Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-04-11
TRIAL OF DANIEL WORTH,

TRIAL OF UANlEA VONAh, D.
For Circulating Incendiary and Seditious pubtiea-
lions IN Randolph County Superior Court, Spring
Term, 1860, before his Honor Judge Bailey
On Friday morning at 10 o'clock. the prisoner
was brought into Court with white bsndage on
his head, and rather complaisant defiant expires
sion on his countenance The State announced its
readiness for trial. as we'll as the defendant Coun-
sci for the State Mr.. Solicitor Settle, Mclean and
Scott: for the defendant Morehead and Gorrell.
The Jury was called and the defendant objected to
the whole array and challenged for cause and put
them each upon their ror dire to whether they had
formed and expressed opinion as to the prisoners
guilt After examining so jurors, jury was OBJ
famed and empanneled. Mr.. Scott for the State,
opened the case by reading the bill of indictment
which was spread upon 20 pages Of foolscap paper,
reciting portions of the infamous Helper book such
as "smail-pox is nuisance, mad dogs is nuisance
slavery is nuisance and slave owners is nuisance
but the greatest of all is the Stare ooner and that it
was lawful and right to abate all nusanccs." This
with many other of like character was recited in the
BILL
The Court room was densely crowded and as Mr.
Scott proceeded to read the bill of indictment in
clear and solemn tone of voice, indignation began
to grow upon the sea of human faces and eyes ever
and anon turning upon the prisoner who covered
cast his eyes to the floor and hung his head Mr..
Scott remarked to the jury if they failed to convict
and thus encourage these abolition emissaries it
would not be long until fair land would be de-
luged in blood. The darkness Of midnight would be
lighted up with our burning buildings to see the
mastered bodies of our wives and children, and
that the sun would rise long upon the dead bo-
dies of shareholders with their Threats cut This
eloquent touch electrified the courtroom and brought
down upon the prisoner such a torrent of indignant
looks that he seemed to sink.
The State called its witnesses, j. II. Pearce, Dan.
Id,
and Mahala Sluder, and Thos Dougan, and number
of others.
John H. Pearce testified that he had known the
defendant some two years. That he bought the
Helper book from him, paid one dollar for it. De-
PENDANT recommended it good book; had heard
him preach Often Daniel and Jacob Briles testified
that they had known the defendant some two years,
and that they each bought Helper book from him,
and that the defendant recommended it as good
book William Yates has known the defendant some
three years. and had bought book some two years
ago from defendant, which he recommended to be a
good book.
James Slider was present and saw defendant sell
to VIM. Yates book which be told him to be care
full with, for it contained enough to whip mans
back Mahala Sludcr was also present when defen-
dant sold to Yates the book. Understood the de-
PENDANT to say to Yates to be careful Of for it con-
tanned enough to whip his back, if they were mean
enough to do it. The defendants counsel attacked
the character of witnesses, James Sluder and wife
Mahala but they were trumphantly sustained as
being worthy of all credit.
The State here stopped the case, as did the deen-
dant also. rs
Mr.. Gorrell opened the defence in speech Of some
two hours in length complained Of the fierce speech
of Mr. Scott-said there might be some ohectiona-
BILE sentiments in the book called the statute under
which defendant was indicted rigorous as having
been written in blood, and many other such cuts at
our laws l think his client cannot complain of
him.
Next came Mr.. Solicitor Settle, in his dign'fed.
manly bearing with speech which was thrillingly
eloquent and calculated to do much good to those
who had been misguided by this bad man Worth, as
we'll as convincing to the jury. Then came Mclean
with his thundeIbolts of reason and keen arrows Of
sarcasm, that shook and made old Belshazzar trem-
blc Then the closing speech was made by Mr..
Morehead, who acquitted himself in such manner
as to leave no just grounds Of complaint from his
client. His Honor then gave clear and impartial
charge, and the jury retired at half after II O'clock
and brought in verdict Of guilty at o'clock Sat
ur,lay morning. -.,.
l think the trial of Worth and his conviction will
have salutary effect on those who have abolition
! proclivities in this region.
| remain yours truly, JUSTICE.
i've learn that Judge Bailey sentenced Worth to
twelve months imprisonment and that Worth has
appealed to the Supreme Court