Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-09
AARON BURR.

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3ai bns AARON BURR. eum1iy
His Wonderful Legal Ability-Entrap'
ping Witness-A Thrilling Scene
q =, in Court.
Rarely are more entertaining phases
of character presented than those oi
Aaron Burr, and among the numerous
stories rife concerning him, the follow
ing, showing both his legal versatility
and ability, and his skill as crack
shot" as we'll. Hamilton and Burr
were occasionally associated in the
trial of a cause. On such occasions
they were almost irresistible. 1t is re-
lated that on one occasion they were
retained to defend a man indicted for
murder, and who was generally believ-
ed to be guilty, though the circum-
stances under which the crime was
committed rendered it deeply inter
esting case of circumstantial evidence.
During the progress of the trial,
as the circumstances were devel-
oped, suspicion began to attach to the
principal witness against the prisoner.
Burr and Hamilton brought all their
skill in cross-examination to bear on
the witness, in the hope of dragging
out of HIM his dreadful secret. But
with singular sagacity aud GOODNESS he
eluded their efforts, though they sue
ceed in darkening the shadows of sus-
picion that fell upon him, and strength
ening their conviction of their clients
innocence. Before the cross-examina-
tion of the witness was concluded, the
Court adjoured for tea. l believe
our client is not guilty, but l have no
doubt that Brigham, that cunning
witness, is really the guilty man but
he is so shrewd, deep and cool that l am
fearful his testimony will hang poor
Blair, our client, in spite of all we can
do, said Hamilton to Burr, while on
their way from the courthouse to their
hotel. Il agree with you that Blair
is not guilty, and Brigham is, and l
believe we can catch him. have a
plan that will detect him, if l am not
wonderfully mistaken" said Burr
He then proceeded to explain to his
associate the nature of his plan. You
may succeed" said Hamilton, after
listening to the plan. Its worth try
ing, at any rate, though you have g
man of iron to deal with After tea,
Burr ordered the Sheriff to provide
an extra number of lights for the even
ing session, and to arrange them so
that their rays would converge against
the pillar in the court room near the
place occupied by the witness. The
evening session opened, and Burr re-
sumed the cross-examination of the
witness. 1t was test of the profound
skill and subtlety of the lawyer-the
self possession, courage and tact of the
witness, standing on the very brink Of
the horrid gulf, calmly and intrepidly
resisting the efforts of the terrible man
before him to push him over. At last,
after dextrously leading the witness to
the appropriate point, Burr suddenly
seized lamp in each hand, and hold
ing them in such q manner that their
light fell Instantaneously upon the
face of the witness, he exclaimed in
a startling voice, like the voice of the
avenger of blood:
OF THE JURY, BEHOLD
THE MURDERERl
With wild, conyulsive start-a face
of ashy pallor-eyes starting from their
,ockets-lips apart, his whole attitude
eyincing terror, the man sprang from
MS chair. For moment he stood mo-
,ionless, struggling to regain his self
But it was only momen-
AIRY struggle; the terrible words of
he advocate ''shivering along his ar
.eries," shaking every nerve with pal
;ying fear. Conscious that the eyes
If all in the courtroom were fixed
1pon him, reading the hidden deeds
If his life, he left the witness stand
md walked shrinkingly to the door
If the court room. But he was pre-
rented from making his escape. by the
Sheriff. This scene, SO thrilling and
startling, may perhaps be imagined,
hough it cannot be described. Like
he fall of David Deans, in the court
.oom, before judges, jurors, aud law
rers, when the doom of Efie, his
daughter, was pronounced by
he testimony of her older sister, Jen-
lie Deans, it struck the spectators |
With silent awe; changing the whole |
.spect of the trial, overthrowing in an
Instant the hypothesis which the At.
orney-General was confident would
;end his prisoner to the gallOws-sav-
ng an innocent man from the dread
'uI hands of bold and skillful per-
urer. The false witness vas arrested,
.wo indictments found against him,
,ne for murder, another for perjury.
He was acquitted ON his trial for mur-
Ter, but subsequently convicted of per-
ury and sentenced to long imprison-
neht.
The high toned liberality and gene
-osity with which Hamilton and Burr
the contests of the Bar
treated no bitterness or anlmosity.-
They continued friends until they be-
zane great partisan leaders-untIl the
Dolluting influences of politics-their
collision as rising statesmen, created
hat relentless antagonism which cul-
minated in that tragic scene when
Hamilton fell by the hand of Burr,
n the most famous duel in history
luel which doomed its survivor to OBJ
oquy and reproach which he never
,utlived, and which, with the alleged
reason for which he was tried and ac-
Quilted in 1897, ostracized him from
lis rank among great men of the ma
ion. u4f iri n
MAGNANIMITY.-When the Empe-
-or Vespasian commanded Roman
Senator to give his voice against the
interest of his country, and threatened
lim with immediate death if he spoke
IN the other side, the Roman. con-
:cions that the attempt to serve the
people was within his power, though