Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-11-03
AARON BURR'S TRIAL.
VIVA, que "f,he Jurors say. Abou,n.

LPTNleNcn Ut Sroct, one OF tue jurors who
tried Aaron Burr. It's report is as folllows:
Dr. Croei- tccoiloc.ions ofthe Burr trial,
whom he knew well, are, however. the
most interesting Of all. The trial Of Aaron
Burr, it will be remembered, took place in
september, 1907. SO far as our venerable
friend knows be ia the sule man remaining
Of the twelve men who acquitted Aaron
Burr OF treason against the United States
There is probably no doubt that he is the
only one left, as he was one of the young
est of the jurors, and he is now over nine
ty years old,
"Thr trial lasted MONTH" said Father
Crcel
Ard how did the jury stard?r was
( asked.
Unanimous for acquittal," said he
| unanimous. Burr's principal lawyer was
Luther Martin, Of Philadelphia. Luther
Martin was considered the finest lawyer of
the day, but he was, unfortunately, hope
less drunkard. He was retained in the
Burr case on condition that he would drink
nothing intoxicating as long as tho trial
lasted. He accepted the condition, and
agreed to drink nothing which would make
/ him drunk till the case was finished. But
! Luther Martin could no more keep from
liquor than duck could keep from swim
ming so, though be kept his pledg-;by the
letter, he broke it in the fact He took
! bread and soaked il in brandy, and ate it
! necessarily during the whole trial, thus
whipping the devil around the stump.
"0hl it WAS famous trial, that was
worth lifetime to hear. Luther Martin
WAS one of the finest lawyers of the age, and
! pat forth his most powerful efforts in Burr's
! behalf Chief Justice Marshall allowed
| Burr to speak in his own defense whenever
he chose, and although, as / said, Martin
was one of the most accomplished lawyers
| of the age, yet Burr knocked to pieces in
| five minutes all that Martin could say.
| Whenever he opened his lips there was
most perfect silence in the Court. Aaron
Burr was so graceful and splendid in all
| that he did or said Every word made a
most profound impression on the jury. l
shall never forget lt-never-though live
to be five hundred years old.
" Was he so eloqucnt?'
No; he was not eloquent AT all, in the
ordinary -ense ct the word He not
bit flowery in his language. 1t was Just
clear precise, and simple with no attempt
whatever at ornamental claptrap, but he
had a way of putting a point before jury
more clearly than any man | ever knew, so
clearly that they had 10 see it.
" W hat was the fascination about him, do
you think?n
Il think it was his manner. There was
q charm about that that no human being
could resist, particularly woman. 1t is
fact, without a particle Of cxaggeration, that
when once he fixed his fascinating eye upon
q woman there vas no escape for her It
msy sound strange, but /, having seen and
known the man as | have, must cay thsl
doubt if there WAS ever another &c fascinat-
ing a man on earth us Aaron Burr. Then
his intellect was far more powerful than is
generally supposed. His head did no, slope
back from his brows like that Of Heary
Clay, as is sometimes represented in his
pictures, but it was massive and full in the
forehead. His brain wss magnificent, in
my opinion, equal to .jetferson's,"
" Was Aaron Burr 50 very hsnd.omeY'
" Not so handsome in the face; but
though rather e small man, he Was the most
perfectly formed man | ever saw, and his
manner OF carrying himself was indcscriba-
bly, princely and splendid
Did thejury which Hiel him really
believe him innoceat2'
q" Not ono Of u thought DO had any
direct designs against the Government of
the United Ststes. HE ambition and hs
plans were magnificent, but they we're non
to be directed sgainst this country a. least
not then. As neady as We could conscier-
tiously get at the truth. We judged that his
plan was about this L: First the conquest Of
Mexico and the establishment of govern
ment which would probably have been
mild form of monarchy, with Aaron Burr
for King. Then afterWard, perhaps a few
of the Southern United States would have
been attached, bat he never had an idea of
trying TO break up the United States Gov
eminent itself After conquering Mexico,
and perhaps alneXing few of our South
ern States, his plan was to go on South, and
add to his kingdom from the South Amer
lean States. There was not the shadow of
doubt in our minds, either, that General
Wilkinson, who commanded the United
States troops in tho South, was Just as
guilty as Aaron Burr was, but for some
reason Wilkinson was never brought TO
trial
You knew the Blennerhassctts well,
too, DR.. Creel?'
VERY WE'LL" said the Doctor. "Blen-
nerhsssett and his wife have visited at my
fathers. danced with Mrs. Blennerhas-
sett at 8 hail in Parkersburg, West Virgin
ia, once. She was very accomplished,
agreeable woman, and her husband idol.
lied her"
Was she handsome ?"
mo, not very, She was a very graceful,
finely formed woman, with dark hair and
rather dark eyes, but not so handsome as
stylish and elegant. At the time of her ac-
quaintance with Burr she must have been
hassett was very wealthy then, and Burr
won over Mrs. Blennerhsssett to his cause
che won over her husband, and so Burr
got BlennerhAssett's money. Mrs Blen-
nerhAssett was a remarkable woman. 70.
member she used frequently 10 walk from
home 10 Marietta, twelve miles, before
breakfast, in the morning, and take break
fast in Marietta Blennerhassett himself
was very English in appearance He
strongly resembled Lord Ashburton, form
erly English Minister ut Washington.
Blennerhsssett and his wife were most
atiectionste couple, devotedly and faithful
~ attached TO each other"
And what became OF their children
after the failure Of Burr and the ruin Of
their home"
They had three sons" said the venera-
bic doctor;" " Harmon, Dominique and
Joseph Lewis. Joseph WIS tho youngest
| do not know the fate of the elder sons,
but few years ago Joseph Blennerhassett,
this youngest son was living in Missouri, on
the banks of the Mississippi River few
miles above st. Louis For anything
know, he is there still He IS farmer, II /
am not mistaken. The high-spirited, but
broken-hearted, Mrs. Blennerhassett, died
poor and lonely in the care Of some kindly
Sisters Of Charity in New York, and none