Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-11-17
TRIAL or JOS. la BERRY AT
PITTS n man

y
ot Lawrence township, for being /
deserter in October, 1864. Ills arres
and escape all arc familiar with. II,
was put on trial for murder in th,
United States Circuit Court, sitting NJ
Pittsburgh, on Tuesday, tho 9th inst
The proceedings in the case we cir
from tho Commercial which journn
says:
Lansbcrry was among those who
had been drafted IN the township ii
which he resided, and Us be failed tc
report, Provost Marshal Campbell sent
two specialagentst to arrest him In at
tempting to make the arrest, one Of
these men (Butler) was shot by Lans.
berry, fatally wounded. The as
sailant fled, and was not arrested until
last spring when he was apprehendcd
and brought to this city for trial on a
charge OF murder.
Lansbcrry is about fifty years OF age,
has followed the occupation of farm.
er, and there is nothing striking or
peculiar in his appearance. He has a
wife living, but no children. lie is
represented by Mcssrs. Weir a. Gibson,
and Thomas NJ. Marshall. II. B.
Carnahan and District Attorney Reed
appear for tho Government.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
When arraigncd, the defendant
plead not guilty, and tho work of en-.
panncling n jury began. This occupied
some three hours, the defendant chal.
lenging twenty Jurors and the Gov.
ernmcut four. The following named
jurors were sworn: Joel Trucsda,
merchant, West Alexandria Henry
onansc, r.,m.s wtodcock. Crawfor,l
county; John X. Anderson. farmer
Washington county John McDonougb,
farmer Washington county; II. p.
Houseman farmer, Fayettc county
Frank NJ. Eastman, gentleman, Butler
county; VIM. II. Mulford, merchant,
Susquehanna county; VIM. A. Rey-
nolds, gentleman, Wyoming county :;
James Mckinney, farmer, Butler
county; James II. Gcary, farmer,
Westmoreland county Jacob Schaffer.
minister, Allegheny county Joshua A..
Ellis, gentleman, Lycoming county.
Alter the jury had bccn sworn, r.
B. Carnahan, Esq, opened the case on
the part of tho Government. lie com.
mcnced by reading the laws under
which the prisoner was drafted. and
then proceeded to detail the circum.
stances attending the homicide. lie
said the Government expected TO es-
tablish the fact that the murder of
Captain Butler was committed by the
prisoner, and that the crime was done
while the deceased was endcavoring TO
arrest him as deserter from the
army.
Aiter Mr. Carnahan concluded,
District Attorney Reed offered in evi. |
tcnce number Of documents, showing
The appointment of Provost Marshall
Campbell, in the Nineteenth Pennsyl. !
sania district, and the appointment off
Cyrus Butler and George Van Welt.
September II, 1864, as Deputy Provost
Narshals or Special Agents also the
records showing the quota of soldiers
wanted from Clearfeld county and
Lawrence township also, where Lans.
berry resided; also the records showing
hat Lansberry had been drafted. hut
allied to report.
THE TESTIMONY.
The following testimony WINS then
elected
Col. II. s. Campbell sworn-Was
Provost Marshal OF the Nineteenth
district in 1864 know Cyrus Butler
his appointment as
special agent; knew Van Welt
Mr.. Butler was under my control
rs Provost Marshal in October,
1864, ] sent Butler and Van yleit
specially to arrest Lansberry it was
to me that in attempting to
make the arrest Lansberry had been
killed Lansberry's arrest had been
: '' '","d han""s, h~ ''"~ nv.-ivpoit-
ng drafted man.
George Van Welt sworn-.In October
1864, resided in Brookville. Jefferson
county in October, 1864, was special
agent Of the Provost Marshal's depart.
ncnt; knew Cyrus Butler; he held
similar position he resided also in
Brookville; Mr.. Butler and | received
orders to so to Clearfeld first we went
% see how things stood in Clearfield
A l.r.s Il A.