Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-05
FROM CANADA,
The FcnIRn TriaIs-ReV Mr.. Lums-
den Acquitted.

|
His Lordship, Justice john Wilson, having
intllnated yesterday that the trial of the
EpiscOpalian minister, d. +. LumsdeD,
would take place this morning, large
number of people, long before the time,
congregated in the vicinity Of the county
buildings, anxious to obtain n seat. AL
though the constables stationed at the diff
| ferent entrances did their best to preserve
order and only permit those to enter who
had right from position, as barristers, ju-
rOrs or witnesses, others managed to crowd
In, when the court was filled to its utmost
capacity. At ten O'Clock his Lordship took
his seat on the bench. Amongst those pres
ent as witnesses for the defense were Bish-
OD Cox, DR.. Trubridge. Rev. Mr. Hills, Col.
Thomas, u. S. A.. and Mr. Hodge, of Buf-
falo; Rev. Mr.. Greenham and DR.. Kimpson,
of Fort Erie; Hon. j. II. Cameron, Hon. r..
A. Harris, and j. McNab. counsel for the
prosecution, and NJ. C.. Cameron, Queens
counsel, for the prisoner; X. McKensic,
Queens counsel, and +. FentOn, represent
| ing the American Government. The wife
of the prisoner, a young woman of lajylike
demeanOr, occupied seat next her hus-
bands counsel, and seemed to feel the un-
fortunate position in which her husband
| was placed.
The jury panel being called and the ju-
rors having answered, the prisoner ID. H.
Lumsden. was brought into court. He
looked pale and manifested anxiety.
His Lordship-Are you ready for trial2
Prisoner--Yes, my Lord.
Mr.. j. McNab opened the case for the
Crown, and stated that the prisoner, who
prOfessed to be a minister of the word of
God would be proven to have acted, come
over with and acknowledged himself chap
lain to a people who possessed neither re-
liglon nor anything beyond that of crossing
into a powerful country for the sake of
numbering its peaceable inhabitants and
pillaging all the property they could lay
their hands on. To the Indictment the
prisoner had plead not guilty, and it would
be for them to say whether he established
his plea or not. He hoped they would
throw aside all prejudice in the matter, and
try the case as between man and man, apart
from religious or party motives. AS there
were great number to be examined he
would not further delay them, but call the
Crown witnesses.
John Bucker was the first witness called.
Mr.. Cameron objected to his being ex-
anIined, the name of the witness not ap-
pearing on the back of the indictment.
His Lordship-I shall note your objec-
tion.
Witness sworn: live at Fort Erie;
first saw the prisoner at A. NJ. on Friday,
the first of June; saw him again on the
Garrison road, two miles from where the
Fenians landed; he was shaking hands with
the Fenian officers; think the Fenians
numbered 600 or 700.
Cross. examined by NJ. G. Cameron: Am
q labOrer in the employ of the Grand
Trunk railroad; did not work that day (;
when | saw the prisoner he was standing
outside of the door of my own house was
not hiding from them; saw Fenians about
| fifty yards from me ; they came up in mill
| tary order to the house; did not hide in a
hog pen; felt fired up when | saw the
Fenians come; | wanted to drive them
| back; saw the prisoner Thursday; he ap-
peared tight at the time and went into Har-
| ris' public house and drank a glass of
whisky took glass of whisky; prisoner
wore a long coat and plug hat. Prisoner
stood up.l
NJ. c. Cameron-Is that the coat the pris-
oner wore?
| Witness-It was longer.
| Prisoner-It is the same coat.
| Cross ss-eXamination continued: Did not
go to work when heard the Fenians COM
ing; went to see them. They took me
prisoner; | said, "boys, you better let INT
of, as the red-coats are coming along the
lake shore" They let me 90 afterwards
did not see them land. but heard they land.
ed at Lower Ferry. Did not go specially t
see the Fenians; went to sec if track wal
torn up. Did not see prisoner from thai
time until May or June. Did hide mysGl
Saturday in order to save myself from be-
ing shot. Only saw prisoner twice on Thurs
day and Friday; am sure saw him Friday
morning.
| VIM. Lewis next called.
NJ. q. Cameron-I object to the eXamina-
ton of the witness. His name does not ap-
pear in the indictment.
| Hon. j. II. CAmeron-If this holds good
in one case it holds good in all.
| Witness sworn: Saw prisoner two OF
three days before the raid at Fort Erie
saw him the first of June at the village
saw him speaking to persons in the Fenian
camp; cannot mention their names; saw
him In different saloons drunk. | saw him
speaking TO Fenian officers, but am not pos
] tive. He spoke to me, and told me not to
be afraid, the Feniaus would not hurt me-
Was at the place where the Fenians landed
| was taken prisoner and marched to New
| Biggin. An officer ordered me released,
and then went to the village. Saw DIR,
Kimpson speaking to Gen. O'Neil. O'Neil
| told DR.. KimpSon that he wanted provisions
| by a certain time. Kimpson told me to go
around the village and get what could.
When l returned met O'Neil, who ordered
me to drive the load Of provisions to camp.
| did so.
Cross-examned: First saw prisoner
| Tuesday before the Fenians landed. There
were a good many villagers in the Fenian
camp, out of curiosity.
John Antony examined by Mr.. Harrison
Lived quarter of a mile below Fort Erie.
Saw him the first of June at Newbiggins'
farm, spoke to prisoner about getting my
| team away; he went to Gen. ONeil, who
| told me if drew another load of ammuni-
tion across to camp | might go with my
horses; the ammunition appeared to be
cartridges. drew three loads of ammu-
milton from the landing to the Fenian camp;
prisoner was present when drew the third
| load. Afterwards saw him at camp twice /;
saw him the following day.
| Cross-examned: Did not hear what
prisoner said to Gen. O'Neil regarding my
horses. Do not recollect seeing villagers at
| Fort Erie; there were some at Buffalo
laughing at me for carrying the Fenian
| arms.
Thomas Newbiggins sworn: Was at my
farm near Fort Erie the 1st of June; as
they passed they took some of my horses I;
requested my son to go to the Fenian camp
and get them; he returned. The prisoner,
| whom he had met at camp, represented
| himself acting as chaplain; prisoner said he
had not great deal of influence among
| thpnn nc hn waa Protestant and moot az