The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-08
Gbans6als laiIa. Sanraalss

- 80 ~ ,'f'.seg ~. ; sfI li1ii
Reminiscences Of Tfials In, Hnaiase.ssa
In the year 1884 was aappoi6ted by
Governor-H r-Hsnirscts C,rcuis -iArvsecueur
for the third Judicial Circuit and for
the succeeding two years / rode with
Judge Eggleston into every county and
attended IN courts twice year. Our
Southern Court at that time was held az
Vevay, and the Northern at Fort Way ne.
The Judge was rather delicate, but 1
had sn-iron constitution. There were
no'bridges over the streams, but we
rode good swimming horses and never
iaitered on account Of high water, but
plunged in and always found the opposite
shore somehow. During the two years
that served as a,prosecutor, there was
not . single court held or q Grand Jury
impsnneied'in my absence on our cir
cult On one circuit i heard a nine
lnea sentenced to the penitcntiary and
four to be hung that pro -ecuted. In
the continuation of these "reminiscences
propose to sketch some Of those cases.
Before doing which, however, let me
present the great and exciting trial of
Alexander Young fer killing John
Points. in tie Rush I, Circuit Court
The case was prosecuted by James
Wbitcomb and myself for the State,
and defended by Charles Ii. Test,
James Raridsn. and Amos Lane, for the
prisoner. The :acts of the case were
these. Young was Justice of the Peace
OF Rush county, who had beautiful
and beloved daughter, about seventeen
years ofage. Points was fine look ing
young farmer. the son OF respectable
man in the usighborhood, but some what
wild and reck .css. He had for some
time been attached to the SQuire's
daughter, and had asked the consent of
the father to their marriage; bat was
rejected and deried the privilege of lous
ger visiting the house. The .youbg
couple then, arranged for an elopement,
to get married at neighboring village;
the father got wind OF their intentions
and determined at all hazards to prevent
',t. He loaded, his rifle sod hung it up
at convenient place, to be taken down
at moments nosice OF the approach. OF
young Points The Squire was absent
one morning from his house, when Points
rode up On horsehack;.the daughter was
ready, stepped to the block aud sprang
up behind him, and,off they bounded, on
q circuitous path round the fields, 10 the
public road leading to the village where
they were to be married, and their earth
ly joys to commence for lite. They left
the house full OF life, with bright hopes
Of the future, and ultimate reconcilla
ton OF the parents, as they had
10 b been readers of romance, ans imag-
ned tlx bs p1{ei adsenturc,
like escaping from castle 6y young ics-
efs. But. alas! tor their -drsams. the
Squire returned Q few moments sfter
they dad left, and seizing his rife ran
ACROSS the fields to the road, aud 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 the
impending hsrm.l, As they were directly
opposite the trees. where the Squire was
concealed, he raised ms rife; the crack
was heard at the house by the mother.
The ball grszed the head OF the daughter
and young Points irll iron his seat
corpse. leaving he intended bride in her
seat on the horse. She returned to the
house with her father, and was the prin.
cipsi witness against him on the trial.
The case created great excitement
throughout the whole country. The
coroner's inquest charged Young with
the murder OF Pvints. The Squire Was
arrested and confined in the ja'lu Rush
county. The grand jury iound bill of
indictment for murder in the first degree
The clergy visited hun in his cell re-
peatedly. lie expressed the most po'g-
nant regret aud the deepest sorrow, so
as to make profound and lasting i'm
preston upon all who visited hun
among the rest, my venerable friend, the |
Rev. James Hsvens. who took a deep !
Interest in the trial. The Court House |
was crowded, and surrounded at every |
window during the trial, with the most |
anx Gus countensnces ever saw on any
occasion; and while The daughter testi.
fed, the crowd seemed almost to cease
such was the silence that
SUR onnded us. The daughter related
the whole facts and circumstances OF the
case briefly and cslmy, but evidently
with greet ceiling. and. 50 far as We
could judge, without any disposition to
withhold any thing material. because her
lather was on trial. However the trsg
edy provei too much for her strength
She gradually sank into state of partial
alienation Of mind. from which she, was
never relieved by all the treatment OF
tie most eminent physicians. and she is
now alive--a confirmed maniac. a 4
The case was argued with all the abil-
'ty the eminent 0cousel on both sides
could bring to hear upon it. Mr.. Whit
comb for the State. and Mr. Charles IL.
Fest for the prisoner. especially distin.
yuished themselves. The appeals to the
Of the jury were not in vain.
A verdict of msnslaughter. two years in
he State Prison. and a pardon from the
Governor, were the iinsi-sresult, but
easned that Alexander Young never
smiled afterwards. rn pr -f 'n"
5.e 20, r Hon. o. z. Smith
How TO REsrscf1A11 PrRseNs STRUCK BIT
LIGHTNING. Mr.. Z. Merriman states that