The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-02
vIR oIMIA.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS Of THE HERALD.

virsinia-N0t Jury TriaI-Lax Administra-
sion Of Law the Real Troublc.
ear Hass RICHMOND, Va. Dec. 25, 1866
N but just to the people Of Virginia that should
Be- generally known what extent the courts Of the
State have laid themselves liable to the charge Of having
been influenced by prejudice in their decisions affecting
the negro There y very Unsuitable disposition the
part Of the opponents Of the administration OF Mr..
Johnson to make political capital Of every COM
sitted by the people and the OF the Southern
Bates in er treatment Of the negroes and exceptional
sases are sken ne examples Of the oppression which
usualiy dealt out to the emancpated saveA The case
Of the negro whom Dr. Watson killed Is attracting
he attention OF the people OF the North. It is no
Aoubt looked upon gross outrage upon the rights Of
- negro, which Il unquestonably ia that Dr. Watson
was discharged, but md upon inquiry and
observation that the pursue4py the court which
disshargedhim Is condemned by every intelligent ci
sen acquainted with the facts in the case. Dr. Watson
not trhd before jury previously stated in this
correspondence but by court OF magistrates TWO Of
but IN confederation OF the position OF the Doctor
gentleman In the county, and, perhaps, rely
ing mh upon their old prejudices shareholders,
che decision Of the three Justices made unanimou
and the DOCTOR acquitted Tho duty of the Com
monwealtfs attorney IN the premises was 80 plain that
he mrh TO blame as the court H. for not demand
ing trial y jury, as - the universal custom every
where in tn Union in cases Of murder homicide.
sss Of the state government with regard to the case
whole p pFO'sdinss , As being n 70 The
easss bothcf which occurred in RockBfidge county,
moaning q fagrantly unjust in the proceedings
the State IN fAct careful examination Of the dispen-
on OF Juice TO people Of every class and the
courts will provo thai the rights Of the negro
ere held % Rcred a. those Of the white man have
eesn surped that the press Of the state has mot given
desc fac regard 70 the trial Of Dr. Watson and
lsss facts 70 NOT generally known but Is have them
nun the nft authority send them to the HERALD,
With viewto contradict any Wholesale charges that
DAy be mad against the courts Of the whole State
eeop Of tese two exceptional cases. and point out
wAS are 70 Ilame II is not probable however, that
sas to thshsrges Of which they stand conv,ctod b.
fqrs the peoe Of Virginia and the whole nation. Aer
y forced dcharss Of D Watson the commeawsalth's
- The casssnt before the grand jury Il this courss
aksn the s1r under consideration even II Dr. Watson
- been hoprably acquitted, which would most proba-
~ not havaesn the casa - the offence the highest
Suseiee tsFresamea In tho virsisia Courss-
Tho WaSps Casc-The Lexington Marder-
Murder ! Norrhwest virsinia-Murder ON
OhSissms Day In RichmsnA-Pslisical Al.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. &c.
RoaxoxD, Va. Dec %, 1864
1hs numss instances Of gross injustice the part
- the cour this State towards the freedmen has lat
ey attraessthe serious attention OF the community
pnses. Thsftpd petty misdsnsanor are sAid 70 have
snsrsassd aupg the negroes snos their liberation,
wAtsh have ways bean summafily punished by the
avil aathori6 whom the offenders were brought 70
jsasa the eopls, though, show strong disposasion
= hslp the pross and render them every assistance
- tAsr power and, instead Of taking the cases 90
ssditabe 70 y State ~ criterion, have diligently
.vsssigaisd u senumsntsof the majority, ana and IL
saths whole vorahie 70 the negroes TO whom thsy
- attachsA bgorner assbcissions.
1ns murdeb1 ne negro By Dr. Watson, In Rock
1ssgs county, nd the deliberate murder Of another
aaQo BY stunt at Lexington, both being released By
~ justices no. under the prstcnce Of law shielded
oAsir 0fminalfrom further trial. and by tho present
AsSssssvs law the s,ats los-ing at large criminals
deserving capt. punishment h Disgrace 70 the people
= Virginia do not justify any such pslpaLis and
Aasrant instane Of outraged Jurisdiction.
THE CASE OF WATSON,
nnposssd by papers here. is presented In the most
moAinsd and favsbe form for the CRIMINAL and rs II
wss IN This way n to the readers Of the HERALD the
Rus statement % affair win not bs unintsresting
aors partcuiariSsit Is not known even here. The
report that the wesb Of watsons carriage wsrc broken
nnd NE carriage sef smashed pieces in the meeting
With Major Echol uhcle entirely without foundation
n lives Of t, family were NOT endangered BY the
sslisisn- Watson orsss were mot unmanageabe, but
sasrsy under thAcbtrol Of the driver Tho deceased
nsUo proceeded ave ON BY direction Of the inmates
e Echols' carriags ID 1t was mot until two days had
dnpeed since the Auage encounter that Watson armed
vtsh bludgeon adA revolver. sought the negro 70
shaseiss him. H>ftnd the negro u work In . Geld and
pBossedsd vigoroulyto beat him with the bludceou.
dhich be wrsnches pm his hands and ran, when Wat.
. bsck ana past through the abdomen. watson
3 usgsd that he q mot intend TO XIII, bot 70
ssr,s =; hing and I'd. uSS. h c... The G s:,
.0nbss homicide, Il n only because the negro was
ffssdmsa ana : : slavs-had the latter 6ssn the
sass hanging wous ave been the fate Of Watson Such
bEngne Watson beSs the late military commission fse
ssp delivered himst up competent tribunal to try
~ acqut In such % u now extensively discussed
- wiil doaotsss ssv.d BY Congressional invcssi,
DnGioA commItsee upythe rsassembiing Of Congress.
Sef aill more ssn4isd chasactsr. and occurred N
= lSsay;-1hs ssulsssas standing il the street speak.
~ 70 negro Udfi6ently with an Illicit intention,
.esa segro nas aEOachsl and sseod 10 ciois prox.
Smty. The studspt dsred him Oh, but the negro re-
SD 70 g. aneenss he had rishs 70 sand where
= plssssd on s6s ptic street whsrsupon the student
- sans time 70 htompanions THAI he vas goikg 70
eeee . 81 nigs They remoostssssd, sdvisns
~ e knock TIE sIse down 9Th club but. disre
waiting, and - he NJ had gone, asked her the drec-
~ he had taken; shpointsd this out and be quickly
Sewsd discovsrsd negro and dsliberassly shot him
lbis man Wa sss dnharssd BY some justices on the
2lsaiaabls grcunds ~ Virginia gentlemen In
habit q, or oul not submit 70 b insulted. By
bssh Of ths abcv asss msst with the hsarsssst con.
Ssmsation By Me Tsrs generally, whs feel inquired BY
- 1putAtions sasston them n citizens Of law absd-
- country.
ID usMxR nUnpR.
- dI1srsnt charspr and this time wnne man, hes
1SoentX oecurred inAscknsham county, ID this Stase
- hs9 caused scpo1citemsnt among the people there
- the following scoeut:-Somc months since . radical
yssscs. named Rye aving insultcd young ladies,
-. eovhidsd By The young men, who were formerly
- oonleoeraie s1y. which, - there quite large
y.oa Rsry m THAI tunty created some feeling and
Samee Euns one of 70 oowhiding party returning
y Wa snct with r., the ball striking the chin and
Eesoing directly thr1h the neck. whsnfou by his
ssosnsr the murdsH man was stripped naked and
KOpped up against tfeDoe, near where the atrocous
1eed was committed. The murderer robbed the body IN
eydsr, 10 believed divert suspicion from the proper
e1anne but the finds Of Rye party are tought
see the psrperatonf ths Outrage II detected they viii
- fynched, and may robably involve a serious array
grTLIAyOTHER MURDKR.