The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-03-28
The Louisville, Ohio, Riot Case

Party Oh INC OoASsASAsOn.
The Loydsville, Ohio, Riot Case
Atthe present term of the Common Pleas,
the celebrated Louisville Case vas tried
This was an indictment found in the Cbtrt
of Common Pleas Of Belmont countyy at
the term held last fall, in which it is eharg.
ed that Alfred Nichols, John Estep and
fourteen other abolitionists, on the I'd Of
July last, in Loydsville, fred swivel at
the omnibus of John F. Simpson, which
was filled with people-all Democrats, who
were returning to MorristoWn from ST..
Clairsville, where they had attended ? Val,
landigham meeting. 1t was also charged
that the same defendants, at the same time
and place, shot Mr.. Simpson in the arm,
either with rife or pistol. At the same
term of the Belmont Court, the Judge or
dercd that the trial should be chsrged from
that county to this. z,-5raa ,
The case came up for trial iu this county
on Wednesday, the 10th instant, aud on the
application of Nichols and Estep q seperate
trial was allowed to them. Nearly one
hundred and fifty witnesses were examined,
and the case did not. close till Saturday
evening. We heard much of the evidence
and arguments of counsel, had fire., access
TO full notes Of the trial, and conversed
freely with persons who were present at the
time. The facts ofthe case, it appears to us,
wero clearly in evidence and We do not see
how they could leave any doubt upon the
mind Of any unkrejudiced mind. That the
first offense was given by Nichols, seems to
be very clear As the omnibus was passing
through Louisville in the morning, he ap-
piled the most insulting language to the
persons occupying it, calling them ID
traitors aud everything that is vile; and for
all this he had not the slightest provocation
or excuse. Simpson and some OF his asso,
ciates returned, and used language-especi,
ally towards the females who needlessly
interfered in the difficulty--of which they
ought to be aud are no doubt ashamed.-
But what excuse did that afford for the
murder0us assault that was made upon them
in the evening?
it seems that as the omnibus was return
Ing 10 the evening, Nichols secreted bis as
sOciates about his premises. They were
armed with rifles. shot guns and pistols; and
large swivel, loaded with slugs, was plant
ed near the house. All this was done IN
der the hypocritical pretence of self-defence.
The omnibus was crowded with persons,
one of them little child less than two years
old, and all of them were passing through
the town i'm very orderly manner, though
occasionally cheering for Vallandigham nor
had they any intention to stop or disturb
any one. But after the omnibus bad pass
ed Nichols house, and While il was yet In
motion, the swivel was aimed at 1t and tir-
I'd and IN very few minutes one Of Nichols
associates fired a He or pistol, the ball OF
which inflicted a severe and painful wound
Oh Simpsons arm
We are aware that 1t was claimed that
tLe omnibus had stopped when the swivel
was fired that two or three persons had
got down from il to the street; that the
swivel was not loaded with anything dos~
tructive; that ii was not aimed at the om-
nibus that it was only ireI as y signal to
the persons 10 come from their hiding places
md defend Nichols that the shot Simpson
received was fired not by the enemies but
his friends; and that all that was done was
merely in self defence. But this part OF
the case had no satisfactory foundation IN
the evidence, and was manufactured by the
partizaa advocates of the defendants
The public will be surprised to learn that
vita taIs strong array OF facts, there was
nj even verdict that the defendants were
gnity of an assault, although it seemed. to-
he conceded that even pointing at another,
IN menacing manner, gun apparently
loaded, but not loaded in fact, was an as
Sault. But in truth, there was not DEM
ocrat on the jury, er rather there was one,
but the defendants, determined that there
should be no possible obstruction to an ac--
Qu!ttal, challenged him, and of course the
Sheriff filed the box with another abolt--
ZIONIST We do not charge that this jury
Was wilfully corrupt, but We say that no
unpreiudiced man uld have returned that
verdict "a I'd { ~
The case was opened by Mr. Taylor,
Prosecuting Attorney, in fair argument.
He was followed by Mr.. Skinner, Judge
Coweu and Judge kennon for the defend
ants. Hon. Wm kennon, jr., closed the
case in an argument that was pronounced
by oil di>intcrested bearers as one of the
abest that has ever been made in Eastern
Ohio. o. J. Swaney and Ross j. Alexander,
Esqs, assisted in the defense. The remarks
we have made as to the manner in which
the defense was conducted do not apply to
the assistant counsel.
The Democrats Of Morrstown have in
deed been badly dealt with, and they have
failed to get any redress in the civil courts.
Notwithstanding they must be still peacea-
BILE and law-abiding. Let not this unjust
verdict induce them to become the aggres
sors. The time will yet come when justice
will be done, for ''time at last sees all things
even ;" and may all this come to pass with.
oat q resort to bloodshed IT force Gaern-
seq Jefersonfan. r.ars5.. sa ..a .st.
\ Pill FOR YouNG LovERs.-A gentle
man of Chicago. who is devout Christian,
and the happy father of half dozen bux-