The true Democrat., 1856-03-25
For the True Democrat State of Arkansas vs. Thomas Y Ellie

We subjoin an article from the Memphis Appeal, of late date, and in doing so we de- desire that it be distinctly understood that we have no personal interest in the case which would prejudice us one way or the other.
 As We ourselves are entirely ignorant of the facts from any personal knowledge, we rely en- tirely upon thefollowing statements, taken from the Appeal, as well as upon our information as to the testimony in the cause, adduced before the supreme court of Arkansas one year aco upon an application by Thomas Y. Ellis, to be admitted to bail.
 Whether or not any prejudice exists against Ellis in Prairie county we of ourselves cannot say, but would infer so from the fact of the venue being changed from Prairie to Pu- laski county, and from the additional fact, that In the Des Arc Citizen, newspaper published at les Arc, Prairie county, several articles within the last year have appeared we'll cal culated to create an impression, tending to hin- der an impartial investigation of the matter. We would not be understood by any means to impugn the motives of our friend Morrill,. as we know not his reasons for so doing, but we think that when man accused of crime is committed to jail, and indictment for murder pending against him, the countenance of the community withdrawn from him, and he is l arraigned before the bar of justice to await his trial, that the press ought not to interfere with the matter, but leave it to the proper forum. | We are confident that Ellis will get justice in Pulaski county, and that he has nothing to fear from prejudice arising from any undue means. As the trial of the case will natural l ly involve an examination of eminent physi- cianS skilled in their profession upon subjects of medical jurisprudence, and as two attorneys of character and ability are already employed to assist in behalf of the prosecution, and much interest is felt by the friends of both par ties. The result is looked to with considera- ble anxiety. We will mention in this connec- ton that the rule made upon the editor of the Des Arc Citizen, to show cause why he should not be attached for contempt of the supreme court for publishing an article in his paper, the purport of which seemed to impute bribery to the court, has been discharged, upon the an- swer of the defendant denying all intention to commit contempt. The article alluded to was with regard to the admitting said Ellis to bail by the supreme court: ''TTiai of Ellis.
 | In common with other city papers, we have spoken of the arrest of Th0mas E7lis by of- hcers MYNATT and OHAvRE, in a manner cal culated to prejudice the impartial investigation Of the guilt or innocence of the party arrested. We cannot therefore, refuse the insertion of the communication below, received from gen. tleman ln whose veracitv we have entire con- fidence-especially as the final investigation will not take place in this State, but in an ad- | joining one:
 MEssRs. EDITORS: A. G. Ellis employed A. | T. Allen to attend a justices court in case of trial of right of property, for which he was to pay him $lO; and if the case was carried up an additional fee not agreed upon. The case came up and hung jury, and set again for trial.
 On the 21st of October, two or three days before the trial, Allen came to Ellis and exact ed an additional fee before the next justice court, but Ellis had heard that Allen had fa- vorably received proposition from the oppo- | site party, and refused to pay further than the
 
 ing to get fee, or larger fee, on the other side. He replied he could and would take fee from them, unless he raised the fee, which l Ellis refused to do.
 l On the 2lst of October Allen appeared on the opposite side, with other attorneys which | really was strong side, there being five of the party to the suit and three attorneys, made a | flaming speech, abused Ellis considerably. and | gained the suit (which was reversed in the circuit courO with scarcely an exertion On | the next morning, Ellis and his son Thomas, Dr. Bell, and A. McRea, attorney for Ellis, and one J. H. Dill, were standing in front of the printing office shed, when Allen approached them. He was accosted by McRea with the usual civilities on first sight, when he replied. l 1 am quite unwell, l never felt more fatigued l from making speech. A. c. Ellis replied he thought a man would naturally feel bad, taking fee on both sides of case, (for he had already received part of his fee) Allen said, he was fool who would not take the biggest pile. Ellis turned and walked off with out another word, but heard from Aliens mouth, damned old rascal, and simultaneously heard rap, turned his head, and Allen was down. Thomas Ellis walked off to the store.
 Allen, on the 23d of October, the next day, was in town, carrying gun for T. Ellis, and continued on about his ordinary business per haps fifteen or twenty days, when he took his ! bed with chlls and levers, and continued to | complain of chills and levers until two or three days before his death and said repeatedly that the blow stunned him, but he felt no further inconvenience from it. Some four days before | he died he, with some one in q carryall, went some twenty miles from home to Mir. Regards his brother-in-law, where he died on or about the 2Oth of November That he acted mpru- dently, and exposed himself greatly, no one will deny. A witness who has never been sworn in the case, declares that Allen, when repeating the offensive language for which he was stricken, placed his hand in his bosom- One pr. Bell, who was sworn, makes the same statement which perhaps was not drawn out | Of hlm on the trial. CITIZEN.