Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-07-23

stepped to the block and sprang up behind
him, and off they bounded on circuitous path
round the fields to the pubic road leading
to the village where they were to be married,
and their earthly joys to commence for life.
They left the house full of life, with bright
hopes for the future, and the ultimate re-
cancellation of the parents, as they had both
been readers of romance, aud imagined this
was to be noted adventure, like escaping
from castle by young lovers. But alas
for their dreams! the squire returned few
moments after they had left, and Selling his
rifle ran across the fields to the road, and
took his position near the roadside-behind
some trees, where the young couple had to
pass. They soon approached at rapid
pace, wholly unconscious of impending
HARM AS they were directly opposite the
trees, he raised the rifle, the crack was heard
at the house by the mother. The ball
grazed the head of the daughter, and young
Points fell from his seat corpse, leaving
the intended bride in her seat on the horse.
She returned to the house with her father,
and was the principal witness against him
on the trial
The case caused great excitement through
out the whole country The coroner's in
quest charged Young with the murder of
Points The Squire was arrested and con-
fined in the jail of Rush county. The grand
Jury found bill of Indictment for murder
in the first degree. The clergy visited him
in his cell repeatedly. He expressed the
most poigant regret, and the deepest sor-
row, so as to make a lasting impression up
on all who visited him-among the rest,
upon my venerable friend, the Reverend
James Ravens, who took deep interest
in the trial. The Court House was crowd
ed, and surrounded at every window, du-
ring the trial, with the most anxious coun-
tenances | ever saw on any occasion; and
while the daughter testified, the crowd
seemed almost TO cease breathing, such
was the silence that surrounded us. The
daughter related the whole facts and cir
cumstances briefly and calmly, but evil
IDENTIFY with great feeling, and so far as we
could Judge, without any disposition to
withhold anything material because her
father was OH trial. However, the tragedy
proved too much for his strength. She
gradually sank into state of partial alien
alton of mind, from which she was never
relieved BIZ all the treatment OF the most
eminent physicians, and she is now alive
a confirmed maniac.
The case was argued with all the ability
the eminent counsel on both sides could
bring to bear upon it. Mr.. Whitcomb for
the State, and Mr.. Charles Ii. Test for the
prisoner, especially distinguished them
selves. The appeals to the sympathy of
the jury were not in vain. y verdict of
manslaughter, two years in the State Pris-
on, and pardon from the Governor, were
the final result, but learned that AlcXan
der Young never smiled afterwards.
TRIAL OF \ REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER.
Samuel Fields, Revolutionary soldier,
was indicted in the Franklin Circuit Court
for murder, for killing Robert Murphy. ]
prosecuted the case, and William X. Nor
ris and John L. Mckinney appeared for the
prisoner. The facts were briefly as follows:
The deceased, a constable, in the attempt to
serve a writ of ca sa OH the body OF Fields,
received a mortal wound with shoe knife
which Fields had in his hand, of which
wound Murphy languishcd for some days
and died. Fields was arrested and confin
G in Jail at Brookville Court met and
the grand jury found bill of Indictment
for murder against Fields. There was
much excitement at the trial; officer Muir
ply had many warm friends, and the servi-
ccs of the revolutionary prisoner plead
strongly with the people. The jury that
tried the case was one of the most select
that | have ever seen in one box. The ov-
dence was clear and conclusive, leaving
no room to doubt. The defence set up was
that the crime was committed under a iren
zied state of excitement, to which it was
answered by the prosecuting attorney and
charged by Judge Eggleston, who presided,
that the knowingly killing of an officer,
in the discharge Of his duty, armed with
legal process, and the fact made known to
the execution defendant, is murder III the
eye of the law. The jury returned YER
dict of guilty, and the court sentenced the
prisoner to be hung; the day of the execu-
ton was fixed by the court. In The mean
time number of distinguished citizens Of
the county sailed forth in every direction
with petitions for his pardon. Thousands
signed them in consideration of his revolu-
tionary services. The day ofexecution ar
rived; the county in mass surrounded the
galows; the last NON mt had come, when
Gov. James B. Ray stepped upon the seat
fold, commanded silence and handed the
prisoner pardon. Great was the sensa-
ton; Fields was taken from the platform
and conveyed to his home, to live few
years longer to repent of his deeds; and
the audience retired with evident dsap-
pointment in their countcnanccs at not see
ing man hung.
! A GOOSE CASE.
Soon after this trial | was distinguished
by being employed in one Of the most in
teresting, il not important, cases that ever
occurred in the county. 1t was an action
for slandcrous words spoken. charging the
plaintiff wife with stealing the goose of the
defendants wife. The parties were highly
respectable. The neighborhood was about
equally divided, and separated into classes