New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-05
QUESTION or COLOR-A SUICIDE.

Tie csse eff Edward Ledbeiter, charged WITH CON-
hitting rape upon the person OF hsrE,e, Nee
Sussex County, about four months since, reported It
the time in The Express, was taken up ON Monday By
the Circuit Court Of the County for final .rl. Aessr
VIM. X. Stands of Southampton, and l.. W. Macon Of
Sussex appeared as counsel for the pTisonri COL j.
X. Ctamblss of Greensvile, tor the Common wealth;
Judge Baker, presiding. The principal wines, iSr
the Commonwealth was the mother OF ,ce Outraged
woman, who gave conclusive evidence Of he gaI; Of
the accused. young man named Baste, who wS
tried at previous court as an acconpl,e OF Ledbe.
ter ard acquitted, cOrroborated the mae POETS OF
her testimony. The Commonwealth tneL onered .s
witness the eleged victim Of The rape bit an oaee
ton was raised, on the ground that her cla!ns S q
Irh were insufficient TO entite her tosuca privilege
Two ply sioians and an expert were therefore %
pointed to make examination win regard 70 the
duality of her blood and report accordingly. Ihs
Mas task as difficult as it was delicate. Her akin
wss very fair and of exquisite texture snd her 600
81 al appearaLce in perfect keeping witd her prefer
siops to an unadulterated lineage. Inc physicians
were unable 10 report, but tae expert gen. Of
Mise dsc limitation in sach matters, gave his opaion
that sic was at least onefonrth colored. Inc Coun
tkereupon rejected her as an incompetent Winesa
The csse was ably argued, aud brought 70 & close
about o'clock in the afternoon. The jury retired,
and alter remaining III eoLshtallon until retained,
unable to agree.
Tie Court reassembed yesterday morning; sfe Jary
was called and eotured few moments by tae Judge,
Gu those parts of the law affecting the case, ard gSn
allowed to retire. returned al hOur aitefs
ward with verdict OF Gully, ascertsinng the term
of his imprisonment to ten years 10 the Penesisry.
the minimum prescribed by law The.prsoseS, upon
being a,ked if he had anything to say, replied thai it
was hard that should be convicted Of cnms
| tor which the testimony produced against I'm We
| false ard he was innocent.
Upon being placed in his cell he remarked TIA. b
would never 90 to the Penitentary alive. A shon
time after his brother requested permission 20 see nu
and shewn to the apartment where ne fJund tne
UNHAPPY convict struggling upon the floor m he midst
Of bot d. which covered the floor in perfect streams
and pools for considerable space around HIM Toe
occurrence soon generally known TO me people
assembled at the Court House. aud the intenseet sr
cisme Mt followed DIR. WIN. T.. Briggs and DR.. james
inn edistey called TO the assistance of he prs
Oner, and discovered that he had severed evesl Of
the main arteries Of the This he effected, i
SCENE, instantly upon being placed ia the cell. He
Discovered fork which had been left III h.s food
and breaking of one prong by inserting t 10 aper.
iure in the wall and wrenching it in two, corded biz
ann, ard with the remaining prong inflicted the wounds
seyerpg the arteries. From the quantity Of blood he
had lost, it was evident that in five minutes mose be
would have been in eternity. When the pbysicisrs
approached him, be exlaiInei in faint voice ~ II
fast approaching his death, beg you barry ne ~
AMI shall never 60 to that place alive. Ca, could
bot see my sitter, my dear sister," lie then re-
laps.s and ga ped if faint for breath. The phy-
clans closed up bis unds efectually and by skfL
treatment managed at length to restore MIN partially
to sciousness at which time our Courteous inform
ant left Petersburg. IL was the impression OF Df
Briggs ard James that he would recover
lPe.er.borg Va ESyrsss