The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-11

THE CAIRNES MURDER TRIAL.
The Interest Among the People, -Denea.
nor and Treatment OF the Accused.
A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun gives
the following account Of the trial OF Martha J.
Cairnes, now in progress at Belair, Maryland.
Miss Cairnes, it will be remembered, shot and
killed Nicholas McComas, wfo had seduced her
under promise of marriage:X
The trial of Miss MarthsSJ. Cairnes for the
murder Of Nicholas McConas, which is now in
progress here, is the attabsorbing theme of
in all circles. The courthouse is
town. and those residing. in the vicinity where
the decd was 9 mmll1ed, but by $500 srom
the most remote parts OF the county, drawn
to attach to 1T the affair. Contrary I to general
expectation. but little difficulty was experience
ed in obtaining q, jury. and the trial was imme-
diately proceeded with The flower OF the bar
ppeasion saSasao lop Of 'fe
:H autteeige. Esq sthax Sstase's attorney, re-
'gas.ts II saasrr.ey. asuegal shss To- assist in
dated cond,tio of the county jaifs the county
authorities did NOT regard il as at place in
which to confne o female prisoner, and Miss
Cairnes has accordingly been placed upon
Hotel, where accommodations have been
provided for her by her friends. She
is under no surveillance whatever, eats at
the pabS table and moves in and out ct her
promenading and shopping on the streets until
this week. She is escorted to and from the
courthouse by Sheriff Young, leaning upon his
hotel WITH & a polite Bow Wv Upon @ Miss % oairnes ii @
entering the courtroom the dense crowd di-
vides, and, with the utmost respect, makes
passage way for her to the inside of the bar.
expressions of kindness from sympat thiaing
fricnds and weIEwishers. She wears plain
but neat light purple dress. lilac kid gloves,
white bonnet and ribbons. and seems neither
fcuty in at once perceiving that the large ma
jority Of the community uphold her and count
confidently uoon her acqulttal, contending
that she was fully justified in her action, while
it is also true that no inconsiderable portion
mix with irsympathy. regrets that human
life should ever be deliberately taken unless
by ssnction Of the law.
When the trial formally commenced, Attor,
ney. General Jones opened the case on the pagt
on the bench. The learned Attorney General
made o calm and dispasslonate argument, pic
staying Of a human being il III defiance INC Of law
was to go unrebuked. Henry w. Archer, Esq.,,
ON behalf ef. the defence. made q most impas-
stoned and eloquent address. appealing to the
draw tears not only from some Of them and the
prisoner. but from many Of the spectators, and
even; to sensibly saffect the bench and the bar.
Eso the ndiSaons g faE bsGnEnta @ out IT L.
prove that the killing was deliberate and pre-.
meditated, and that the prisoner was aided and
RbetteG BY her brother, Richard Cairnes. The
tion to prove the brothers complicity is q little
girl, Miss Ella Hope. who was riding behind
him on his horse on the evening Of the mnr-
der. She is. however. returned by the sheriff
as non eat. and " 10 said that she has left the
State. I'M E
The grand Jury refused to oiniiot the brother,
regarding the facts stated as insufaelent to i'm
plicate him. The detence will claim that the
accused was insane, ut the time OF the commits
sion Of the act and for some time previous ON
account OF McC0mas's treatment towards her.
During the progress OF the trial the demean or
OF the accused has been generally one Of un.
listlessiy around and tanning herself But this
afternoon, when. the. witneas0S ca1le<l by her
counsel wsss ~ tss.iiying so her high chArae.
moved. ahd although her eyes we're still tear
leBs. her pale face was sfohaSntariiy suffused,
and the mpsc!es aSonnd the mouth twitched
n;a sSs h1 nsy ,,onss When the
she bent her eyes on the aoor. but listened Ct
sSnsgs and nob q s shs Of mother 9th sns
such trying circumstances, "a thrill Of sympae
thy ran through all who were present.
| Mr. Archer, WHO Ii how actsna as the leading
counsel for Miss Cairnes, was retained by the
deceased (MoConasl Rs mis-; counsel in D suit
bropght against him last winter by Mics
Cairnes for breach or promise OF marriage,
|. winch suit was never brought to trial. The
widowed Tncth61'nnd three slsters OF McComas
we're dependent dn him for support, and his
friends assert that his pecuniary condition did
I not admit Of his marriage,
ToSnight Mlss CairneH held quite O. levee al
her hotel. VISITORS Sf both sex Sonstantly coin-
| ing and going, and almost oil proff4ring en-.
cOnrag geneht. She was in fine spirits.T About
ten O'Clock she was sarans AIDED. as was also the
Jury sitting In her case, who are qpaftered al
MrBs MHhtdns8 8.fsn9s US siE -