Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-03-06

/ WI. Duil LIS uuci Witu iiulhlltul nav
occurred a few months before, two in
dictments for murder we're hanging ovel
his head, and he had been for months !
fugitive from justice, but he bore him
self on this occasion with GOODNESS and
dignity that excited universal admira
ton. He conducted the trial, as an edi
tor of the day remarked, with the dig,
nifty and impartialty of an angel, bu
with the rigor of devil"
The working man of this trial, hS
whose exertions decided the issue,
was Luther Martin He was not only
friend and fellow-citizen of Judge
Chase, but be sympathized with him III
politics to the uttermost Martin was al
infuriate Federalist, or, as Jefferson once
called him, "a Federal bulldog; !" and
he threw himself into the defence with a
mixture of GOODNESS and impetuosity, Of
passionate ardor and quiet dexterity al
together peculiarto himself. Every spe-
cifcation he sifted to the bottom, and
exhausted every argument tending to re-
flute it, For four weeks, during which
the trial lasted. he was always in his place
prompt, indefatigable, vigilant. 1t
was unquestionably he who secured the
Judges acquittal. Many of the charges
were distinctly proved, but on no one of
them was he condemned by a two-thirds
vote, which the laws require He was
at once convicted and acquitted.
Two years after, Aaron Burr himself
was on trial at Richmond. He remem-
bercd the great services of Luther Mar
tin, and secured his assistance for his
own defence. Into this service also
Martin entered with zeal due more to
his hatred of Jefferson than to his love of
Burr; aud for six months he abandoned
all his other cases, and devoted himself
heart, soul, and purse to the delivorance
of his client. He became one of Burr's
suretics, and took the opportunity to de-
clare in open court that he was glad to
have this opportunity to give public
proof of his confidence in Col. Burr's
honor, and of his conviction that he was
an honest man The vehcmcnce of some
of his harangues at that trial, as well as
their lndccency was most remarkable. ~
On one occasion he said that the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet were 'bloodhounds
hunting Burr with keen and savage
thirst for blood" His fury against JEFF
ferson was such as to excite the suspi-
con in the Presidents mind that he was
one of Burr's accomplices The truth is,
however, that strong drink tends to des-
troy all sonndness and moderation Of
and at this time there never
was waking hour when he was not I'M
der the influence fit. Burr was acquit-
ted and to no man was he so much in
debted for the escape as to Luther Martin.
This was Burr's own opinion, shown both
by words and deeds.
Luther Martin was 63 years Of age
when he retired with flying colors from
Burr's trial at Richmond. From this
time his downward career was more rapid;
and yet, such was the strength of his
constitution, that he continued to prac-
tice with success, though not with the
first distinction, for ten years after AS
late even as 1919 he was employed in
importat causes with the first lawyers Of
Maryland. Chief Justice fancy used to
relate that he was engaged with Martin on
an important cause in Hagerstown, rs
miles distant; and yet they were obliged
to set off in a stage coach the evening
before Every time they changed horses
which was every five miles, Martin would
drink. He drank wbiskey when he
could get it; and when he could not. he
drank ale; and if he could get nothing
else he would drink buttermilk.
On reaching Hagerstown the two law
yers took supper and fancy told Martin
that as soon as he had smoked his scgar
and rested little, he would go to his
room and examine the case with him. -
AT eleven O'clock he went to Martins
room and found him dead asleep, lying
across the bed, with his hat and all his
clothes on except one boot. Tie tried to
wake him in vain. fancy went to his
own room, and studied the case nearly
all night. Before going to court the
next morning he tried Martins door,
found it locked, and went to court think
ing that be would have to rely on his own
efforts for the management Of the cause.
But, just 10 the nick Of time, as the case
was called, in walked Martin in the per-
feet possession Of his faculties; and never.
the Chief Justice used to say, did he ac-
quit himself better than in the conduct
Of that cause.
Three years later he was total wreck.
His intellect was gone. But 80 much
admiration was still felt for him that the
Legislature put a kind Of tax Of IS
year upon the legal profession for his
support. 1t appears, however, that the
tax was not productive, for when Aaron
Burr was practicing law in New York
after his return from Europe, he learned
that Luther Martin was ruined and des-
titute. He stilled owed Martin large
sum of money for his legal services in
1907, and be owed him gratitude for
most jealous championship. lie took
the broken old man into his house on
Nassau street, assigned him an apart
ment, and maintained bin in comfort
until he died in 1896. at the age Of 81.
Thus, the ornament Of the Maryland
Bar, and one Of the most successful
practitioners Of his time, was indebted
for shelter in his old age to something
resembling charity.
Judge Jefreys. pointing with his cane
at a prisoner before him, observed, -
There is great rogue at the end Of
this stick . Tho man renlied AT