Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1855-10-31


the murder of William Haskins, on the 18th
of Nav last, commenced, as before intimated,
on Tuesday week, in the Circuit Court of
this County, his Honor, Judge MARTIN, pre-
siding. The first two days were occupied in
hearing the testimony of the witnesses. On
Thursday, T. B. CHURCH, Esq, Of Grand
Rapids, employed by the people to assist the
the Prosecuting Attorney in conducting the
trial, commenced his argument in behalf of
the prosecution, reviewing in very clear and
forcible manner the testimony elected from
the different witnesses, urging upon their at
tention its agreement,'in all essential partic-
ulars, and stated by them in a manner so pos
tive, and straight forward as to leave no
doubt as to the truth of the important Incl
dents stated to have occurred in connection
with the murder, carrying conviction at once
to the unbiased mind, that the act was pre-
meditated, willful, and with malice afore-
thought, and without any extenuating cir
cumstances. Mr.. EGGLEsToN opened the ar
gument in behalf of the prisoner. We re-
greet that we were unable to hear his plea,
but presume it was in every respect worthy
the man and the reputation he enjoys as an
excellent Counsellor. He was followed by his
associate, on the part of the defence, Mr..
PATTERSON, who commenced his plea by CT
ting the attention of the jury to the unfor-
tunate social position Of the prisoner, former
ly slave, deprived of education, of those
wholesome lessons of morality and virtue en-
joyed by those denominated his superiors and
masters, and not having formerly learned to
control those passions over which reason
should bear absolute sway, in an unfortunate
moment, when assailed by one vastly his SUI
perior in muscular power, had made use of a
deadly weapon and plunged the glittering
steel into the bosom of fellow mortal when
self-defence seemed to demand decisive act !;
for this he was now arraigned in the presence
of jury summoned to decide upon his fate,
as the testimony in the case should dictate.
The honorable counsel then proceeded to no
tice few minor points in which the tcstimo-
ny of the witnesses seemed to disagree, and
dwelt at considerable length in extenuation
Of the guilt of the prisoner, upon the testi-
mony of a reliable witness who affirmed that
the knife which proved the death of Haskins
was prepared by the deceased and prisoner
for an assault upon another person, who had
at some former period incurred their displeas-
ure, and whose life they had threatened to
take when favorable opportunity should
present itself, and that the circumstances of
the knife having been used by the prisoner in
his rencounter with Haskins, was purely Incl
dental, and without generalization. Be this
as it may, it was stated by another witness
that conversation passed, in her hearing,
between the prisoner and the wife of the de-
ceased, on the evening preceding the murder,
in relation to that event, and during that in
terview Mrs. H. told the negro she wonld
hold the arm of her husband if he would
stab him; and the two took lantern and
went to a grindstone, ground the blade to an
edge of suitable keenness to ensure the speedy
death of their victim, and on the following
morning, as contemplated, the wife held the
right arm of her husband while the negro
committed the fiendish deed that soon pros
trated his antagonist and left him to expire
writhing in his own crimson gore. The fin
ishing act in this horrible tragedy was testi-
fled to as we have above stated it, by several
witnesses, though some circumstances seemed
to render the part affirmed to have been TAX
en- by the wife almost incredulous, it appear
ing to some that she was endeavoring to sep
arate the combatants and induce her husband
to leave. By another witness it was stated
that for eight successive mornings preceding
the MURDER the same knife that inflicted the
fatal wound was found concealed under the
pillow of the negro and that threats were re-
peatedly made by him that Haskins should
die by that instrument With such facts as
these, elected from reliable testimony, the
case was submitted to the jury, accompanied
bv the CHARGE of the Judpe settin0 forth 10