Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-14
The Morristosn and 10y dsvflIe
Cases.

ed very little relative TO the case of the
State Of Ohio against sixteen of the citizens
of Loydsville and vicinity, and the civil
action Of Francis Simpson against the same
defendants, both founded Oh transactions in
the town Of Loydsvie July 2, 1868. We
are aware that newspaper narratives and
discussions of cases that are to be tried by
juries are calculated to prevent fair and i'm
partial trials especially when the subject |
matter of tho suit is in any way connected |
with political parties.
The State case alluded to, for reasons sat
isfactory to tho Court, was ordered to be
tried in Guernsey county, 'and was there
tried at the late February term Of the Court
for that county. The jury BY which it was
tried were upright and intelligent men, and
strangers to parties and witnesses. The
State had the services Of no less than four
learned lawyers, two of great age and large
experience.
Upon the motion of fourteen of the de-
PENDANTS a separate trial from Nichols and
Estep was allowed to the fourteen. The
State elected to try Nichols and Estept first.
| They were tried. The trial occupied nearly
four days. About one hundred and twenty
witnesses were examined. There were two
speeches on behalf of the State which &C.
cupicd about four hours and half, and
three on behalf of the defendants which
occupied about four hours and ten minutes.
The jury were fully charged by the Court
on the law of the case. The argument of
VIM. Kennon Jr., so highly extolled in the
article which is herewith printed, was the
closing speech, and occupied over two
hours.
The jury after this full and certainly fair
trial retired, and after a reasonable time for
deiberation returned verdict of mot
guilty" as the article alluded to truly states,
not even guilty OF an assault.
Fourteen Of the defendants had not been
tried. Their case stood on the docket for
trial. Upon full consultation among the
four attorneys for the State, one of whom,
if not more, had been employed by the
prosecutors, it was concluded not TO further
prosecute these furtoen, and the case was
abandoned.
Upon this case, newspaper called the
Guernsey Jeffcrsenian, published at Cam
bridge, where the case was tried, published
the following article:
"THE LOUISVILLE CASE. E.-During the
present term Of the Common Pleas, the
celebrated Loydsville Case was tried This
was an indictment found in the Court Of Com
mon Pleas of Belmont county, at the term
held last fall, in which it is charged that
Alfred Nichols, ohm Estep and fourteen 9th
er abolitonists, on the End of July last, ii
Loydsville, fired swivel at the omnibus OF
people-all Democrats, who were returning
TO Morristown from st. Clairsvllc, where
they had attended Vallandigham meeting
IL was also charged that the same defen.
dnnts, at the same time and place, shot
Mr.. Simpsonin tho arm, either with rife OF
a pistol At the same term Of the Belmon
court, tho Judge ordered that the tria
should be changed from that county to this
The case came up for trial in the cour
Of this county on Wednesday, tho l6tl
instant, and on the application of Nichol
aud Estep separate trial was allowed t.
them. Nearly one hundred and fifty wit
nesscs were examined, and the case did no
y close till Saturday evening We hearc
@ much OF the evidence and arguments O
counsel, had free access to full notes of the
trial, and conversed freely with persons who
+ were present at the time. The facts of the
:, case, it appears to US, were clearly il
evidence and VIC do not see how they coulC
leave any doubt upon the mind of any
unpreiudiced mind. That the first otfens,
0 was given by Nichols, seems to be very clear
[ a. the omnibus was passing through Loyds
vile in the morning, he applied the mos
insulting language to the persons occupying
= it, calling them id traitors and everything
t that is vile; and for all this he had not the
$ slightest provocation or excuse. Simpson
and some Of his associates returned, and
!, used language--especially towards the
l females who needlessly interfered in the
difficulty--of which they ought to be and are
no doubt ashamed But what excuse dd
that afford for the murderous assault thai
i was made upon them in the evening?
; ut seems that as the omnibus was return
ing in the evening, Nichols secreted hi,
associates about his premises. They were
r armed with rifles, shot guns, and pistols; anC
a large swivel, loaded with slugs,was planted
4 near the house. All this was done under
= the false hypocritical pretence ofsclfdefencc
no OMNIBUS was crowded with persons, ont
r of them little child less than two years old
i and all Of them were passing through tn,
town in n very orderly manner. though
!. occasionally cheering for Vallandigham, no.
had they any intention to stop or disturb
!, any one But after tho omnibus had passec
J., Nichols house, and while it was yet il
motion, the swivel was aimed at itand free
II and in very few minutes one of Nichols
!. associates fired rifle or pistol the ball o
, which inflicted severe and painful wounC
u on Simpsons arm.
sS 1--WE are aware that it was claimed tha
or tho omnibus had stopped when the swiva
"a was fired two or three persons had 70
n, down from it to the street; that the swive
10 was net loaded with anything destructive
ut that 1t was not aimed at the omnibus; tba
On 1t was only fred as signal to the person
e. to come from their hiding places and defen,
= Nichols; that the shot which Simpson re
" celved was fred not by his enemies but hi
he friends and that all that was done wa
he merely in selideienso. But this part o
10 the case had no satisfactory foundation i,
% the evidence, and was manufactured bv tb
partisan advocates of the defendants