The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-28

"a RELIC OF THE PAsT.-The Brownville
PA Clipper notes the death, on the 23o OF
december last, at his residence, In Fayette
years At the time of Burr's conspiracy he
was a resident of Virginia and justice OF the
peace. He issued the warrant upon Whlcn
Aaron Burr was arrested, and was present at
his trial. He afterwards emgrated 10 Penn
sylvania."
The foregoing is going the rounds OF the
papers; and it will probably 60 far and fast,
as error generally does before it is overtaken
by the truth This Mr.. YATES S. CoSSELL
may have been magistrate in Virginia at the
time of the trial of BURR; but that he issued
any warrant for the arrest of that remarkable
man is not probable. AARON BURR was arrested
in the then Territory of Mississippi in the
town of Washington. The offence of which
he was charged was alleged to have been COM
mitted in Virginia, and to this place he was
ordered for trial He arrived here in August,
1907. GEORGE PoINDExTBR, then Attorney for
the United States in Mississippi, came here
rs witness against the accused. BURR was
tried before Judge MARSHALL, afterwards
Chief Justice, and was prosecuted by GEORGE
HAY, District Attorney, assisted by WILLIAM
WRIT and ALEXANDER McCRAE. His counsel
were JOHN WICKHAM, LUTHER MARTIN, OF
Maryland, JOHN LEE, Of Alexandria, and
ALEXANDER Boris, father of JOHN M. Boris.
The last-named estimable and distinguished
jurist persisted in the Theatre in 1872. Never
was there an array of greater legal ability In
q cause.
The trial lasted for seventeen days. The Mar
shall of the District was Major SCOTT, and
Mr.. THOMAS H. DREW, one Of our oldest and
most estimable citizens, was Deputy Marshal
A. 49, I>a hnI rI>n nNf1 In
accused, who was confined, except while the
trial was going on, in framed building which
stood at the corner Of Broad and Eighth
streets. Mr.. DREW summoned twelve OF the
yeniremen from near the mouth Of the Little
Kanawha, that being near the place OF the
alleged plotting and arranging Of the conspi-
racy: Blannerhasset's Island. The trial took
place In the Hall of the House of Delegates,
Judge MARSHALL occupying the old Speakers
chair which Is now used in the Hall, bnt which
is so tricked out that the best of its old friends
would not know 1t.
Among the witnesses were General JACKSON
and General WILKINSON; the latter a man Of
some note in his day, and the former of world
wide reputation, won on the fields OF war, and
politics ut later day. They were enemies, and
their meeting here was regarded with some
is represented to have appeared at that time
as a rather rude, though striking looking per-
son, and as one Of the hardest of swearers. In
later years he had cultivated good degree Of
grace; and at the period Of his filling the office
Of President, 1t was universally conceded that
he was one Of the easiest and most graceful
and dignified gentlemen In social life OF those
times. y
As indicative Of the difficulties OF the ira
weller ut that day, General WILKINSON, who
was 4 stylish man, made the journey from
New Orleans 70 Norfolk In q small schooner.
He was spoken At sea by New York vessel,
and sent word he was coming He arrived
soon after his message.
This trial was the great sensation OF the
early days Of ths present century, and the
offence which led TO u was involved In mys-
tery, and the accused never lifted the veil
fully from It. The common belief, decade
OF 20 after the trial, was that he really had no
ocslkn against the integrity Of che then |
unated States; but that his scheme was loca-
TAD southwardly Of them, and looked to the
esfabhshmsnt OF State Of some sort out OF
the then Spanish possessions on this cont.
nsnt, He was engaged, when interrupted, In
prsparing his military expedition on the Mis-.
si,apyl, end II vas cenjsctnrsd that he In.