Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-17
pRoGREss or spIRITUALIsM.

correspondent of The New York Police Ga
zette writing from ProYidence, h i, Noy o. gives
the following report of the trial of Joseph White,
for an assault with intent to kill Horace A. Man
chester, Esq, late presiding Judge in the Court OF
Magistrates: NJ ~ - e
The Attorney General stating that he was ready
to proceed, jury was npanneled for that purpose.
Judge Manchester was the first witness called for
the prosecution and testified that on the night the
assault was committed he had just left spiritual
meeting, and was proceeding down Broad street,
when he was knocked down by unseen hand,
and fell senseless upon the pavement, when other
blows were inflicted upon his person as he lay upon
the sidewalk.
Here a juror asked the witness if he was sure it
was not spirit that inflicted the blow; to which,
he replied he did not know.
Upon cross-examination, the Judge admitted that
he was with Mrs. White the wife of the defendant,
when the assault was made; that he walking
down street with her toward her boarding house,
and that she was spirit medium that he had often
visited her for the purpose of consulting the Spirits
and that he knew her husband was opposed to his
visiting her. 1t in evidence that Mr.. White
had forbidden the Judge the society of his wife, and
had ordered him to discontinue his visits to his (he
defendanrs) house, but that he had persisted in
calling upon Mrs. White daily and sometimes twice
a day. for long time before the assault took place.
1t was proved that while Mr.. White was absent from
the city business for several days. that Manches
ter daily at the house and would sit for hours
holding the plans of Mrs. Whites hands i'll his
while sitting in front of her. and she with her knees
between his knees.
The witness here described their position, by Sit
ting in front of Mr.. Updike counsel for Mr. White,
and taking hold of his hands, placing his knees be-
tween the knees of the Attorney, which caused
general laugh in which the Court and jury heartily
joined. This took place after White had forbidden
the Judge the society of his wife, After White
turned, and it found impossible for Manchester
to visit her the house of her husband, she left
home, and was for time at the house of Mr.. Bas-
sett in Scekonk, where the Judge visited her very
often, consult the spirits and get from her such
ms as TO h
ing this important science.
The mother of Mrs. While went into the witness
box with tears in her eyes, and testified that she had
been to the house of BaSSett, to endeavor to per-
suade her daughter to return to her husband that
while there she Manchester holding the hands
of Mrs. White for long time, and that the knees
of Mrs. White were, during this time, between the
knees of Mr. Manchester. 1t was also proved that
White had met the Jud &c this place some time
before the assault complained Of and that they had
a fight. in which Manchester boosted of getting the
best of White, and said that he knocked him down.
1t was proved by several witnesses that Manches-
ter was, in the early part Of August at pleasure
grounds down the bay sitting upon the grass in
retired spot with a woman who was not his wife,
and that since that time these witnesses had seen
Mrs. White at her boarding house, and they said
upon oath that she was the woman they with
the Judge at that time
1t was not denied by the counsel of Mr.. White
that he was the man who inflicted the blows upon
Manchester, but it commended that his jealousy
aroused to such pitch by Manchester's con-
duct with his wife as to amount to justification,
and that with the ordinary feelings of hus-
band could have submitted quietly TO great
outrage upon his domestic affairs without doing
worse than White dad done.
A great number of witnesses were introduced to
show the peaceable character of Mr.. White, and
many who had known him twenty years testified
that they had never seen him in passion
Joseph NJ. Blake, Esq, late Attorney General of
the State, commenced his closing argument for the
defendant but had not proceeded far when a suggcs-
tOn frOm he hat he Gem
eral had better enter n0Ue prosequi as to the as
Sault with intent to kill and take verdict of sim
pie assault ana battery to winch the prosecuting
attorney at once consented, and this verdict
corded after much difficulty-as of the jurors
were for acqutting the accused of any oense at all,
believing ne had done more than he ought to
have done under the circumstances.
The Attorney General then moved for sentence,
but the Court upon consultation, deferred their
judgment uutl future time. l learn, however,
that sentence will be passed tomorrow. Many think
the sentence will be very light while the friends of
Manchester pretend to believe the Court Will go
far the statute will let them, and send him to
prison for six months. But could the feelings Of the
people generally be consulted and regarded in this
matter of punishment fine of six and quarter
cents would be ample punishment for this outrage
upon the person of Judge Manchester.
This is of the fruits of Spirtualism in this
section of the country, which is fast amaga-
mating with Free Love and other social organiza-
tons which springng into existance to satisfy
the unnatural lusts OF priests and libertines and
which spreading like pestilelce over the whole
community, estranging wives from their husbands,
and husbands from their wives, and rendering the
holy VOWS of matrmnny false dicers oaths Mrs.
White has left her husband, and declares she has
Spiritual harmony with Judge Manchester
than with any other man living, and that it is the
will of God that she should place her knees between
his in holy consultation with the Spirits; while the
Judge is welded to the new science that he feels
called upon to take her by the tender hands and
hold her in this position until the raps of the Spirits
pronounce the harmony complete
When the verdict had been recorded in this case,
Judge Manchester asked leave of the Court to make
a statement for the benefit Of Mr. White he said,
but the court refused to here him. His statement,
alluded to by him, was that Mr.. Whites jealousy
had real foundation, he had always maintained
perfectly chaste conduct towards Mrs. White in these
knee-knocking interviews, and that nothing criminal
had taken place. But the Orderdonk protestatons
were so fresh in the minds of the people, that his
story would have had but little weight. The ladies
would not believe word of it they declare that
when once these liberties taken. one is safe
the world is awfully wicked.
The MARKET FOR Observation-Disclosures
PRICEs.-CARRYING TOO FAR.-The market for
,L,.1. = IL