The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1856-05-31
Preliminary Trial on charge OF
Murder.

We gave an accoun, in our last 'ssae,
Of the killing of T. {. Bently, 10 the tss'
tern portion Of ,hi. county by l.. 7 Nlford,
and OF the fact that Afford had voluntarily
surrendered himself to tae Sheriff.
On saturday last, the preliminary trial
Of Aiord commenced before " II krt.
.ry aud joins : ANDERSON, Justices of
the Peace Of this p',cc and WAS continued
until ihufsdsy eyenlng when the court
rendered "a decision. tast The accused was
no, cut,led to bail
The prosecution and the defence were
conducted with marked ability Every
inch OF ground from the inception OF the
case to It's termination. WAS closely con
tested.
The examination ol Witnesses lasted
from Saturday last until "Wednesday about
Two or three o'clock, when the testimony
VS. closed
We 'ofbeat giving any statement In re-
lauan to tbs testimony knowing bow d'iii>
GU, 1t is to do SO in manner satisfactory
to alI parties
George Lane, E.q opened the proseca.
ton .n au able speech. which occupied about
an hour and hall 10 which he reviewed
the testimony and .. reaycncy aud fitness
to the case
He was replied to by VI. J Haul, for
the accused. who made an able an lugen
ious argument. The style of Nr Halls
speech was perspicuous. lie grapplct
boldly with the difficulties of the case. pre-.
seoting bis Argument. and deductions in
concise and iorcible manner
Court then adjourned Ga Thursday
morning 7 MuRRAu, Esq, continued the
defence IN a speech Of great power, the de
livery Of which occupied nearly three hours.
It was the most brilliant effort We ever
heard from him, and one which stamps him
as one Of the most eloquent pleaders IN the
State OF Texas. distinguished as !, i for
literary, legal aud forensic ability Il
has been pronounced as able speech az
has ever been delivered ia the court hous.
The most profound and carnes, attention
va, given to the speaker Throughout, is
delivery.
c. VI ADAMS. Esq, followed, also Tor the
defence, in speech of about two hours.
in which he sustained the high reputation
which he ha. acquired as a lawyer and a
debatot. He went anew over the tes,imo
ny. strengthening the cause Of his client,
/ supplying omissions, aud adding new force
to the Arguments Of his able colleagues
Mr adams possesses fine logical analy,i.
cal mind His positions are stated with
cleatuess, precision, and force. His style is
remarkably chastc,
In word. We have never heard more
able speeches delivered in the courthouse
( Col l.. +. WIGrALL closed the argument
] in behalf of the State. 1t was "A masterly
eF,r IIe reviewed Tho tos,imor, IN o,ao,
to show It's consistency and clearrcs. He
d,C.,d.J Tho ;,,,,..,.L.6 ,,;,,,.ssos f-,,,., ,L.
rhs,,.. If ,c,,,ry Ue we,, ovs, ali tina
hc,s md wound mn by a criticism pnop
tlfo,ds Voluntary sta,emon, !, orJ., T.,
show ,bat II w,s Inconsistent with ,,,d
and ,,s.esc,-t,,, Tt5s sna..l. ,,... ,.
,,,d.d l., all ,to hos,d , 40 ono III.
bieLo., Intellectual .g,,,...a s,..c', eri
reotl, worthy nj MI. di.,in,ui.h.d ,.nu,s
,on IA a d.bator Mr. Wrl,u ,os..s.,s
In. ,,o,vsr of concentration IN, a., o,,,,,r.
binary dearee III. fact. and ,,gnue,,.
are not only srrayed with peculiar clear
ness and force. Int they are propped to.
cetber So that tbev stand ont like nla,,ous
wv. '''i 'o' ""'' Il" "'''
h'n II again assembled tho deel''on was
given as stated above, that the accused
Mas not entitled To hail
n, / Ic,,i,. .;,,..a.,
- '''''' -, ~ '''' '"''
- '''h OIL s'a"0''B ana wealth. ana mas
large and Interesting family The other
parties to tbs affair, are also men of re-,
snec,,lility uocds merriam. .ys, nan,
a.,
QUO '''' ~ "'P''F N"''" '""'