Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-02-28
WEAVERVILIE CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY % 1857

times to effect the object representing himself to
be gentleman planter from Louisiana, owning
there II large plantation and one hundred and ff.
ty negroes t'rotius called another witness for
the paintiG. This was young man who had
been clerk on one of the Mississippi steamboats,.
and had known the defendant for some two years
He stated that the defendant followed the pro-
tesson of card playing and had been constantly
on the boat for four or five months at astmc lie
also stated that the defendant had told him but a
few days before that he intended to play full
hand, " and secure shat big band of cattle. Wit
ness also stated that defendant offered him
splendid gold watch if he would shuttle and
turn a " jack on the plaintiffs uncle, or succeed
in playing it Ane' on the old man, so as to Gre
ate an impression on his mind that the defend
ant was both an exemplary man in his moral
character and a man of worth" Here Grotius
Informed the Court that he might call several
more important witnesses for the plaintiff but
that he considered the evidence already adduced
quite sufficient for the plaiutn. Judge Portable
asked the defendant if he had any witnesses to
call The defendant replied that he had, aud
w,
whom he had been drilling for some hours. to
give in testimony in his favor, but after the tes-
timony Of w. H.. the steamboat clerk, j. 7. the
principle witness for defendant and the one he
relied on refused to come forward aud upon the
Judge insisting ON the witness comiug forward
and giving in his testimony if he knew anything
in defendants favor, }. r. Informed the Judge
d a I /. 4. a.
what defendant had told him, and that he be-
lieyed now that what the defendant had told
him was all humbug' This settled the matter
The evidence closed, Grotus rose and addressed
the court and jury briefly to -ic purport that the
evidence required no calculation to make the
guilt of the defendant more certain.
The defendant COR, the " Jack of Diamonds" as
Grotius cal led himD rose in lrozen, ostcutu
tious manner, and appeared to have taken conr
age at the bricncss Of Grotus' remarks lie
spoke OF jealousy the persecution Of u genlc-
man the intormolty OF the proceedings the
conspiracy, &c. lie probably occupied an hour
and half in the delivery of his spccchbut there
was nothing in his whole haranguc but com
petc TRADE of selfaudatory bngadocio.
Grotus stood once more before the judge, iu-
ry and asscmblagc, his countcnance radiant with
the light Of intellect and reason. His opening
remarks were somewhat singular:
May it please the Court, gentleman Of the
jury, the speech Of the glded and lasciyious lib
crine who has Just taken his scat, forces upon me
the necessity of reply"
This was enough all ears were open all eyes
were upon him, and the hearts Of that a.scmblage
were throbing with emotions Of gratitude and ad
miration for the advocate, and sympathy for
his client. For two hours did he pour out an ar
gumcnt rcpletc with Tearing, beauty, strength
and originality. lie reviewed the law the prin-
cipIes of right, and the position Of the unpro-
tected orphan. And when he closed in review of
the character Of the defendant his sarcasm de-
scended like torrent OF burning lava on the
guilty head of the accused. The jury pronounc-
cd the defendant guilty Of a base attempt TO
destroy the virtue and honor of the woman -
The verdict was received with the shouts and ac-
clamatons Of all present.
Judge Portable passed sentence Immediately,
which was that the defendant be tied to tree
and receive fifty lashes or the naked back with
a cowhide and that he be then driven from the
train, under the solemn injunction that If he ever
returned he should suffer death ~ The sentence
was Immediately put into execution,
Thus have digresscd TO some extent from the
original reminscence in order to show the cir
cumstauce which brought about the elevation Of
Judge Portable to the bench, aud the occasion
which conferred the title
will therefore return to the camp on The banks
Of the American river and resume the story.
CONCLt DED NEXT WEEK.