Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-03
An Exciting Trial at New Orleans.
INTERESTING DETAILS.

veteran teacher IN the ptDllc SCHOOLS lor
over quarter Of "a century-for the killing
of Charles II. G. Stone, "a native of Nar-
ginia, a young man of previously IRE
proachable character, and junior member
ofone of the largest and most respectable
mercantile houses of that city, took place
on the 18th t1it. The killing grew out Of
the CHARGE that Stone had seduced the
daughter Of Hardy, and then refused to
marry her. The trial seems to have crca-
ted intense excitement, and the court room
was thronged with an anxious multitude
The defence admitted the killing, but con-
tended that, under the circumstances, it
was Unsuitable. Mr.. Durant, counsel for
the accused, made the following interesting
statement to the jury
sMr. Stone was introduced to the house
of the prisoner by gentleman whose word
was full guarantee for the responsibility
of his acquaintance. He was received with
the warmth Of heart natural to the prisoner,
and it is most painful circumstance in it
self. He soon became frequent visitor,
and the watchful eye Of the parent soon dis
cerned that his attentions were OF that char
acter which end in marriage where honor
and love unite ia mutual attachment. The
father was not unwilling to observe the con-
dition of things thus growing up, because
he believed Mr. Stone to be honorable, and
knew him to occupy position where his
cxertions afforded him respectable sup
port. After tin1e the father ascertained
that his daughter and Stone were engaged
to be married, and that the event was only
postponed until Mr.. Stone should realize
lis expectation Of being admitted as part
ner in the highly respectable house OF bud
lev & Nelson, where he was clerk To this
the parents, of course, made no objection,
being rather pleased with the display Of
prudence which seemed to dictate the post
ponement. The confidence of the parents
in Mr.. Stone was ample and complete
they looked upon him as the future has
band Of their daughter, and as such they
treated him. He visited her constantly
thew attended church regularly together;
they went unaccompanied to all places Of
public amusement-there was neither sus-
pcon nor restraint.
sBut BOW we approach most affecting
scene in this drama. The girl is taken ill,
her sickness il not understood, and cannot
be accounted fer physician in the neigh
borhood, Doctor White, is called in to
attend her he no doubt perceived without
much delay the real cause Of her illness,
though delicacy compelled him to refrain
from communicating it to the parents. To-
wards the end Of November of last year
the parents called on that eminent physician,
DR.. Stone, who at once stated to the IN
happy girl that he perceived her situation
She implorcd him, in agony, to conceal the
matter from her father, which, | need not
say, that honorable gentleman refused to
do. but he was prevailed upon by her to
defer the announcement for 8 brief period
until the next day He then, accordingly,
disclosed the dreadful secret to the parents.
You may well imagine, gentlemen, although
| cannot describe to you the dreadful scene
that took place the mother oserwhelmed
with modification and confusion, the father
cast down from the pinnacle Of hope to the
abyss of despair; the blow was too heavy
for him he could have borne all the ills
that Heaven could inhict upon him i'll any
shape but that; he had garnered up IN that
child all the riches CT his heart, and cruel
thief had robbed him while he slept. Shame
Struggled with Indignation in his bosom,
and reason tottered on her throne. He
pressed his daughter to a confession, and
found that the man whom he had reared az
pride, and cherished as a friend, had
treacherously stabbed his peace and ruined
him forever Yes, throwing herself at her
fathers feet, in guilty tears and penitent
contrition, she confessed, with convulsive
sobs and tears, that Charles Stone had Sc
duced her, and she was then with child by
him. She saw in her fathers countenance
the dreadful purpose which had taken pos
session of his soul and overmastercd all his
Judgment; she feared for the man who had
wronged her, but whom she so fondly loved,
and implored her father to grant but one
day that she might have one more inter
view with her lover, for size was confident,
she said, he would do her justice. The
father consented lie wrote to Stone in the
language of affection, saying, Dear Char
ley Caroline is very sick come up and see
her this evening. aud he omitted all men
ton of the discovery lie had made all was
calm, for he was too deeply touched to ! 6
rlamorous Stone came in the evening.
The father had him conducted to his daugh-
ter. His purpose was then settled. lie
armed himself after Stone had been some
half hour in his daug chamber, the
father entered brace Of loaded pistols or
his person. He does ncs conceal his mo-
tives or design he entered that room with
the deliberate purpose Of Staying she sedR
Ger of his child. not absolutely, not uncos
ditionally, bat provided he shoald reSuse t
make reparation By marrying. Ssrely
was an awful, an cfcctfng scene there la.
the daughter stretched Upon bed Of SEX
ness fair Rower trampled like the viles
wced-ana by her bed SIDE sat q man whom
she had tuwsted, on whom she had lawishet
she rich treasures of her maiden love, ant
who had abused her trust, and consigned
her in this world to endless infamy. An'
there, too, was the father, ealas and insensi
BILE He humbied himself before che sedu
eer of his child !; he appealed TO thcir an
eient love, he invoked the sacred rights o
friendship and Of honor, imploring him no
to bring ruin and disgrace upon his family
not to send down his gray hairs in sorrow
to the grave, to have raescy cpon them, t.
do them jnstiee. Hearts are not steel, an'
his must have been of harder substance t
remain unmoved under such an appeal b
wac touchod hv Il ha rnrn from his Sec;