Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-03-31

a START LING COURT scene.

On last visit to Mississippi
arrived one pleasant Anrurnn even.
inga the village of Deepwoods, hav.
ing come III the stage that day from
Moody Creek. ! found the inn well
filled, and learned that the Circuit
court was in session there. At the
supper table, found the Judge and
and some half dozen lawyers, besides
the county officers and numerous Wis.
Iitors who had CONS to attend the
trials. I had some business to trans.
act with a merchant in the place,
whose name was Landor Wallace, and
fmade mp my mind 70 call upon him
during the evening knew whore his
store was, and after tea walked down
70 the Place. The. building was oil
fast however. AMI / turned my steps
toward his dwelling. Knocked III
the door, .al,dliiy summons was an.
swerei by black woman. asked
her If Mr.. Wallace was OF home. She
looked into my face a few moments.
and then burst into tears. ! T..
Hes toIhum. but he's. dead;" she
sobbcd, with mnch effort. ~ j
managed to learn from the negrcss
that Mr.. Wallace ha 1 been murdered
three days before. nm that his mur.
slerer would be tried on the morrow.
Under snch circumstances / could not
disturb any other=of the family. and
having gathered from the slave the
leading particulars, / left fine door
and returned to the inn. There ]
learned some further matters touching
the murder. but those who understood
the subject fully were busy, and ]
was forced to. wait until to-morrow
for a clear knowledge OF the case. .
Though the lnnrler had been com.
mittej so recently, the body having
not yet buried. set as the court
was in session, and the accused and
witness on hand, the trial was totake
place Immediately. &-
On the following morning enter,
ed the courtroom with the crowd, and
the first case which came nh was that
Of the murder OF Landor Wallace
The accused was a young >,nan, moi
over FIVE and twenty, named Ell.
ward Delnarton. He hal been EN-.
Eployed 1 for several years as Wal,
iace's chief clerk ana was one Of the
most capable youths in the country
hal some dealings with him. liz
was tightly built. remarkable hand.
some and bore himself with native
pride which while il gave him firmncs;
ana dignity, never made his manner
naughty or overbearing. lie was ar
orphan OF French decent. and had
been reared in New Orleans. -
As sat in the prisoners box ! coul'I
sec him plainly. He was very pale
and seemed to suffer much; yet he did
rot look like a guilty man. | could
mot believe that he had eyercommitt
In murder. lie was too brave and
honorable for that. 4..,9
At lenght the trial commenced.--
The witnesses came on.and gavelheil
testimony and my heart sank as
found how strongly the tide of cir
cumstances set against him. II wal
proved that he wished to marry Ian
tlor Wallaces niece. anil that the mn
Gle had objected. From this quar-
rel hal ensued. anil tho youth Ina.
fleft Wallacc's service. 1t was furth
vrmore prnyel that Dtmarton ha
challenged Wallace TO Eight him a due
and that the merchant llal refuse,
on the ground that he coul not con
sent tosmect one whom he still re
gardei in the light Ola son. Thei
Fit was proved that the youth was yer,
wroth at this, AMI he swere Mr.. Wal
Ilacc should .'either fight orsuffer thu
Consequences" lie was determined
Ito have satisfaction. ~
On the morning ofthc murder thu
merchant had started on sliorscbacl
for Dantonyille, and in half an HON
afterwards tho prisoner mounted hi
horse, and started after him. sayin,
as he lcapcd into the saddle, that D,
..would easily,overtake MIR! Wallace.
And, then he added, in the presenc'
lof two witnesses, who swore TO tn,
words: Il can settle, our trouble a
well on the road to ,Dantonville a
anywhere!n This was at six o'clocl
Einthe. evening. At nine o'clock,
man named Harold Dunk Harrol'
he was called-was coming from Dan
tonyille. and in i small piece OF WOO
Ithrougll which TIE road ran, he cam
upon the body of Landor Wallace
land at the same time he saw Eiwar'
Demartin riding away from the spot
| The moon was shining brightly, ant
herecognized the prisoner very PLAIN
lily. Heleaped from his saddle, an
Hound the merchant senseless, an
bleeding freely from several dee
/ wounds. Close by he found Q silver
handled bowie knife. which had bee
proved to be the prisoners property
j The knife was covered with bloos
III 20 n t-..s.s. IL Io~s1nA fhf