Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-28
8iogrl pbital Skttfb.
Anecdotes Of Aaron Burr.

Anecdotes of Aaron Burr.
At the close Of the Revolutionary War
Burr commenced the practice of Law i
the City Of New York. According I
the accute analysis Of his bjographer, b
had no title ito a place among the great
est lawyers. He had not weight Of met
al enough for that. His weapon wa
not a broad sword, but a rapier. As
lawyer Of the second rank, as a skillfu
practitioner at the bar, 1t would not b,
easy to find his equal.
In preparing his causes for trial, hi
was simply indefatigable. While there
was an authority TO be examined. while
there was evidence to be procured, while
there was an expedient to be devised, mis-
efforts were never relaxed. And he gave
no rest to his adversary, pursuing bin
with notices, motions and appeals, i'm
proving every advantage, and exhausting
all the means OF annoyance until. from
very WEAKNESS and despair, sometimes,
tt 0 enemy has clpiluiated. Colonel Burr,
not only labored himself to the uttermost
of the powers Of man, but he had the art
of exacting from his assistants an equal
diligence. Assistant counsel would re-
lce;ve notes from him at midnight, when
they were asleep. demanding instant
replies, which Obliged the drowsy men of
law to refer to authorities and examine
papers. On the day Of trial, he had his
evidence, arguments and authorities
marshaled in impenetrable array. Every
possibility had been provided for. No
man at the bar could ever boast Of dis
covering a flaw in his preparation, or eff
carrying a point against him by surprise.
Where no amount of legitimate prep
aration would avail. he had no scruples
to employing q legal ruse. Indeed, he
delighted to surprise his adversary, to lay
an ambuscade for him, and carry a case
thby an ingenious stroke before the Ger
side could recover their seit-possession.-
it is related that, in an ejectment suit to
recover a valuable house in New York,
the opposing counsel had expended their
whole strength in proving the genuine
ness of a will. supposing of course. that
that was the only point susceptible of
dispute. What was their surprise to find
Burr's main attack was made against
the authenticity of an ancient deed, one
Of the links in the title, which, having
rever before been disputed, had been
provided with merely formal proof. The
jury pronounced the deed forgery, and
Burr.s client lived and died in possession
Of the property. Two courts have since
pronounced the deed authentic.
No means we're too trivial for him to
employ, if he thought them likely to pro
mote his purpose. He used to say that
no had once saved a man from being
hanged by o certain arrangement of the
candles in the courtroom. He referred
to a trial for murder, in which both Ham
ilton and himself defended the prisoner,
and which excited intense interest at the
time. At first the evidence against the
prisoner seemed conclusive, and | think
Burr himself thought him guilty. But as
the trial proceeded, suspicious arose
against the principal witness. Col. Burr
subjected him to a relentless cross exami
nation, and he became convinced that
the guilt lay between the witness and tht
prisoner, with the balance of probability
against the witness.
- 2 4F&. E4-g
The mans appearance and bearing werc
most unprepossessng. Beside heinsS5
markably ugly. he had the mean, dozen
look, which is associated with the timidity
of guilt. Hamilton had addressed the
jury with his finest eloquEce. confining
his remarks to the vindicatnn of the
prisoner, without allnding to the proba-
BILE guilt OF the witness. The prosecu
tug attorney replied, and It was 0
Burr's province to say the last word for
che prisoner. But the day had worn
away, aud the Court took a recess till
candlelight. This was extremely annoy
ing to Colonel Burr, as he meditated
enacting a little scene, to the success of
which d strong light was indispensable.
He was not to he banked. however,
Through one of his satellites, of whom he
always had several revolving around him,
he caused an extra number of candles to
be brougl I into the Courtroom, and to
be SO arranged as to throw a strong light
upon a certain pillar, in full view of the
jury, against which the suspected witness
had leaned through the trial. The Court
assembled, the mar resumed his accustom-
ed place, and Colonel Burr rose. With
the clear conciseness Of which he was
master, he set forth the facts which bore
against the man, and then Selling two
candelabras from the table, he held them
up toward him, throwing a glare Of light
upon his face, and exclaimed
Behold the murderer, gentlemen !"
Every eye was turned upon the wretch's
CHASTITY countenanee, which to the excl
ted multitude, seemed to wear the very
expression OF a convicted murderer. The
man reeled, as though he had been struck;
then shrunk away behind the crowd. and
rushed from the room. The effect of
this incident was decisive. Colonel Burr
concluded his speech, the Judge charged,
the jury gave a verdict Of acquittal, and
the prisoner vas free.
Chinese Amazons.
Amnno the camn followers of the i'm