The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-18
The Perjury Case I'm Cincinnati-The Fiiib
ter TRIAL.

THE BRITISH CONSUL ON THE STAND.
[From tie Cincinnati Columbian. Feb. l39
The preliminary examination of John Barbour,
(the well known witness in the flibuster case) on
the charge Of perjury, was continued in the United
States Court room yesterday afternoon before
Commissioner Warden.
su BIZ ona was served ON Charles R0wecroft, Esq,
the British Consul, for the purpose Of taking his
testimony. Mr.. Rowecroft appeared by his counsel,
who signfed his willingness TO give his testimony
in the form Of affidavit but claimed that he had the
right to decline appearing in court as witness by
virtue of his official position.
The case was argued at length by counsel, and
the Commissioner finally decided that the official
position of the Consul gave him no such immunity
and that unless he should appear in Court on Tues
day an attachment must be issued for him..
AT the opening OF the Court at o'clock yester'
day afternoon, Mr.. Rowecroft made his appearance,
and intimated his willingness to be examined, sta
ting that he waived any right to exemption from it
that attached itself to his position.
Mr.. Rowecroft was accordingly sworn and exam
ined at length in regard to his knowledge OF and in
tercourse with Barbour. The leading points of his
testimony were:-That Barbour first visited him on
his own accord, in September or October, and made
known to him the movements that were going on
against the British government; that Barbour said
he was British subject and Protestant and was
DESTROYS Of exposing the plot that he Barbour) usu
ally left with witness the note of the proceedings OF
the Emmett Club, as he took them at its meetings,
from time to time that Barbour furnished the list Of
warrant was drawn up in the Office of Witness
that Barbour steadily refused to accept any mo-
ney for his services, but that, at last after being
repeatedly urged, he was induced to receive sll0,
which was not sufficient to meet than ore half
Of the expenses he had incurred in the case.
The testimony of Mr.. Rowecroft, on the1whole,
went to corroborate that Of Barbour in almost every
important particular. Mr.. r stated that he had stu
died the character Of Barbour with care, and con-
sidered his yeracity to be unimpeachable. He
believed the motive that actuated him was
religious fanaticism, and noticed that he was
always scrupuous in regard to maintaining his
integrity. He had hesitated for Some time about
joining the Emmett Club, on account Of being re-
quiredto the obligation of secresy, which he
did not design to observe but had done SO at last,
believing the object to justify the means The wit
ness stated that though when Barbour first visited
him he professed to be British subject, he after.
ward said that he had been an American citizen, but
had burned his naturalization papers. This point
taken up eagerly by the counsel for the prose.
cuton; bat the witness defended the character of
Barbour, and corroborated him in nearly all mate
rial points.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Rowecroft's testimony,
two other witnesses were examined, but nothing OF
importance was elected.
The testimony was then declared closed and the
Court adjourned until two o'clock P. b. to-day, when
the argument will commence.