New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-14
Local Intelligence.

ing Witnesses. There are some queer
things that now and then come athwart the
career of reporter, and frequently those
queer things vary the monOtony of his ex
perience to such an extent that his ordina
ry faculties of comprehension become stag
mated. and we fall into passive state of
idealism called reverie. This was the re-
porter's condition, and this condition has
been superinduced by the queer things that
developed themselves in the trial of the
case of the State VS.. William Marsh, be-
fore the Recorder of the Fourth District,
where he stood charged with the helm
GUS crime of arson.
The popularity of the ease consisted in
the fact that one Joseph Nixon confessed
himself the real ineendiary, but asserted
that he only acted as the agent or instru-
ment Of Marsh, who had employed him to
execute a deed which he. Marsh, himself
through some undiscovered and undevel-
oped motive, did not choose to perform.
THIS witness, Nixon, it seems, was well
known to not only all the parties connected
either directly or indirectly with the case, but
to many witnesses whom the defense intro
duced to impeach his veracity. Yet those
witnesses generally corrObora ted what Nix
on testified to. and in the next breath as
serted that they would not believe Nixon
under oath. Not one of the witnesses but
knew Nixon well, and they had been CO.
labOrers, pursuing occupations identical
with his, and frequently under the same EN-
ployment.
He was generally recognized as one of
their class, whose pursuits and whose social
habits were congenial to the parties who
now condemned him, and sought to demolish
his sworn statement before a competent
tribunal, when-by what LIE Nixon had de-
clared-he had all to lose, and naught to
gain.
Marsh, it must be understood. is accused
of the arson of the steamboat Belle of AL
ton, whose destruction was consuHmated by
fire on the morning of the twenty-eighth OF
March last, between the hours of three and
four clock, having on board human lives,
and the statute Furnishing the incendiary in
such case provides the death penalty.
Nixon. by a voluntary disposition Ilaced
himself in the hands of the authorities, and
under his own confession was sent, without
the benefit of bail, to the Criminal Court.
This confession directly duplicates William
Marsh, who, as before stated, is alleged to
have negotiated with Nixon for the destruc-
ton of the boat which negotiations were
completed by the promise of Marsh to pay
Nixon five hundred dollars when he had
executed his diabolical mission.
The point We make, and which we had
originally denominated as queer because
very apparent when we learn that the testi-
mony develops the fact of partial payment
of the money to Nixon by Marsh. All
the witnesses in the case were separated |
none heard the testimony of the other |
Nixon was subjected to most rigid cross
examination lasting four and half hours. |
Every minute particular of his connection |
with the affair was drawn out to the fullest |
possible extent, and scrutinized with all the |
severe acumen of the able and learned |
counsel for Marsh, and yet when other wit
nesses came upon the stand, by some occult
and unaccountable affinity or coincidence
the very microscopic portions of Nixon's tes-
timony were fully corroborated, even almost
to the very expressions he had used in their
description and narration, and this corro-
borative testimony was given by men who,
ignorant of Nixon's evidence, moud not be-
Here him under oath!
Thus some estimate can be formed as to
what description of testimony is given be-
fore our district recorders day after day.
An inconscionable attorney finds little diff
Rculty in proving nearly anything he or his
client desires, not that it is even intimated
such is the case in this instance, as the ma
terial was ready made and at hand.
TO BENEFIT THE NEEDY.-We make it
pleasant duty to pass an hour or so every
evening at Odd Fellows Hall. Visitors
not passing by the Shamrock table, the
RI MICS IF which are Dresided over nv Mrs |