Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-19
The Late Kidnapper TriaIs

If our Northern friends, who are 50 rr,f,
at all times to vlllify Southern institu,i.r.
and Southern people, will take a calm visn
Of the recent trial Of Bayls- aud S.mrk,r.
they may, perhaps, f0i something 70 A.,
plsud in the conduc! Of our court, and In.
res. notwithstanding the natural eY,',o
ment and Indignation which pervadsI ~,
community at the criminal effort made he ,r,
prisoners, though scarcely week had -Ii,.,I
from their arrest 70 their appearance E'f,,
the court, Judge Nash was fully tetrrm,rei
that the reputation Of Virginia Justice shouJ
be uDtarnished, aud the best talents Of mn,
bar should be freely brought to their de,spoe
Serious as was the crime OF the prisoner. !,
was more important that the reputation os
the State and the impartiality of oar c.r,,s
should be placed beyond reproach, than rb,,
even the just rigor of the law should h.
melted to the offenders. Hence is WAS rl,,
When the prisoners came before the c1rr,
without counsel, Judge Nash called 10 ,beir
defence the services Of VIM. I. JONES md
David May, esqs., whose names are syE.
cIent announcement 10 all who know then,
OF the ability, learning, ingenuity aud Iuay.
fee or reward. Under any other cirrum.
Stances, we doubt whether either Of these
gentlemen could have been induced 70 under.
take the task Of defence. Their svmpatbis.
Of course, are with the laws Of the S,ats
which made the prisoners outlaws and leoDs
and the character Of their fence forbade Al.
most the usual relations ofcounsel and client
AT the call OF the c0urt. however, and 10 thg
lDteres. OF Its good name these gentlemen
promptly undertook the task Of defence
The sequel COMFORTS in every respect wiki
this Just aud merciful course of the cyur,
and proves that Virginia Jury, even on Il
charge OF crime like that brought again.;
the prisoners can temper its Justice with
mercy, and even give the benefit OF technical
difficulties to the delay or defeat Of sub.tau-
tial justice. The captain OF the craft no hu.
mao being could doubt, was guilty Of the
crime as alleged There was DO; the sJaioy
Of evidence to disprove, excuse or pallate the
offence; and yet he Was not subjected 70 the
full term Of imprisonment, ten years having
been stricken off. La the case Of the mate.
though there was no one else on the yesSelto
assist in its navigation, though the las. pr1.
actions on so small vessel could be kent .p-
cret from him, though it amounted to an 40,
sOlute certainty that the duties OF navigation
could not be performed and the living cargo
fed without his assistance, though the con
cealment itself of the negroes thus maic
known, if in no other way, could leave %
doubt of his completely in the crime OF aJ-
duction-two juries gave him the benefit Of
the technical doubt whether ne knew tina.
the slaves were on board mt the time the YES.
sci was within the corporate limits Of Pc
tersburg, and in boih a majority stood FOR
acquittal. A airer or more impartial trial
was never afforded any criminal, in any
court: nor can iairer trial be conceived
For ourselves we confess that we have grave
doubts if the juries did not strain the iu,:t,
of the law in favor of the prisOner.->ou.
Side Democrat.