The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-08-10
For the Spirit.
The Foreman Trial and the Belmont
Chronicle.

Mr.. EDITOR 1t appears that the Bel
mont Chronicle is not content to confne
its attention to the many murderers, rob-
bers, and other criminal offenders that no.
toriously infest that county. Its sphere
is more comprehensive, and lately, it has
been devoting its attention to the admin
istration of criminal law in this county
In it's last issue there is an article on the
trial of George v. Foreman, in which we
are told that Foreman he's reason to COM
plain of the administration of the laws!
The charge is wholly false. His trials
were conducted from first to last with all
fairness. He was deprived of no right,
and the writer of the Chronicle article, if
he was present at the trials knows it.
Again, it is stated that "he has been the
victim of personal animosities, of rash
public opinion, and a mysterious chain of
circumstances" The first two allegations
lust quoted, are without the slightest foun-
dation, and the imputation contained in
them will, justly, excite the indigna-
ton and contempt of this community
for the author; whoever he may be. The
last part of the sentence, properly under
stood, is true, and the very fact that Fore
man from first to last, has been surroun.
ded with this ''mysterious chain of circum-
Stances" sufficiently accounts for the pre-
vailing opinion that he is guilty, and JUS
tifes public sentiment in regard to that
matter.
In another sentence he says "that Fore
man was innocent we never doubted, and
we rejoice at his,acquittal" o, most sa-
pient Chronicle man! Why Go you not give
the public officials of your own county the
benefit of your prescience? How you
could-if you only would--lighten the la
bors of your courts, prosecuting attorneys,
and juries!
1t is also stated that his property is
nearly all "liquidated." Who "liquida-
ted" il? Not dollar of it ever passed in
TO the treasury, or the pocket of any officer
or witness. How much of his property
did the writer of the Chronicle article "li.
quidate"? Perhaps he would not like to
tell.
He thinks Foreman will yet stand un-
der the suspicion" of many, and perhaps
this is true; but can the public be blamed
for suspicious under such circumstances?
And surely this strange fact to be
brought forward by one advocating his
innocence. But there is one sentence in
the article referred to-, so pre-eminently
full of malignity and falsehood that we
cannot pass it by unnoticed The writer
says che has been hunted do,0n By has ene-
mics, as By pack Of ofhungry sOolves thirst.
ing for his blood" Every man in this
county, and every one anywhere else tina,
has paid the slightest attention to this
case, knows that to be blackhearted lie
Who the writer is; may not be known to 6
certainty, but whoever he is, he is capa
BILE of associating with any murderer with
out contamination. The whole articl,
shows him to have weak head and baG
heart, and if he is in the habit of visiting
our county, it would be we'll for him t.
keep his "incognito." The people of thi
county are willing as others to acknowl
edge their errors when pointed out, bu
r they will not suffe. themselves to be charg
ed with crimes tenfold darker than mur
der, without rebuking the cold-hear:et
malicious libeller.