Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-04-26
From Eanawha.
Correspondence ealIipOlis Journal.
CHARLEsros, WEST Va !
Anril 22d 1866. I

49, -"
CHARIEsToS, Wssr Va.
April 23d, 1866.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Our town has pre-
sented an unusual degree of life and
animation during the past week. The
Circuit Court of Kanawha coun ey
closed its spring term on Thursday.
In the case of Newton G. Sims, who
was tried and convicted of murder in
the first degree, a motion for q new
trial was made few days before the
close of the term, and so ably pre-
sented by his counsel Messrs. Smith
and Mollohan, that Judge Polsley
was compelled to grant a new trial
even in the face ofa strongly preiu
diced community, who are eager
that Sims should "swing," and that
right speedily. Our county has SO
abounded in crimes of every shade
and grade during and since the war,
and life and property have thereby
been rendered so Insecure, that the
community has been wrought up to
that degree of righteous indignation,
that nothing save little wholesome
changing" will satisfy them. But
be this as it may, it is due not only
to the prisoner Sims. but also to the
community itself, that if he is to be
hanged, he should be tried, convicted
and hanged in strict accordance with
the law. All of the other criminal
cases were continued until next term
with the exception of the cases of
Atkyns and Thurman, two, horse
thieves, who were convicted and SEN
fenced respectively for tree and two
years in the State prison. Thurman
was formerly soldier in the union
army, and lost his right leg in bat
tie. His counsel, taking advantage
of this fact, made an eloquent appeal
to the jury, declaring that his client
had fought, bled and partly died in
the glorious cause of the Union, and
that it was an outrage to convict
man who already stood with one foot
in the grave, but it was ''no 60"
Kanawha county jnries have no
"bowels of compassion" for horse
thieves, and so poor Thurman and
his wooden leg go up to the peniten-
tiary.
The Circuit Court adjourned on
Thursday in order to give way to the
United States District court for the
District of West Virginia, which
opened here on Friday, Judge Jack
son presiding. Quite a number of
eminent lawyers are present in at
tendance upon the Court, both from
this and other States. They are
drawn here by the fact, that the Court
intends during the term to try several
important land suits which have been
pending for some years past. A
number of these cases are brought
by Morrill,, United Ststes Senator
from the State of Maine, who has
purchased the title to 8 number of
old surveys which lie In Jackson
county of this State, and cover a
very large proportion of all the land
contained in that county. Senator
Morrill, is proceeding to assert his
title, and will endeavor to eject from
the land the present occupants, who
have been in quite possession for
many years. He is here this term in
person, and will be assisted in the
prosecution of these suits by Judge
Edmundson of this State and two or
three lawyers from Maine. The de-
Tense is conducted by Judge Sum-
mers and Col. Ben. Smith of this
place. Unusual interest attaches to
tn ese suits from the fact, that if de-
cHed against the present occupants
of the land. it will change the title
to "a large portion of land in this sec-
ton of the State of West Virginia.
% "D.."