The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-17
TRIAL OF SOLOMON T. WILSON.
Correspondence Of the Daily Exchanged
VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL.

Correspondence Of the Daily Exchanged
VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL.
EAsToN, Nd, August IA, 1858.
10 tFe Ddtty Exchange:
State Solomon II. Wilson. Trial for Man
slaughter. The Court was called at 12 O'Clock on
Monday. when Judge GoLDsBoRoUGH delivered a
brief opinion that the testimony of threats on the
part OF deceased which the State had asked to be
stricken out was proper and admissible, and must
remain part of the case
=, JAMES LLOYD MARTIN, ESQ.,, the States Attorney.
then orened the argument before the jury and
spoke lor three hours, when the court adjourned to
9o'ciock, A. NJ the next day. At that hour. Mr..
MARTIN resumed his argument and spoke till u
o'clock making six hours in all that his speech had
occupied. This gentleman has the reputation of
being very able States Attorney, and he has
shown that the reputation was well earned by the
energy, ability and fidelity with which he has CON
Quoted this case to its close. He was followed by
Mr. GR!swoLD for the defence, who spoke up to the
hour OF adjournment at o'clock with his usual
ability and force. On Wednesday morning Colonel
aAMBLEroN commenced his argument and occupied
five hours in its delivery. His impressive man
ner well calculated to- win tho confidence and
respect of audience. Col. HAMgLEToN was
followed, on Thursday morning, by Mr. Pres
TON, whose reputation a criminal LAWYER
and speaker had excited an intense desire to hear
MIN. Accordingly the court room was soon filled
to its utmost capacity, and what is an unusual
sight anywhere, a considerable portion of the
audience were ladies-the elite of Easton. There
mad been small attendance of ladies during the
come out in such numbers until this day The
court room is provided with seats on each side of
the bar, to the left of which the ladies were pleas
antiy seated Mr. PRESTON spoke from 8 to 2 o'clock
without concluding, and then recess was taken
till clock, p. NJ, when he continued his argu-
ment four hours longer, concluding at half past ten.
His speech was very eloquent, containing many
passages OF hne defamation, which doubtless repaid
the ladies Tor the unusual draught upon their atten
ton.
On Friday, Judge CHAMBERS, on the part of the
State, closed the argument. He spoke upwards of
eight hours, and fully sustained his hi gh reputa-
tion when we say this it is unnecessary to
characterize more minutey his clear and lucid
arrangement of TOPICS the powerful logic and great
learning evinced in this effort. His humor ready
wit, and brilliant repartee whenever interrunted
by opposite counsel, kept his audience, aft, though
1ew, amused and admirng. There were but few
ladies in attendance to-day.
At the conclusion of the argument the defence
offered three prayers of instruction to the Jury.
After some conversation as to the right of the Judge
to instruct the jury in criminal case, the State
offered four prayers upon which they asked the
jury to be instructed. His Honor said he would
take all the prayers into consideration, digest his
views upon the law of them, and present them to
the jury for what they were worth. They would
be merely the opinion of the Court, which the iurv
under the Constitution, were not bound to regard
In IN criminal case, they being the judges of the
law and the fact.
The Court then adjourned to O'Clock on Satur-
day morning, when instructions to the following
effect were given to the jury:
!st. If the jury believe from the evidence that the
prisoner had a reasonable ground to believe that
there was formed design on the part of the de-
ceased, to take away the life of the prisoner or do
him some great bodily harm, and that the occasion
was sought to carry into effect such design, that
then the killing was excusable upon the ground of
self defence.
I'd. If the jury should believe from the evidence
that the prisoner assailed by the deceased un-
der circumstances denoting intention to take
Ia Il lalI
that when assaulted he retreated as far as the vi
oence and suddenness of the attack would allow
with saety and that he used his knife after he had
SO retreated, and while his life in imminent
peril that then he was justified in killing his assail-
ant to save his own life.
Sd. That if the jury believe from the evidence
that the prisoner stabbed and killed John p Brad
shaw, on the night of 26th of June, 1855, with
deadly weapon in mutual fight, when no weapon
had been exhibited by the deceased, or used by him
during said conflict; and that the prisoner did not
attempt to avoid the combat or retreat therefrom
at the time of the attack or afterwards but main
tanned his ground and returned the blows given bv
the fist of the deceased, with blows by an instru-
ment calculated to produce DEATH that then he is
guilty OF the charge contained in the indictment,
even though he had been previously warned in the
manner testified to, of design on the part of others
to whip him, and even though he was upon his back
on the ground at the time he gave the fatal blows
4th That the facts which constitute that imperi-
Gus necessity recognized by the lawful killing an
adversary must be judged of by the Jury as we'll
as the reasonable ground of the belief entertained
by the prisoner to the danger that surrounds
him, which must be well founded and reasonable
to justify excuse him.
After receiving these Instructions the Jury were
conducted to the room to deliberate upon the YER
diet. They remained in consultation about two
hours, and it was beginning to be whispered that
the jury would not agree, and would have to be
discharged, as they had been in the first trial when
loud rap within their room announced their read
mess to deliver their verdict. As they came into
the crowded courtroom breathess silence reigned
The prisoner retained his seat in his recumbent
and bowed posture, and awaited with feelings which
cannot be conceived the calling over of the
jury, the question of the clerk and the answer Not
guilty. Every one bent forward to catch the
words, and in an instant the room resounded with
applauding shouts and clapping of hands, which was
as quickly reprcssed by the Court. Numbers then
crowded around Wilson and shouk him warmly bv
the hand. The only manifestation of deep feeling we
observed on the part of him who had lust been de-
llyered from so great peril was the bowling of his
head to the jury, and the warm but modest way in
which he grasped the hand of one of his counsel
The Court meets again on Monday for the dis
charge of business which was postponed from the
regular May term. Judge CARMICHAEL will pre-
side. Judge GOLDSBoRoUGH has won much ap-
plause during his brief term, and "golden opin-
ions fro all sorts of peOple;" certainly the mild
dignity of his bearing, his suavity and firmness,
s"ariter IN modo tortiter IN re) and his readiness
in deciding the numberless points which arose dur
ing the trial, giving his opinions in remarkably
clear, lucid and convincing manner, enttle him to
very high praise as a Judge.
This case has cost in all about So OOO learn from
good authority.
Alexander Chaplain was on Saturday (to-day)
elected teacher in the English Department of Eas-
ton Academy. He is of Talbot. NJ.