Maryland free press., 1866-06-14
TRIAL GF,JEFF DAVIS.
Meeting Of the United States Court at
Richmond.

t'iSh' W VI. DaIIS, cuiieu 'he h"ihSS vi
the grand jury, and fourteen responded.
James f. Lipscomb and ii. L. Wigand,
of Richmond, who had been summoned to-
make up the requisite number, were then
called to the clerks desk to qualify as ju-
rors. The former declined to take the pre-.
scribcd oath, and was excused. Mr..
Wigand took the oath and occupied seat
with the other jurors. Another long delay
was caused by Mr.. Lispcomb's refusal to
qualify. Finally Gilbert c. Walker, of
Norfolk, appeared and took the oath. The
panel being thus complete, the Judge at
two o'clock delivered lis charge to the
grand jury ...... .......
After delivering his charge Judge Tn
dcrwood remarked that in the absence Of
the foreman, NIrlIarrison would act in
that capacity. The grand jury then re-
tired to their room.
Their being no formal business before
the court, Judge Underwood sail
We shall b. happy TO hear from mem
bcrs of the bar, given preference to men,
bcrs from distance '. ~..a.
William B. Reed ofPhiladelphia, then
addressed the court as follows:
May it please your honor, [ beg to pre-
sent myself, IN conjunction with my col
leagues, as the counsel of Jefferson Davis,
now a prisoner of State at Fort Monroe,
and uuder indictment for high treason in
your honor's court. We find on the records
of your honor's court an Indictment charg-
ing Mr.. Dnfis with this high offence, and
it has seemed to us due to the cause OF
justice, due to this tribunal, cue to the
feelings of one sort- or another which may
he described as cryst,lizing around the
unfortunate man. that we should come at
the very earliest day to this tribunal, and
ask your honor. or more properly the gen.
tlcman who represents the United States,
the simple question, what is proposed to be
done with this Indictment?
1t is to be tried? Is it--and this is a
question, perhaps, that have no right to
ask it is to be withdrawn or is to be sus-
pended? If is to be tried may it please
your honor, speaking for my colleagues and
for myself, and for the absent client, | say
with emphasis, and l say it with earnest
ness, that we came here prepared instant
y to try that case, and we shall ask no dc
lay at your honors hands, further than is
necessary to bring the prisoner to face the
court, and to enable him under the statute.
in such case made and provided, TO exam
inc the bill of indictm mt against him.
Is it to be Withdrawal? If so, justice
and humanity seem to us to prompt that
We should if it is to be suspended, pospon-
ed. Ifso, may it please the court, with
all respect to your honor and tie gentle
man who conducts the public business here
your honor must understand us as utter
ing our most earnest protest, We ask a
speedy trial on any charge that may be
brought against. Mr.. Davis here or in any
other civil tribunal in the land. We MAY
be now here representing, may it please
the court. a dying mam q For thirteen
months, he has been in prison, The Con-
stitution of the United States guarantees to
him not only fair and impartial trial,
which am sure he will have, but a speedy
trial, and we have come no slight distance
we have come in all sincerity, we have
come with all respect to your honor, We
have come with strong symyathies with
our client, professional and personal. We
have come here simply to ask that question
] address it to the district attorney, 1 ad-
dress it to your honor, as may he the more
appropriate. What disposition is to made
with the bill of Indictment against Jelfer-
son Davis, now pending, for high treason?
Major j. i. Henncssey, Assistant United
States District Attorney, said that he had
been unaware Of the nature of the applica.
ton just made. In the absence of the
district attorney, Mr.. Chandler, he was
not prepared to answer the question, but
would Immediately telegraph to that gen.
tlcman tho fact ofsuch an application hav-
ing been made. Mr.. Chandler would
probably arrive an Richmond this evening
If he failed to arrive he (NIaior Hcnnesey)
stated that he would himself prepared to
answer the question tomorrow morning.
Judge Underwood addressing the coun-
sci for Mr., Davis)-Am to understand
that that will be satisfactory? !...r
Mr.. Reed Entirely so. t." '
The court then adjourned until to-mor-
row at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
CA1,,