Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-05-15

& arguments about l@etive,," opinions
adverse 70 the prSpner gradually
arose. In the mindsSof* many people
the mere fact that q charge is brought
, againsta man isquite sufficient fol
his conviction, and condemnation
. MFR. starkie sneighbtrs began at lasi
i, to ask themselves what they really
knew about him and this, it seemed
amounted to little enough. He had
come among them with some sudden
ness. No one was acquainted with
his antecedents. He was well-be.
haved, AID comslyaooking and of
T. industrious habits;but always re-
served-and tasiturn. He. never spoke
4 of his oWns affairs Die appeared to
have no relations or personal friends.
I, Yet he certainly had been implicitly
trusted by his late partner, who had
set store upon his services, and was
always supposed ,toS entertain high
opinion Of him. Bgsand by it oozed
out that the case against him gained
strength every day, Thereupon many
were found to declare that they had
never liked him from the first, and
had said al along that he knew more
about Sampson Bloek'sdeath than he
cared to tell.
The trial took place at the Surrey
Sessions held in Hotsemonger Lane,
ESouthwark, before gthe Lord Chief
Baron Sir Archibald Macdonald. The
celebrated counsellor. Mr.. Garrow,
appeared on the paft OF the Crown.
The prisoner was assisted by a junior
barrister to cross-examine witnesses,
and to argue anygpoints of law that
might arise in the course Of the trial.
It was not, ! it be noted, until
many years slater,iY that advocates
were permitted toAappear on behalf
Of accused Peh3$s aud to address
the Jury as to k #cts of the case
before them
The evideacs RtRe e with called
for the CrownS rgsrd to the man
.ner Of .MrsBR ga aeath,; though of
course more faay Stated, differed lit
tie in effect from the narrative which
has been already laid before the
reader. Butthe case for the prosecu-
tion involved certain peculiarities to
which brief allusion may be made.
Mr.. Garrow s.theofy of the prisoners
guilt hecessitated proof in the first
instance that sufficient motive existed
to induce Starkie t6take his partners
life. and secondly, That it was impos-
sible that any othsf man but Starkie
could have been guilty Of the muir
derous deed. 1t. followed as part Of
this theory, thststhe attempt upon
his own life, which was alleged by
Starkie to have zbeen made some
nights previousito The murder of MIR.
Block, was elitiraiy fictitious, and
that he had himself fired a pistol at
the wall Of Mr.. Blocks parlor, in
order to avert s,isnision., and to give
rise to a charge against some other
peraon;when the.flRs arrived for his
in contemplation.
The courtiwas crowded to excess.
Royal dukes with nnintellectn,l ia
cial angles were Accommodated with
seats upon the Bench. lllustrious
foreigners We're in attendance to in
.,truct themselves concerning English
forms OF trial for murder. Rink and
fashion Lesciged the doors of the
Ses ions House in vain attempts to
obtain admission II the already over
crowded court. The prisoner was
plainly dressedi in dlrk-colored clothes,
and perfect comIosure marked his
countenance and manner dnring tile
greater part Of thn trial. His hand
some face and. qule bearing gattracted
admiration and sympathy, particular
" from the female portion of the e'au
dience. Mr.. Garpw's opening ora
ton was listened t, with rapt atten
ton. 1t was th general opinion
that the case, thogh Indirect and
depending greatly upon circumstan-
tia evidence, was yet'strohg against
the accused.
With regard to the motive ihduc-
ing the prisoner t. take the life OF
his partner, Mr.. G,rrow said !" There
has been much tax on thisheadi gen
tlemen. We hav'heard great deal
as to the absence If motive enf the
part Of the prisOnr at the bar. But,
let me remind yo, gentlemen of the
Jury, that the tewtatiepn which leads
man n to commit crime is ! not nee
essarily or in ever instanre 2 great
one. I shall show you, however, in
the course of the, ,'resent. case, how
keen an interest adstheaccused in
the death of this most unfortunate
and deeply lamered Mr.. Block I I
shallshow you hg the prisoner at
the bar first came upon the scene-a
penniless adventure -beseeching that
be might be empBed in any wa, {
upon any terms, bwever humble, SO
that he might earrsuficient to allay
the pangs of his tpnger. l shall |
show you. how he gradually and in
sidiously crept int the confidence oil
his bentfactor, al how basely he
abused that con6dlce. I do not de-
I-ny him the posseion of abilities
but would to God Gentlemen, that he
had employed the to a better pur-
pose i I shall sho you how his Kind n
and unsuspectlngemployer became :,
intimeihisaaps ai'As victim How,
BY an artful systel of forgeries5and
I falsi6cation Of aounts, he induced
! Mr.. Block to belle in the deprecie-
tion of his bushes to a considerable
extent (professioni accountants and
experts will gixs9yidepe{,e 3, en- CT! these
points which willlot fail to carry
conviction to the linds of every one
l6nyoug and; therperauaded the de-
luded gentleman admit him, the
! prisoner piio,n ut the bI to q share An the
profits of his trs, and to promote
I him from the posnn Of servant and