New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-18
TMK PKRINR CASE.
Mondays Prsceedings-Argume Of the
Hon. Thomas Csrwin for the Defence.
From The Washington Chronicle. May l6.

ing, Of which Breadier-Gen Chapman is President.
and Col. Chapman. Judge-AdvOcate, the case OF MIS-
Bessie Perine of Baltimore was resumed. The testi'
mony 10 the case having all been heard. the Hon.
Thomas Corwin. counsel for the accused. commenced
summing up the trial on the part Of the defense
In abiding to the capture of the train Of cars between
Baltimore and Philadelphia, Mr.. COrwin said that Mrs
Harper had made arrangements to travel prior TO that
occasion with Mrs. PeIine to Newport this no doubt
considered necessary in consequence OF the Hame
Of mind which MIS- Perine was aboring under. MOI
only Mrs Perne but Mrs. s. s. Lee also recognized
in the officers Of that cavalry raid her old associates
and acquaintance and treated them as such.
Mrs. Perine's condition at this time can easily Do
short time before the in question she lost
her mother; eighteen months before. her father ana
still earlier. other dear relatives. Have none OF you
gentlemen stood the graves Of m0thers is II not
enough to impair the strongest minds to nothing OF
the mind Of this delicate lady before YOU The accused
sobbed violently when mention was made OF her
mothers DEATH. The accused had no one 10 guide her
or for her but this young woman and her child
Her father. mother, husband. all were gone Mrs har'
pers father you know from history. If nothing more
doubt the sincerity or loyalty Of Mrs Harper. who
has been this womans travelling companion. II
you will interpret the savings and doings OF
this little woman according 10 the condition OF her
mind at that time am sure you will ac9uit her. she
glad to meet Gilmore and Billings there because
she knew them. not because they were Rebels ana Pc
lieved that they would not treat her harshy from inc
fact that they knew her. This construed into sym
patty for Rebels and desire to aid them. The first
thing she did after the train was stopped. was to
endcavor TO get out with her babe When she had sue
ceeded in getting out she found to her horror that her
servant was still in the with her child, and that II
was in danger of being burned TO death. Was u
wonder that she cried for her child and that, when tie
Rebel Harry Gilmore had rescued her child by break
ing open the door Of the car she should appear pleased
to see him under such circumstances especially a. ne
old Batimoreani Yet, when ladies testify that
she glad 10 the Rebels they misconstrue II into
the meaning that she was glad the train was captured
by the Rebels Should she not thank him. Rebel though
he be- for having put her baggage out OF harms way
and having saved her child from death by fire,
DR. Bloodgood testified that after his trunk had been
broken open the accused handed over soe OF the con
fonts 10 the raiders and said they would be OF use to
them. No doubt she thought but is this evidence
that she desired TO give aid or comfort TO warAe
party You must recollect the state of Mrs Perne.
mind ut this time. Harry Gilmore proclaimed AT that
time that private property should remain unmolesed-
that none but public property should be seized. Ac-
ssn r l to gs' out 5c ser
Rebels should break open public property She re-
piled that il right according 10 the laws OF war to
right TO modest private baggage. Mrs. Pernc accord
ing to the laws Of war, was right but had she been
speaking in moral sense she would have been wrong.
In referring to Mrs. Perines familiarity with Gil.
more is it not natural that she should cling TO the per-
son who came 10 her rescue, in the time Of imminent
danger. would babe TO it, mothers breast at the
approach Of any supposed danger,
| lake for Instance the case OF Mrs s. S. Lee who
renderedas much assistance 20 the Rebels did the
sccused. Mrs. Lee asked who commanded the Rebels.
and on being told abe desired 10 see him. She even
gave OF the party drink Of water. When the nc
cused asked If she had anything 10 eat she said no.
but she had some brandy What did she do with the
brandy Why, she gave II 10 q sick Union soldier.
who going 20 his home in company with his mother
Did that look If the accused desired only 10 aid and
comfort the enemy and 20 rob and pander the Union
citizens' :,
The counsel for the accused did not know what would
be The sentence Of the eour-whether they would re
lease the accused mprison her shoot her or hang her
but to the testimony before Z en- they could not DO
otherwise than acguit her
If there once was necessity for trial ~ military
courts the war was now closed and that necessity no
longer existed li yon would make war upon petti
coats, wait til that misereant Jeif Davis (xho dis
graced pair Of military boots hy hiding 10 his wiie's
petticoats to escape his pursnersl. gets here
Il THE JUDGE-ADvOcATg's ARGUMENT.
Judge Advocate Chapman then addressed the Court
Substantially Us follows 1t Is seldom pleasant duty to
pass upon the rights Of citizens especially when life
or liberty is involved. The at the bar II n
mere than ordinary dclcacy and difficulty. say deb.
cacy and difficulty gentlemen not because justice ever
distinguishes between sexes or IS less than Justice NJ
the arbitcr OF the gts Of womaI but because know
tho human heart and the human synpathies not.
and cannot be wholly blind TO the surroandnrs snd cir
cumstanoes which environ question submit 20 the
Judgment Of man. To your profession W. s FOR the
type " chivary. To you We naturally i.Ir for the
highest exhibition Of galaniIy; AID that these quail
tics appealed 10 in the present case cannot doubt
Mars would have shrrnk from arragning AMI passing
sentence upon Venus for invasion OF his Kingdom or
for giving aid and comfort TO tue gods vih whom no
N. A
pcas at once to your sympatbies aud you do not ask
how or why she IL a suppianf.
But this gentlemen Is all based upon the idea that In
her are found the embodiment Of all goodness and excel
Ience that In her dwell all virtue. purity AID truth.
Rob her OF thcseGnd her exhibiting hntagonstc quail
tes-see her disp aging malice hatred cruelty sihcty
10 adapt herself the society Of bandits and robbers
see her not only sympathizng with but goying in The
SUN Of all crimea party 10 arson, 10 larceny and high
way robbery-sle then becomes n human being Ike
Yourself and subject 10 like passions governed by the
la
leyen-handed justice tempered with the same mercy
this gent lem en-. and nothing more.
| What il the case before You young woman, well
bred schooied and versed In petite and society
travelling with and under the restraint. Of ladies and
gentlemen OF the first responsibility Of Baltimorei no
tie Of relationship 10 impsl ber no pecnniary interest
10 subserye: the presence Of none OF the ordinary
motives which induce crime indeed, surroupded with
every restraining nfnenceyou zee Der breaking away
from these consorting with Rebels and cutthfoas.
party 20 the punderng Of private property greeting
afeciiOnatey who were in the commission OF the
highest crime known 10 the calendar, and becoming
herself participation IN that crime.
Let me group briefly tho leading facs. When II was
Al nounced that the Rebels had captured the TRAM the
rushed out OF tho front door leaving her child
behind her with the nurse, which can only be explained
upon the ypohesis that her ~ meeting with reI Us
from the South Oyercam. her fear of danger for tue
child Here she met and greeted cordially the fepe'
soIders She made use Of language 10 the effect 1--WE
have been hooking for Won have been expecting
you"& In her gee and in the paro1ysm OF hsr JOY,
she threw her arms acctonatey around one ana sseu
him She appeared delighted TO see theni To one sho
offered roll Of ereenbacks; with another she was seen
sitting on "a trunk.
ton she IL shown to have joined in the punderng OF
passengers trunks pointing out those belonging to
Federal officers distributing the confents &c Taking
an embroidered tablecoth belonging to Dr. Bloodgood
she offers il to Rebel saying. at will make you Tine
ssddIeeover" To Mrs Clark she justified her conduct,
de6ed this oy aladys scorn and contempt for the
act. At another time sitting down aud partaking Of
lunch with certain Rebels indeed for three or four
hours enjoying with apparently the keenes relish this
association. and receiving compliments and Kind serv
ices, TILL gutted with spos they gaoped of to
conquests--did this accused keep up this active aid,
traa 10 nd al