South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-29
Trial of Burr g. Blennerhassett.

The Richmond Enquirer says that Thomas
Harrison Drew, Of that city, aged lightweight
years, is the only survivor Of those who took part
ia the famous trial Of Aaron Burr, in Richmond,
in 1907. lie was qualified as Deputy United
States Marshal, July /, 1907, and at once start
ed for Wood county, TO summon a jury for the
trial OF Burr, who had been indicted for treason,
by grand jury, Of which the famous John Ran
dolph was foreman. he went through Staun,on
on the route 10 Parkersburg, and rode on horse
back, travelling whole days through n wild eoun-
try without seeing human being. lie struck
the Ohio river al Cow creek July -, where he
met n Mr.. Wells, u wach-maker, who acted as a
doctor. In his company he rode down the bank
of The Ohio, opposite Marietta. But to the &C
count:
AT the Wood county Court House, Parkers-
burg, he found a large congregation OF. men
from the surrounding country. Some were bare
footed, and all roughly clad, and quite as rough
in manners rs in appearance. These were pitch
ing quoits half dollars, and otherwise amusing
themselves after the fashion Of the region Col
Phelps, who he'd been to the Legislature, was
present. lie gave Mr.. Drew the names of parties
present; here he got six jurymen A week 5
search in other parts % the county gave him Eve
mora But to get the twelfth seemed matter
of impossibiity, for no sooner would he 90 on
horseback to house than the males all made
for the woods, through the back door-having
heard of what he was doing, and not caring a.
bout forced trip to Richmond
"When almost dishcartened, lie encountered
alone, at the ferry crossed by those going to
Marietta, citizen of Irish birth, who, by adroit
questioning, be found was named Hamilton Nor
rison. lie was summoned, aud in spite of pro-
tests, was added to the list, completing the re-
quircd twelve.
"Mr. Drew, while al the Wood Court House.
was the guest of Mr.. Bukey, who had been in
the Legislature and owned FIVE or six slaves
lie, with his family, lived in log house TWEEN
ty-four feet square-one room comprising the
chamber, dining room, aud the parlor. Bukey
and wife slept in one corner of this room, and
his daughters and other children, in another
Nj. Drew in the third, and n stranger in the
fourth. This was the usual habit of the coun-
try. The ex-legislator, despite his hospitality,
was summoned on the venire.
Mr. Drew then rode TO Wheeling, TO serve
process on Colonel Chaplain, aud returned by
way OF Winchester where he met Bukey, Nor
rison, and the others Of the jury, and going by
fredericksburg, arrived at Richmond, August
G, having been on the journey over five weeks.
The trial began August .. The entire jurymen
summoned from Wood county appeared. three
Creels among them. Burr and his counsel want
ed to get rid Of them ALL and questioned them
closely to get admissions that would dsqualry
them for having made up or expressed an opn-
ion as TO the guilt Of the accused, and eleven
were rejected for cause lie couldn't trap Nor.
rison, who was sharp at reply, so Burr challeng-
ed him perempiorily. AS he left the stand he
remark cd to Burr, This Christian name being
Hamilton,) land so my n1D.e is a terror TO you
''Mr. Drew describes Blennerhasset as odd and
ugly nearly blind, and his wife much younger
aud dashng-his reputation among his neigh
bors was that he wouldus pay debt unless for.
ced by law-aud he Drew says he took Kim to
court in a carriage aud on the way, speaking
Of the Island, Blennerbassett remarked that no
gentleman would care 10 live there "