The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-03
THE yIRGINIA TRAGEDY.
A Pen ana Ink sketch of the Slayer.

From letter in the Richmond Enquirer on
the subject we extract the following:
Now will Introduce the accused. Look at
him, You see before YOU lght-haircd man
of tifty-two years of age, dressed in plain
slit of gray cloth. He is rather under the Or
dinary hrirht-about five feet eight inches
high, Is robust and vigorous, and possesses Il
countcnance Chat would attract any behOldcr.
His nose is large and prominent, his eyes large
and piercing, and his mouth OF mcdiuiIrslzc.
His is one of those faces that plainly tells
YOU its owner Is n flrst-rate man to nave for u
friend. hut terrible ONE to have for an enc
my. Firnncss, decision and tenacity of pnr-
pose are indicated By his features, and these
qualities are so shaded and s0ftcncd by IN cX-
preston of good humor and gcniality that at
!; first sight it makes one like The man.
The lawyers in the case talked a good deal
about cooling tilnc," and an argument was
made by the commemorative attorney TO show
that the period interyenel between the
time when the accused first heard OF his daugli-
lcrs condition and the time when lie Killed
her scduccr was sufficiently long TO prevent
the provocatiom from being cflcctirc Is c-
gal justification of the homicide; that the frenzy
of mind. the Nonomana which on" OF the Wit
ncsseS said the announcement ul his dallSt-
ters diSionor produced in Mr.. Aver. would
have cooled down and died ont. and corSc-
ourally could not serve Il; Il legal cNcisc Tor
his act.
IL NAV have been so with some persons
wiiusr mental organization was different from
his. bu! ii is no.: so with Mr.. Aver There was
no cooling time Ior him. ANA believe with
.Iud9. Robertson that the lire OF lISslon alil.
r.vclg" which this deep Srn>c ui s'i;lne anu
hail aru;lscoi in his bosom, would have
brcnE,c natter aad hotter ~ Time i!iorcd ~.
This was III" opinion iUt.hc:l oi aim Iron; hiS
appearance and fruIl conversation, with lii;h.
anil il VAS strengthened ami ""nir.i!ch hr The
s;a,cfne.ts yi gentlemen who a, known him
lo,r and intimately. AMI WHO were ur!a;iiied
To l-t of his cliacirTs
Tais is 4 remarkable case q; vel as 4 sl,!.
SrrinWlul one. fine s2diicrf w;S ;th English
man who had recently come 20 Virginia. aii',
had already Gained in Il high degree the co.,
:i,I"acc and esteem Of lll.' people an"iii: whom
liz lill Matlr his home. Great sympathy is felt
for his ina9rci .Gunily. The avcnger is also al
Enm!isilmln by birth. but he baS resided from
in orr Sia-c, and lEss acquired
wealth. rcputabion anu affection among the
lrupll. will whom he has lived. as has been
clearly exhibited by the presence of many OF
Ills friends from the cUttticS Of Fauqlcr, LOU
don, Fairfax and Culpcppcr. to express their
sympathy and coincidence for him in his un-
happy situation. a.,
upon his final trial. Judge Robertson stated
that there had been twenty-ninc prosecutions
in this country for offences somewhat similar
TO this. and in no instance had the accused
been convicted. No petit jury in Virginia can
Gc cmpanrcd who will find him guilty. The
common law OF the State. If may so speak,
sanctions his actsna uslilfs it; our N santes @
seduction. They lang il man for stealing
horse, and leave the father TO piilul action
for damages before civil courts aglinsta man
who has blasted the i;lir fame OF his daughter
iorcvrr-a proceeding which is repugnant to
the feelings of our Southern people, and has
never been rcsortcd to in this State that lln
ava e of. Viewed in the light Of sIcrn strict,
unbcndinS law, Mr.. Aycr.nlay lave committed
Il crime, but when all the circumstances of The
ease are considered, he will not b@ punished
for il,