New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-05
KANSAS.
THE MCCREA TRIAL.
from Our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent
LEAvENwORTH, X. T., Nov. 90, 1855.
There was little of interest transpiring here yes
terday The Court drsgs its slow length along
1t has little to deal with the McCrea case, 80
it makes the most of that, difusing small amount
of business over a large surface of time, far excel
ing the goldbeater's process in making leaf and,
have never known United States Court much
better. In Courts under State laws, and local or
fee pay, this procrastnatng difusive spirit does
not thrive 80 well but when Uncle Sam is the
treasurer the general impression is that he is a
slow old man
In my last said that the prisoners counsel had
demurred to the indictment, and stated the OBJ
jections. Yesterday the Court ruled out the de-
murrer on all the points, and took the position that
it was the same Grand JURY that had been impan-
neled in September, and that the adjournment,
the appointment of seven new jurors and electing
foreman at this adjourned Term, did not Affect
tit WAS stll the same aud regular Grand Jury.
The counsel for the prisoner filed bis exceptions
to the ruling of the Court, and then wished to
plead in abatement This was objected to by the
prosecutor who insisted that after the demurrer
no other plea could be made, After some discus
sion the Court proceeded to give its opinion adverse
to the prisoner making any other plea, when Nc
Cr6a himself expostuated with the Court on some
of the PORTIONS he was laying down The Judge
said be was going to rule the plea out but if they
could bring Lecompte-a authority or light
on the subject he would listen to the plea and so
the Court adjourned over to this morning, holding
the matter under abatement. Nothing of conse-
Ouence will transpire to-day. The counsel for the
prisoner intend to move for change OF venue to
Tecumseh, a county seat on the kaw River.
If they obtain it, that will stop proceedings
for a time if not, the trial will last
all next week at least-perhaps longer. 10
far, the ruling Of the Court has all been against
the prisoner. Again, the Grand Jury have now
been in session eleven days, though they really
hare no business. My opinion is that they are to
be kept until it is seen whether the present indict
ment against McOrea will stick, and if not, that
thew NAV make another one. A few days ago ssv-
eral of these Grand Jurors were standing outside
of the Court-H House, aud while speaking OF some
Free State men who were within at the tune, said
they Thought it would be best to take out few
" Of these fellows and string them up" hope the
rest of these conservatOrs of public morals hold
less summary views of the administration of JUS
tice dislike to give the pr ,ceedngs OF any Judi
cisl body political aspect; prisoner, be no In
pocent OF guilty, shoald never have the weight
even Of feather from the wing even Off rising or
falling politician 10 drop in the scale OF justice
that shall determine his fate. But, alss when l
see an unhappy case OF selfdefense-the hrst IN
which series of desperate and unpunished out
RACES have been met and notwithstanding an I'M
fortunate man to long imprisonment and the al
thorities takiIg at least questionable means to seal
his ANONYMOUS fate, | awake to the fact that po
litical feeling has already touched the balance
And when | look around the Court and find men
who bave outraged all Law in trying to force their
own political opinions down the throats of Others,
officials in that Court, remember that the theory
of unbiased justice is 40 abstraction, and the
strance drama of this fevered life hard reality.
Niebt before last o couple of Irishmen were sent
70 keep McCrea company, for being drunk and
di,or6erly, or rather for being drunk and d,sor-
6erIy Irishmen: for if all the drunk aud disordery
men have seen in Leavenworth had been imoris-
onea. the authorities would have required much
more extensive accommodations than the little
pi0eon.box of o crib in which McCrea 10 KEEP
The fact 10. the greater number OF the legal au.
thorties here are hard drinkers, aud - for good
order. I would merely mention that Hughes, ahe
.napped pistol at Mr. Shoemaker the other morning
becsu,e that gentleman chose to be Free-states
man ia constable, In the commission OF the peace.
Ieayenworth City lie one Of those goabead
places that spring up, like the gourd Of Jonsh. in
pn;obt Twelve months ago there were only three
bcnsfs here now there are several hundred, and
about fifteen hundred inhabitants. 1t is, and al
wsys will be, place Of considerable business. Ii
ia built ON part of the Government Reserve 70
t.;ned around the Fort, but the enc MES oil TINS
nl.ce saw il is on the Delaware Reserve, which a.
ioips that Of the Government. From what can