in the
better informed circles, as to the conviction
and punishment of these murdsrers. We
are not disposed to censure the court or jury,
for the parts they have played in this mat
ter. They have acted the part Of subser-
Went instruments, in the hands OF gifted
though unprincipled agents of a wicked and
depraved public sentiment, Their agency in
the trial was merely mechanical, impelled by
the irresistible power that wealth, rank, in
fuence, eloquence and sophistry can exert
upon weak though possibly honest men. 1t
has been frequently remarked during the
progress of this trial that money can't be
hung in Kentucky"
This appears lamentably true, as the re-
cords of their own Courts abuadantly testify.
The adjudication of the two cases-the
"Wa ards" and "Kellcys," most srikingly il
Illustrates the contrast between the difficulty
of convicting rich man of high crime, and
the facility with which justice and punish
ment is meeted out to the humber but no
more guilty individuals.
As to age the Wards and Kelleys were
similarly situated. The latter were poor
and destitute CT influential friends. They
were suspected and arrested for the high
crime of murder. They were indicted for the
same crime and put upon their trial together.
A severance of the cases was asked and
urged by their counsel, but refused. The
Younger brother was not allowed the oppor-
tunity to GO upon the stand and swear the
other clear. There was no witness in their
case. charged with the same crime as the
prisoner, whose testimony was permitted by
the Court and Jury to outweigh the positive
evidence, and impeach the veraciiy of doz.
en- other witnesses.
Oh no! The Kelleys were poor! It was
deemed almost an outrage upon justice to ask
separate trials for them. No council for the
defence had the temerity to even ask the
court to let one be made witness in favor
of the other. No distinguished lawyers 10
Iuntcersd to defend these unfortunate boys
Their aged father was compelled to bank
rupt himself to employ council to defend
them. There was no distinguished array Of
volunteer witnesses to testify to their amiabi.
lily. They were tried by the ordinary course
OF law, and convicted upon circumstantia
evidence alone, which required the full
stretch of the consciences Of the jury to pro.
nounce verdict of guilty. The world said
"Amen" to their verdict. The Kelleys ex.
plated their crime upon the scaffold. That
the KelIeys were guilty, no person ever en-.
tertained doubt; that the WARDS are equal.
ly guilty, there can be even less Doubt
Matt. Ward has nevertheless triumphed
over justice, truth and law, and is now lcens.
ed by jury of his country to kill any man
who dare offend his conceted Goldfish
pride. No one will envy his future life, mol
that of his family who have "sworn him
through" more in accordance with what they
desired to accomplish by their testimony
than with reason and truth. Kentucky ha.
now given out clearly and uneq iivocally tc
the world that there is a circle in her society
too sacred to be touched; who Rave "high
er law" unto themselves, which not only JUS
tines but screens any of their number from
punishment even for the commission of the
6IacfeT crimes. When danger threatens, vo
lunteers are ever ready to defend the dignity
Of this fshy circle.