The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-05-12
nunsps murder aud Kentacxy Justice.

W Duiler, e. penceaD,e Sch0olmasieT, Dy
Matt. Ward, scion Of Kentucky Aris>
tocracy. Crime knows no condition, bul
in Kentucky crime goes unpunished in
the wealthy, and men like John ]. Crit
tendcn can rolunteer 10 screen justice Of
her victim, and by the aid Of members oI
Congress as volunteer witnesses, and
Senators as volHntecr counsel, Matt. Ward
is AcouITTED! There is resentment in
the public mird, and lumult in the streets,
but what Of that! The owner Of half d
million must mol suffer Ike a common
malelacor. though he can commit crime
as coolly as the lowest and mos, heart
Jess ruAian. Wdat If bis victim was a
man Of flearning, of amiabIe and
Of worth, was he not pooii And in Ken
lucky poverty is worse than crime-pov>
erty wilhdraws from her victim the prd>
isciion Of law. This is 4 terrible STALE
|
of Society, but If il were not the real
state Of Socieiy in Kentucky, a verdict
so violalive OF all sense Of justice, so ul-
lerly aisgraceful TO the State. could moi,
have been given. Ministers of the Cos,
pol testified in glowing terms 10 Matt.
Wards pisiy, and his profession Of reli,
gion entirely wiped out from their eyes
his crime Of blood! Christianity and
murder! Rather an incongruous union.
But not so esisemcd in Kentucky! How
ever Wardis acquitted, and no belongs to
the first families of the State. That al
leasl should console outRepublican sense
Of equal Rights and equal Justice. Al
least we should bs satisfied and thankful
we do moi belong where such a slate Of
things exist.
We extract the folio wing statement in
relation TO this case from the louisville
Democrat. .i hg.H32tE si2a
After oil the Efforts of counsel for the
demonstrating the case as tie de fcnst
have tried TO make il out, and 1t is ,mnr-
der, by the law aud by the common sense
Of mankind. The accused prepared the
means of perps,raiing The deed;he bouph'
two pistols; took his brother with him,
armed with large dix knife; entered
The ol,room; commenced with vio-
lent and insulting language lslnscd all
peaceable explanations, and pronounced
Butler scoundrcl and coward. The
deceased, they say, struck him, and was
Immediately shot down by pistol, which
The accused had up as ibis momcn, ir bis
pocket, with his hand upon il. This is
their own showing, and il is murder. Bu
even this is not true. Ward NOT ony
sought and provoked lthe conH'ct, but
struck The FIRST blow. This is lhe stale
ment Of cye-wiinesses, and the dying ties.
llmonY of the deceased. The preiex'
that the latter struck frs, is supported
only BY the notorious Barlow, whose les
iimony is believed by no body, and by
Robert Ward, whose own life depend,
on his bro;her's acquitlal. n
What the defenss have 10 allcse, is
now fully developed. Let them toll their
own story, and here il is:-The accused
prepared himself TO go to Buffers school
roem 10 settle matter with him; he pur.
chased Two pistols and had them loaded
put them in bis pocket, and thus equip>
ped, he was ready; he goes in preference
10 bis father, because he is of the same
age with MIR. Butler; his mother says,
Matt. be calm; he replies am calm; his
mother insists that he Should take his
brother Robert along (who always car
ries arms, as he tes;ifies himself y he aays
there is no dangcr--Mr. Butler il a just
mani have only 10 ask an explanation,
and hc will give il. lie starts on bis la
,tal errand, on the way he tells Robert
not TO interiors unloss Mr.Siurgus should
do SO in behalf of MI. Butler: he ,niers
The school house, calls Mr.. Butler out
,of his recitation room, and asks ques.
lion in an imperative tone aud manner;
he is invited w Mir. Butler into his reci.
,ation room, in full explanation, and re-
fuses 10 60. lfyou viii! moi answer me
that question, answer me another, snys
Malt. Ward, and proceeds in an excited
and insulting manner 10 propund it,witb |
a densand for an apology, he lien de-
nounces Mr.. Butler as scoundrel md
liar, in the presence Of his own school
boys. sqs
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 10 be lame one and
incapable Of infic'ing an injury, upon
Wards right shoulder. One lad, who
had fair view Of The parties, said iha,
at The same time Butler aimed to grasp
Wards right hand with his left. Rnberl
Ward, indicted as an accessory in the
crime, is allowed 10 swear, and teslifcs
ihat Butlersiruck bis brolhertwice, and
all agice that al the same instant almos,
the pistol was discharged, and Bu,lerfylll
morinlly wounded. This weapon was
conceaIed and averp lad in ,la ,cI,o,j J.