The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-13


and battery on Hepry Wilson. was to have been
| tried TO day. Failing to appear, his bail bond
which was Tor 600: and on which I. Langpetee
The district attorney fled an information against
nature.
The remainder OF the day and part Of the night
were consumed in the trial of white boy, now
about sixteen years of age, aud named William
Griffin, for the murder Of one Ratclf negro, at
Algiers, nearly year ago. The following were
the Jurors impanneed to try the case, and We
hayeTarely seen SO many Intelligent faces In the
jury box OF this court as were presentes on this
occasion:
i. G. Richards, J.J. Lugenbuhl,
J. b. Logan, George Schneider,
Z. Martin, II. ID. Monier,
Manuel Cressy. B. Smith,
Edmond Decoux G.. s. Shumvav
J. st. Cyr, G. Curier
Griffin Is youth Of intelligent appearance,
about the medium size for his age. II is said that
he came here from Texas shortly before the HON
icide was committed. The difficulty which re-
suited in the death of Ratclf originated In
gambling trick. in which the prisoner showed
himself so expert as 10 lead 70 an inference that
bis moral training has been in a vicious school.
During the trial be did not exhibit the slightest
emotion.
The fact that he had killed the deceased was
proved beyond doubt, and was not denied by his
counsel. who pleaded that the homicide was justi-
nabie, having, IL was argued. been committed in
self defense.
The questions therefore ct issue, we're, whether
the killing was murder, manslaughter, or excus-
able or Unsuitable homicide. All the material
witnesses in the case, were freedmen and freed.
women, OF the most ignorant sort, except a white
boy, Henry White. about twelve years old, who
was summoned for the defense. IL would be
tedious, unnteresting and improbable to 90 over
the evidence OF these negroes and exhibit their
testimony, given in response TO questions put in
the language, in use among intelligent persons,
which, il understood by these witnesses at ALL
was comprehended with Specification peculiar to
themselves and they responded TO the questions
accordingly.
All sgreed, the witnesses for the defense as
well as those for the prosecution that the prisoner
and the little boy, Henry White, met the deceased
on The ievee, at the upper end OF the town Of
Aleiers. the deceased being in company with ano-
ther negro. one George Butler; that the prisoner
by playing sharp trick at cards, which we are
not competent 70 describe, won FIVE dollars from
sequence.
7 Rstclife was killed by shot from revolver
which the prisoner had about him at the time.
The ball entered the top of the head, and, sup
posing the deceased TO have been standing its pas
.age woud have been described as downward
Dr. Riley, the physician who examined him, testi
fying that It's direction was toward the base Of
the scull. The boy White was the stakeholder.
He banded the money to the accused after the
trick was performed. The witnesses for the
prosecution testified that all the deceased did was
10 take the money out of the prisoners hand,
when he drew his revolver and fired the single
shot, which proved fatal. 10 word, tho evi-
dence for the State 10 the effect that no pro-
vocation was given for the act.
For the defense, the boy White, who said he
first knew the prisoner the day before the homi
eide was committed, testified that after he gave
the money TO the prisoner as winner, both were
walking cf, when they were followed by RatchG,
who throttled the prisoner aud compelled him 70
give up the money; thatsthen the parties seps-
rated twelve or fifteen feet; that the prisoner ad-
vanced step or two toward the deceased, de.
m6ndng the money back; that the deceased ssid
to his companion, George Butler "Come on, let's
kill the d----n white rebel son -" That he
was advancing, head down, as If to butt with his
arms extended before him, when the prisoner
A negro, Robert Holmes, gave similar
testimony, except that he described but
one assault by the deceased, and said
he saw but one, which was the assault
made to get possession ofsthe money. For re-
buttng evidence. George Butler and negro wo.
nan who had previously testified for the state,
were recalled and swore that Holmes was not
present at the time, nor we're such words as "d-n
rebel son OF ---n used. To disprove the use of
these words, the attorney called another negro,
Eliza Hermiy, stupid old crsatpre. and the re
suit was episode In the trial. which, grave as IL
was, did not restrain burst Of laughter from
nearly every one in the room.
The old woman had been examined already for
the prosecution and certain infrmity became
manifest then to the court and jury. The follow
ing dialogue 4 the episode referred to:
Attorney General (speaking very loudly to the
witness Did you hear any such words used as
d-n white rebel son of -"
(WGness looks al the attorney general va
cantly.)
Judge Ho,re-Is not this woman deaf, Mr..
Attorney General!
attorney Geaer0l-She is deaf now. af
Judge Hosce-lf she was as deaf at the
time the man was killed as she is now, she Is
certainly not qualified to testify as to the words
that passed.
Attorney Generat-You can ask her if she was;
| don't know.
.Iwor-(To the witness aloud)-was you
deaf then? -
Haness-Yis, sar, was.
The witness was allowed to go. Mr.. P. Weye
and Captain William Duncan. white gentlemen,
called for the defense testified that Robert
Holiness character was good. for one of his class
Mr.. Weyel had known him fifteen years, and he
has been in Capt. Duncan's employ the last three
years.
II should be added that the decessedswss des-
crbed as a man of about rs or 2S years of age
abont the size Of Butler, who is Of medium
height, muscular and powerfully built.
The case was argued at great length by Attor
ney General Lynch and Mr.. Sherburne, the latter
of whom defended the prisoner
The case was not given TO the jury until the
evening was well advanced They were unable
to agree upon verdict at late hour, and were
locked up for the night.
D. 49, L. - II A.