Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-29
AN EXCITING TRIAL Ar NEW ORLEANS
INTERESTING DETAILS

spected citizen OF New Orleans and veteran
teacher in the public schools for over quarter of g
century-for the killing Of Charles H. c. Stone, Ia
native of Virginls young man of previously IRE.
proachabe character, and Junior member of one Of
the largest and most respectable mercantile houses of
| that city, took place on the 18th inst The killing
grew outeof the charge that Stone had seduced ihs
daughter Of Hardy, and then refused to marry her
Inc trial seems 10 nave created intense excitement
and the court room waa thronged with an anxious
multitude. The defence admitted the killing bur
contended that under the circumstances il was jus
tifabe. Mr. Durant counsel! for the accused, made
the following interesting statement to the jury:
"Mr. Stone was introduced 70 the house of ths prj
soner by gentleman whose word was a full gusran.
tee for the respectnbiIity Of bis acquaintance He
received with the warmth of heart natural to the
prisoner, and il is must painful circumstance in it.
sell. He soon became freouspt visitor and the
wachful eye of the parent soon discerned that his
attentions we're of that character which end in mar
rage where honor and love unite in mutual attach.
meht Inc father was not unwilling to observe the
condition OF things thus giowing up because he bs-
lleved Mr.. Stone to be honorable and knew him 10
occupy position where his easrtions afforded him
respectable support After tim, the father ascertain.
That bis daughter and Stone were4ngaged to be mar
rea ana maj the event was only postponed until Mr..
Stone should realize his expectation being admit
ted as partner in the highly respectable house of
Dudley & Nelson, where he clerk. 10 this the
parents, OF course. made no objection, being rather
pleased with the display of prudence which ssep,ed
! parents in Mr.. Stone was ample and oomplete-rasy
looked upon him the future husband of their dsug,
ter and as such they treated him. He visited hsr
constantly; they attended church regularly together;
they went unaocompanied 10 all places of public
amusement-there was neither suspicion nor re-
straiRt.
"But now We approach most affecting scene in
this drama The girl s taken ILL., her sickness il not
understoodSand cannot be accounted for physician
In the neighborhood, Doctor White, is called in to
attend herr be doubt perceived without much de.
lay the real of her Illness though decacy com.
PEELED him TO refrain from communicating t to the
parents Towards the end OF November of last wear
the parents called on that eminent physicisn. DR..
Stone, who at once stated TO the unhappy girl that he
perceived her situation. She implored him, in agony
to conceal the matter from her father, which, need
not say, that honorable gentleman refused to do, bat
no was prevailed upon by her to defer the
ment for brief perod-uD'il the next day. He
then, accordingly disclosed h dreadfu secret TO the
parents You may we'll imagine, gentlemen, although
cannot describe to you the dreadful seems that took
place;-the mother overwhelmed 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 ntiict upon him in any shape
but that; he had garnered up in that child all the
riches OF his heart, and II cruel thief had robbed |
him while he slept. Shame struggled with indgna- !
tlon in his bosom, and tottered her throne
Ne pressed his daughter TO confession and found
that the man whom he had reared a pride, aud |
cherished as friend, had treacherousy stabbed hs
peace and ruined him forever. Yes throwing her.
sell at her fathers feet, in guilty tears and peniten
contrition, she confessed with convulsve sobs and
tears, that Charles Stone had seduced her, aud she
was then with child by him. She saw in her fathers
countenance the dreadful purpose which had taken
possession Of bis soul and overmastered all his judy.
ment; she feared for the man who had wrongsd her,
but whom she so fondly loved, and implored her ia
ther to grant but one day that she might have ons
more interview with her lover tor she confident,
.k. aa,l 10 hn-. c,kk. \
s,nted He wrote to Stone in the language Of Affection
saying, .Dear Charley, Caroline lie very sick; up
and SEQ her ,hls evening" aud lie omitted all mention
OF the discovery he had made; all was cslm for hs
wa. too deeply touched TO be camorous. Stone cams
in the evening. The father had him conducted to hia
daughter His purpose was then settled. He armed him
SELF After Stone had been halt hour in bis dsugh
ters chamber the father entered, brace Of loaded ns
purpose OF staying the seducsr OF HE child not abta
utely not uncon,onaiy but provided he should I-
fuse 10 make reparatun by marrying. Surely II was
an awful, 40 affecting scene; there lsy the daughter
stretched upon bed OF scknesa-a fair flower train
ued like the vlest weed-snd by her bed slde sat
msu whom she had trusted, on whom she had laveh
ed the rich treasures of her maiden love, and who
had abused her trust, and consigned her in this world
To endless ipiamy Aud there, too, was Tue father
calm and insensbe. He humbled himself before the
s.ducer of his child; he appealed 10 their ancient
love ha invoked the sscrsd rights of friendship and
ni honor implorng him not ~ bring ruin and d,s
gracs upon HE family, not 10 send down gray harr
in sorrow TO the grave, to have mercy upon them Z"
do them Justice. Hearts not steel, and his must
have been of harder balance to remain uDmoved uD
der such an appeal he touched by II, he rose |
from his saat and walked towards the MANTLE lean
oil upon it then said tho old man aro you not the
seducer of my childF A guilty sence was hl'
only answer Are you not said the indignant voice
of the parent, the father OF the child she ABOUT 10
bring fortbT There reply; he looked at the |
old man, and saw glancs OF wild excitement IN h1
eye that made him quail and fail OF voice. FOR dod
N- Harh nnrnif m
to morrow morning. at nine O'Clock, will make any
repsration in my power What we're the defendant
feelings then The crime wac acknowledged, and
stonslnent promised. What! could the unhappy man
slay the youth then1 Impossible. His daughter lay
in precarious condition before him; most she Ut.
her lever die by her fathers band before her lace
The thought rushes through his mind he promises
reparation; il s all he can do It ls I'll desire out
should | clay him now, my child can never have n
parstion done her. So he said you may 90, Charley
but remember, 80 sure God reigns in heaven, you
will incur fathers vengeance, II you 40 NOT Keep
YOUR PROMISE He followed him down stars IN DE-
scending Stone said again. tomorrow at nne CLOCK,
and as they shook hands at parting, for the father
hope was renewed, and his heart sat lightly again IN
his BOSOM and he gave the youth his hand, as be was
wont to do of old in friendship and Stone said again.
to morrow at nine
How ap1ouly the defendant waited for the ap
pointed hour on the morrow. l need not tell you, 1t
came and passed, but the seducer came not with It
it was hours after the time that his Drotner, mr.
Joseph Stone, presented himself; the defendant et
pressed his surprise at the visit and told him mat u
was the brother he had expected Mr.. ). made some
evasive excuse for the absence OF bis brother, anu
asked to be admitted to see poor Caroine. Iie was
admitted. When he returned to tns parior mere "as
more evasion, expression of coincidence, OF suec'eo
sympathy for the suffering girl but he SAID ne must
see his brother again. He departed The tather saw
that he was tred with, and that stone had deceived
him as he had deceived his child His purpose was
| fixed He would be deceived and trihed with no
| Ha af left
ssducer l need not tell you his purpose. Had
they met then, the event that brings you here 10,
day would have been anticipated. But stone nao
escspsd he had left the city; and the fathers search
| for him was in vain. His extreme mental excitement
and suffering brought on sn old disease OF aeoil
tstng character, which prostrated him on oed o.
sickness II is miserable to be weak, doing or su'
| ferpg. On bis bed OF sickness bis wife and daughtes
kpseed before him. begging him to forego his purpose
al least for time. Let hy from this city, said tue
mother swhere we disgracedi and hide ourselves
where we shall be unknown and after the event lns
| is TO come shall happen, and caroline becomes
! mother, Stones heart may then be toucned WIN
compassion and he will do her justice. Weak, SICK
and dispirlted, the father WAS prevailed upon iie
left his hearth and altar-stone abandoned the CITY
where he had dwelt SO many years in usefulness and
peace and on the eve OF sixy years. started OUT IN
! the wide world anew to seek another home"
The counsel continued in affecting strain, showing
J how the prisoner aud his family arrived at St LOUIS
| in md-wpter frendess and poor, and unable to oo-
tain employment. Soon they received iel'eI ;II iV
their daughter, announcing the birth OF her child
He returned to New Orleans, and found TO bis nhni'e
horror, that shameful reports, which could nave ohd
but one origin, in circulation to blast the Iepu
tstion child and to stamp her before e woro not
"a tbe victim of seduction but as herself wsnon.
This was only wanting to make him desperate. His
wrongs we're becoming too heavy ior him 10 bear
The daughter, attempted to pacify him. She wrote
to Stone, appealing to him to fulhi his promise, oul
the letter was not answered. 1t was then that the Ia
Their driven to desperation sought out the ssducer
and ehot him dead.
Miss Caroline NJ. Hardy, the daughter who he5
been seduced, among the witnesses on Inc 'Fa''
The Crescent" ssys: ,,,,
She was neatly dressed, disclosing graceful
rather small figure, and was closely yelled Alle. ir
cevug the oath shs took her seat IN ;,ss .ns