The Abbeville bulletin. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-08-10
The Abbeville Bulletin.
-A-bbeville, =. G.
Thursday, August 10, 1866.
MARY HARRIS TRIAL CONCLUDED.
The trial Of Mary Harris fyr the murdc,

1uo ttIoi VI N" AA"Iio yA tuo iIjuIdc
OF A. J. Burroughs in Washington wa
concluded few days since. Burr ough
was man Of some standing and in.clli
gence, and held an honorable position ir
the Treasury Department at Washington
Miss Harris, from being so much exasper
ated at the trcachery Of Burroughs. upon
meeting him in one Of the streets of Wash
ington, shot him. She had tho sympathy
Of the populace, and manifestations Of Joy
at her acquiltal were great. We give be-
low the argument Of Mr.. Voorhees, and tho
verdict Of the jury. It will be found in
tercsting:
WAsu1SGroS, July 10, 1865.
To-day, the twelfth aud last Of the trial
Of Miss Harris for the murder of a. J.
Eurronghs, witnessed n larger and more
excited crowd in attendance than any
which has preceded. The sympathy OF
:the public, with few exceptions, had in the
course Of the trial been arraycd on the side
OF the accused, and an intense interest de-
relcl.s'l in the final result.
APPEARANCE OF MISS HARRIS.
At twenty-five minutes past ten clock
The accused cntcrc:l: accompanied by her
counsel and lady friends, AMI took her seat
in front Of the green table amid buzz of
many VOICES, which the Marshal endeav-
;,red to restrain. Miss Harris camo in
leaning OH the arm of Mr.. Bradley.
Before !hc argument was commenced
the jurors not engaged in the case were
discharged.
AnGCMENT OF Mr.. VOORHEES,.
At ha!cp,st ten o'clock Mr.. Voorhees,
commenced his argument. In The course
cf it lie gave the following sketch Of the
HISTORY OF THE ACCUSED.
Seven years ago Mary Harris was a
leaulil'ul and intelligent child of twelve
years old in tie city Of burlington, Iowa.
Though in moderate circumstances, none
we're more respected than her parents~ At
this time the evidence shows that Bur
,oughs met her. II is true that Burroughs
was almost twenty years her senior, out it
J, shawn that he proposed to fashion her
mind during its tender growth, and to
:noul'i aud shape her habits and affections
IN order that he might be for linn a suita-
b:c wife when Of proper age. You will
''''S Nv III dIIlSluU at luis con-
'!''>"n from what the witnesses have J;s
closed, and !, is important that you should
never Tor 4 moment lose sight Of this fact.
When these tw" parties to this mournful
tragedy appear first to our view in contact
with each other he Was Il man Of mature
years; she WAS young enough to be his
own chila. The ulaH and the child thus
z! This point started together. need moi
-,... ut length to show the ;l>Solrte pow
er which he necessarily obtained over her
Young mind and heart. lie took her By
the hand and taught her that her litv De-
iiangcd to him. She grew up to woman.
hood IN unquestionins obedience to that
iiea. l; fashioned al her budding hopes.
1t was part of all her plans when She
dreamed Of tho sunshine and the joy of
tho future. 1t was the sole wealth of her
pure, voting heart, and it was enough, she
was content. lie was literally all the worlu
TO her. lie taught her to regard him as
her destiny. Her parents, not blinded by
that idolatry with which she worshipped,
:oresaw that faithlessncss in Burroughs
which finally wrecked and blasted 60 mauy
lives besides his own. They disapproved
of his protracted and assiduous attentions.
They stroye 10 sundcr the connection and
to dissolve tho spell by which he held her
enchanted. They wished ller to marry
another. But their efforts were in vain.
Her being was absorbed in his; and when
Tie issue came between obedience to pa
rental authority and obedience 10 his ON.
ynIPotent will the result could not be doubt
tul. Lie was to her as the oak to the vine
her support and her lfe She clune to
his fortunes. She gave up all. Home
aad Kindred were left behind. She went
forth leaning on that arm which had en-
b1aced her when child. It was thus she
came to, Chicago to reside with the witness,
Miss Devlin, in order to be near him who
was henceforth to be the guardian and
protector OF all her future years. And
who is here to rise up and condemn ne,
toE this act2 You may say that tha step
then taken was the source Of all her woes
and the cause of her present imperilled
condition. If even this were true, shall
she bear the blame and be bowed down
under tito worlds censure. She loved,
ana endowed the being whom che loved
with the manly virtues Of truth, honor and
fidelity, and then trusted him. Taking in.
to consideration all the circumstances. the
Disparity Of their ages, their long intimacy,
Their contract of marriage proven here by
his own lrtter', and her chilI.like depend :
ence on him, ho was called upon by every
impnlse which enobles human nature. by
every instinct Which becomes the character
OF man, by the holy laws of heaven aud
eternal justice, to justify with his life, i.
necessary, the affection anil confidence with
which she henored. him. Shall it be q
cri,no in her to con6de because he BETRAYED
md broke her heart and set her brain on
fire? Is it to be imputed to her as an Of
fence that she was true because no was
false; lie taught $her for, Eve years to
love him until her very soul WAS blended
WITH his own, and then with no parting
word, With no friendly consolation, If such
~ thing could be, with no farewell look of
:. klndnpNo yufth p> f<,l,os~ IL. ~