The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-20
Appealing to the Jury as Hus-
bands, Fathers and Brothers.
MIR. STEELE BREAKING DOWN.
His Manifest Emotion When Speaking
Of the Accused and Her Daughter.
AN AUDIENCE IN TEARS.

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. Jan. 10, 1872.
The same intense interest was manifested to-day
o. on yesterday-tne same crowding and crushing
and smashing OF delicate fabrics-to get an eligible
position to witness the closing scenes OF the case.
Ladies were seated everywhere. The tram
brought many from Baltimore and othor places,
and the officers OF the Court have seldom had .
more intricate problem to solve than the bestowal
OF these fair creatures in eligible loca-
lions. Beauty with Its bewitching SMILES COM
placently watched the closing scenes OF this
memorable trial, and one was forclbly reminded Of
those VINO, in the Wild and terrible days OF the
French Revolution, when the streets ran red with
blood, stood calmly and philosophcally by the
dread puAlotine, with knitting needle In her hand
anc marked the dropping Of each head In the saw
dust by ON added stitch. There was no sign OF pity
for the poor woman whose fate hung In the
balance--no word OF commseration for the an
gu,sh which wrung the hearts OF those two unfortu
nate creatures who, but few months ago. lived as
happily and as innocently The queenlest In that
vast assemblage Gray-headed old country gentle
men. bowed down with years and infrmitles, were
also present. and who had travelled long distances
over muddy and dangerous roads to listen to the
eloquence which the case woulu necessarily call
forth; and before the hour for the meeting OF the
Court the room was absolutely packed with specta-
tors. oa
TIE PRISONER AND HER DAU0HTBR
occupied their usual seats the of their attor
neys; but owing to the crowded state OF the court
room they were completely surrounded with people.
All the Judges were the BENCH and II was notice.
able that their counCenances wore q brighter and
more smiling expression than usual, probably
owing to the near conclusion of the trial. Mr..
Revell In his opening speech very truly said that
when woman falls she falls like Lucifer never to
rise again; and no might have added,
hat
her own sex, when any suspicion fastens
upon her, are woman's most relentless
prosecutors. 1t is not pleasant to contemplate the
1nimical expression which distorts many Of the
fair faces that peer down upon the prisoner. They
look 30 much prettier and more fascinating else
where than In the Court House, that 1t seems like
pity for them to bask within its baneful influence.
The sterner sex have long since abandoned the case
~ at least one In which there is no evidence upon
which 10 base convictions; but the ladies hold on,
hoping against hope. that the persuasive eoquence
OF the States advocates may possibly produce some
change In the status oil the case.
the Jury were also In good spirits, Mr. Beard,
whose sad bereavement seems yet TO weigh him
down with unutterable sorrow. Within the bar,
and, IN fact scattered about the immense tnrOng,
were OF high social legal and political dstinc.
tisn. having with them their wives, daughters and
sweetnearts oil clad In the costliest robes known to
modern fashion. s,.
At ten O'Clock precisely the Court convened, and
the gavel OF the Chief Justice was the summon for
the resumption OF the days proceedings.
Mr.. THOMAS FOR THE DEFENCE.
On the part OF the defence Mr.. Thomas who was
speaking when the Court adjourned yesterday, re.
sumed his argument as soon the court convened
to-day and spoke at great length, concluding about
State and defence, aud probably placed the clrcun.
stantal testimony IN as strong hight before the
eral to paint It, His conclusion was very simple
aud very 6eau,llul He told the Jury that he did
tice Il the prisoner a. the bar had been guilty Of
the crime alleged against her she was not merely
criminal but aend, and nend from oirtn. Wit.
nesses had not been brought here, as the States
Attorney had said, BY the defence, but had come
voluntarily from all sections OF tins great country,
them, to add their testimony to the pure, amiable
and sel-sacrinclng hfc OF the accused. "By their
through her girlh0od, after she had developed INTO
. mature and lovely woman TO the very moment
she had been traced, and not o whisper or
aetracuon, not breath Of criticism had
mon and chlldren. young men and madens mad
poured lorth their tribute ~ the virtues, the purity
o. ,s . ana the humanity OF the prisoner Men whose
Iys history had gathered around her; those who
nsS "0rns tue proud banner OF their country on 70
esponsed cause which had gone down before the
Others triumph nad laid aside the partlsanshp
lie, and had with one LAID tneir offerings upon
the altar or common friendship. Gentlemen Of
Of preludlced minds can outweigh the force Of such
character Ask your own hearts the quesGlon. |
wife, your mother or your daughterY snnnose
gentlemen, that one near and dear TO you. whose
you had shown through life, were accused Of nT'
crime and suspicion pointed Its Ioul Gnger at her:
Would you not rather thrust out from you with IN
dguation such charger More than one Of your
Of an nscru.Se Provdence since 1ne 6 ca
mencement OF this trial May Y not be warn.
Of death ana the nature OF the dread re,
spGnsioiuy resting upon your ! admonlsh
INC Sar CT ,s ay sans sSsesr
"pon mere suspicion consgn the prisoner to an
late compared to which death would be a peaceful
Al the close Of Mr.. Thomas speech several mem.
THE JURY WERE sESsIBLy AFFECTED
and MI. Beard, the gentleman who has lost his wife
since the trial began. was completely unnamed
aud wept freely. Many In the audience found Il dit
ncut 20 crowd PACK the unoaden Tear wnlcn sprang
handkerclefs were pentiiully used.
Mr.. srEBLE's ELOQUENT APrgAL.
Al fifteen minutes after one O'Clock Mr. j. Nevett
steele. the acknowledged leader or the Baltimore
bar commenced the Closing argument for the de.
fence Mr. Steele has been IN ieeDle health for some
time, and the exhaustive labors consequent upon
the present trial have very much weakened a con.
nasgard ana his voice INDICATED what he Ia vain at
tempted to conceal. He said
GRNTLEMEs OF THE JURY-I rice to address you
with feelings VI no little embarrassment. My col
leagues who have preceded me have spoken upon
every point IN tue case; and 10 coming before you
now feel that shall simply be going over what
my brothers have 30 well said. IT. however, any.
thlng that may say can weigh leather g weight
In forming your judgment shall consider It as time
pToatably spent u you had visited the prisoner
~ long as have, and had seen The calm resigna.
ooD with which sue has submitted her cruel fate
au!lng The gloomy hours OF her imprisonment;
II you mad seen tnat young daughter, VINO mas
mlnistered TO her during that inlprisO nment, as
have seen her, and had heard her as nave heard
her-urged BY me 10 70 out for air and exercise,
cessary 70 her neaifh-say mo, Mr.. steele, can
not do II; Will 20 out with my mother:1 you would
not only listen 10 me while tell You tnrice-told
ae, but you would deem ME recreant to my duty
sSouhse aud without inc heart OF q man IN my