Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-03
The Trial Of Walter Land.

The trial of Walter Land for the murder OF
Benjamin F. Flanagan, his brother-in.law, is III
progress before the Circuit Court of Princess
! Ann county, Va, and excites an intense inte-
res, in that region Land, it will be recollectcd
escaped to Baltimore after shooting Flanagan,
and was arrested at Barnum's Hotel. After
his return to Virginia he escaped twice from
the officers of the law, and for some time elu.
ded re-capturc by sccreting himself in the
Dismal Swamp. During the progress of the
case on Monday, u singular as we'll as painful
scene occurred of which the Norfolk Day
Book makes the following report
Ex.Gov Wise, counsel for the prisoner,
made long and eloquent speech, urging the
admission Of Mrs. Lands testimony. The
Commonwealth consented, and the Sheriff soon
entered with Mrs Land leaning upon his arm.
Her face was covered with thick brown veil;
she was dressed in blue and black striped
silk, and appeared much affected. She took
seat in the bar beside tho prisoner, who at that
moment covered his face with handkerchief.
She did likewise, and both bowed their heads in
cricr She sat beside him Tor some moments
with her hands claspcd in his, while the court
and audience appeared moved by deep bit
quiet excitement, until the clerk called her 10
! the stand TO be sworn.
! Mrs. Amy Land sworn.-l went TO Alr. Is.
+. Fanasan'S to board in 1851 was about u
years of age ut the time; removed there
about two years before went to Buckingham
school; [ went to Buckingham in February,
1856; Mr. Flanagan was my brother-ln-Inw ;
while boarding at Flanagans, slept IN small
room over the dining room in the tavern across
the way generally slept by myself; while
boarding there, Mr.. Flanagan behaved With
impropriety toward me; one or two weeks
! before | went to Buckingham, Mr. Flanagan
came to my room at night and took Improper
! liberties with me; he succeeded in his purposes
against my chastity, against my consent, ana
deferred ne from saying anything about 1t by
saying that it would be the means Of bringing
my sister (his wife, and himself into difficulty
! | left there soon after, and went TO school.
was married on the 4th of June, 1857; my
husband complained Of me alter we were mar
ricd as to my situations; told him my tohds.
! tiOn last June; it was OIL the 18th; after told
| him hc went the same day to sec cousin Henry
| WoudhouSc, to consult him about what had
told him; Mr.. Flanagan came TO my house on
| the morning Of the 2Sth Of June last; Walter
| U.and) was in the field at the time nc arrived;
Flanagan came because sent for him; sent i
negro woman for him to tell him what his con-
| duct had brought Inc TO- and to advise with
him as TO what must do; he got there between
| S and 9 o'clock; he came in ut the front door
and sat down near it. and attempted to draw
me down on his lap by force; this took place in
the parlor; the chair was sitting against the
front door; he used force tn draw me down,
and wills endcavoring Ia take improper liberties
with ine ! tried to get from him and screamed;
Walter LAND came in Mt the time and picked
up the gun from the corner and shot him.
Walter did not carry any arms in the field;
the gun was against the corner OF the door,
where it usually sat; he was i'll the habit oi
shooting crows, and kept the gun loaded Tor
that purpose; when he came i'll he had no wca,
pons with him, but picked up the gun from the
corner; the gun was near the chamber door,
next the kitchen; Walter WAS at the middle
door when the gun was discharged at Flana-
gall; | ran out OF the front door at the time;
Flanagan said nothing when Walter carue in.
Cross-cxamined by the Connnonwralth-My
husband was dissatisfied and complained Of my
situation month or two after ! vas married:
did not acknowledge to him my situation,
but denied to him that there was any reason
to find fault Of me as regards my virtue.
At this inncturc, = letter was produced by
Marmadukc Johnson, Esq, who WAS conduct
ng the prosecution. 1t was handed to Mr..
John Peters, who stepped TO the witness and
asked her if she recognized that letter as lav-
ing been written by her. She raised iler
head. looked at it. her eyes flashed, and as she
graspei it, she sad, Yes, SIT, do; that letter
was gotten from me by my brother Frank, who
told me that it was only to be used in case my
husband was taken from Inc, and il was writ
ten for the sake Of my family. 1t was written
at the request Of my brother" While saying
this, the rapid manipulation Of the paper be.
tween two nervous hands had staggered the
Commonwealth's Attorney, who turned to the
Judge, and in voice indicating astonishment
said She is tearing it M, sir" Meanwhile
she had torn it into 4 thousand pieces, and
threw them upon the floor.
4 general lnurMur Of applause ran through
the audience, and we caught several times the
sound 81 glory in her spunk, II glory in her
! Spunk.'
The Commonwealth here announced the fact
that they intended to introduce this letter,
which had been written by the witness, Us teS-
tmony to contradict her statement, and that
from its present condition they would be unable
TO do so.
Judge Bakcr.-Can yon not paste it to-
scther?
Commonwealth Atlorncy;-lt will take
some time, sir it is torn very badly.
Judge Baker.-Then We will adjourn the
Court until TOMORROW morning. II was about
sundown.
The Court then adjourned.
Reported for the Norfolk Argus
TUESDAY, MARCH 81.
Mrs. Land (wile Of the prisoncr) was called
to the stand and was cross-exanned 10y the
Statc-John Peters, CONFERENCE.-The Attor.
ney. TO questions propounded by the Com
monwealth's Attorney she answered lis fol-
| lows:
The interview between Mr. Flanagan and
| myself occurred about $ clock at night; had
Il conversation about the murder with my bro.
thcr Frank. | sent for my brother; asked him
| if he had given up my letter containing my re-
traction. lie said he had gwen it to Mr.. Pc
terS, because he thought it best for my good
| told him he had deceived INC. My brother
advised me not to swear falsely. Have three
! brothers in the county and one in Norfolk.
! II. NJ. WoodhouSe, rccallcd.-Rcsidcd With
! his sister, Mrs. Flanagan, since the murder Of
| Mr.. Flanagan Teaches school.
Since my sister left brother Daniels, where
she was some time, came to the determina.
ton of not seeing her at all, ! thought if did
50 the public might say that influenced her
! to rctract what | had heard she had made to her
! husbands counsel; that was my reason for not
! going there Some time before Christmas, re-.
! ceived letter from her 1t was handed me by my
sister, Flanagan it had been sent. (Alr. Chand-
Ter. "Do you speak Of your own knowledge
how it had been sent y The letter was produced
and read by witness with much emotion and III
tears. Upon reading it he remarked That
l. thn first rrcniynd from her to ulY knnMlrugG