Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-05-24
WHEE
THE INTELLIGENCER.
The London TIme es on tle .Iek1c. veraIn,-
[Prom The London Times, Nav III

clusion. The verdict has been, as EVERYDAY
must nave expected it would be, one of acQuit-
tai. We are far from asserting that such n con-
clusion was not borne out by the evidence
That Mr.. Sickles acted under the influence of
exceedingly violent proyOcation there can be no
coubt, and most likely the strict letter Of the
law would not have justified Il Severcr verdict
than that of manslanghter BUTT seems rather
strong measure to find that n man who before
the homicide that he committed was of perfectly
sound mind, and who appeared before the jury
In most unquestionabie state of sanity, com
mtted that homicide under the influence of
madness. 1t looks as if the crime had been
made the proof of the madness which excused
1t. BE this as 1t may, not about to in
sinuate any censure the verdict of the AIneri-
can jury, because we are very much inclined to
believe that n jury of our countrymen
would have arrived at a similar conclusion. If
we wish to eliminate the doctrine of Served
him right" from the decisions Of courts of JUS
tice, we must devise some tribunal less open 10
popular influences and preiudces than that pal
ladium and pride of our liberties, British
Jury. But while we freely admit that the con-
clusion was one at which, however contrary to
law it may be- any twelve ordinary men were
almost certain TO arrive, we must say that the
whole circumstances attending and following
the verdict of acQnittal, the license allowed to
the bar and to the audience, and the demOnStra-
tons of popular opinion which followed, are
not calculated to elevate free institutions in
public estimation. We cannot forget that
though Mr.. Sickes may have many claims
the compassionate allowance of all who justly
estimate the weakness of human nature he is
not an example to be followed not hero to be
admired but n misguided man, who washed
out greviouS offence in the blood of his enemy,
slain in the open day in the public street, with
out the possibility of defending himself and
with every circumstance that could show
fixed ard ferocious determination. CasuiStS
La nG trDiir
romanccrs may deck out the crime with the
attributes of hcroIsm, but sober reason must
still regard the act deeply censurahle, if not
highly criminal and its result misfortune
to its perpetrator scarcely inferior to that which
he inflicted or his victim.
This being So confess we are sorry to
hear that the verdict of Not Guilty
ceivcd with loud, wild, thrilling. tumu!tuous
hurrah" from the spectators, with cheer after
cheer, the waving O! hats and handkerchicf$,
and a general rush towards the dock. The audI
ence believed, no doubt, that they were making
a vigorous protest against adultery; butt may
also be questioned whether they were not, in
| their zeal for the seventh commandment, lend
ing their applause to the impunity that wai ed
on breach of the sixth. The Marshal and the
Judge seemed to have been alike unable to ar
rest the tumult. Mr. Stanton, one of the priS-
oner's counsel, moved for his discharge before
the verdict was recorded, and, in the name of
Mr.. SickleS and OF his counsel, returned thanks
10 the jury. We certainly remember to have
| read in the reports of the infamous trials OF
persons accused of the Popish Plot, that judges
were in the habit of telling JuIlos that they had
acted as good subjects and good ProteStants
when, on the evidence OF Oates or Bedloc, they
sent some unfortunate gentleman to the halter
/ or TO the block, but we never before heard OF
| the counsel for prisoner thanking jnry, on
behalf of his client ana himself, for their YER
dict as it they were electors at polling booth 1t
that verdict was just, the jurors were entitled
To no other applause for the discharge OF their
duty than that of their own cOnscieuces; if un-
just they were entitled to the reprobation of al
good men. In no case could the idea OF any
personal obligation from the prisoner to the jury
be entertained; the very notion Cf such thing
was in itself insult.
Little, however cared "the stcntorian Stan
tom for these things. Turning from the jury,
he addressed the crowd in n very pithy piece
of forensic eIOQuencc "Now go H." said the
barr$ter and the enthusiastic crowd went it
| accordingly with another peal Of shouts. Mr..
Sickles was kissed by his friend Captain Wiley,
and overwhelmed with congratulations, as If he
had achieved some exploit more than ordinarily
| glorious On his slow hut triumphant passage
towards the door he had 10 pass by the jury
box; the jury expressed wish to congratulate
him; he stepped over the forms to meet them,
! and their saIutations were heartily rendered.
Then the counsel for the defence exchanged
compliments and congratulations with the jury.
On emerging from the court Mr.. SlcEIeS was
welcomed with fresh vollcy of cheers from the
crowd or course, he was Immediately called
upon for speech, but by this time lac was 50
much exhausted by the excess Of popular en-
thusiasm that he was unable to comply. y
desperate effort was made to take out the horses
and to draw him home in triumph. We cannot
prevail upon ourselves to regret that this we'll
meant attempt unsuccessful The house
in which Mr.. Sickles was deposited was
surrounded by thousands Of people, and 50
much did this ovation appear to he to the
taste of its principal object that Mr. Sickles in
tends to remain in Washington for week
The counsel who defended him received
the compliment of serenade, and as they,
ON behalf of Mr. Sickes, declined the honor for
him, public enthusiasm could find no other vent
than Screnading the jury. Then We have the
sayings and doings of the jury; how they came
to Mr.. Brady's parlor at the National, aud con
descended to unbend on the subject .: their
verdict. Mr. MDer'not spoke Of his devoti"n
to the family altar. Mr.. knight brought his
fiddle with him; with which he had solaced the
long nights OF sccIusiOn which the jury had to
pass, aud played several airs to the audience in
Mr. Brady's psrlor. Mr.. Arnold, The foreman
hopes that his latest postcrty will honor his
,t-,1y, Ar