Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-11-30
ITEMS FROM UNION.

hal Cases were disposed of The cas-,
OF the State, Va L. Z. Miles, WAS Ia
( ken up Wednesday morning. for m,
murder of Harvey Provence. a da,
aHd half was CONSUMED IA the ex
animation OF witnesses The STATE
was represented 10y VIM. V. Vance q
TINS town. John i. Burson, of Il, u.
tol, and Capt. Newton Hacker. Attv
Genl. The defendant Miles Lao a,
counsel, Bailey d McCroskey. of Kris.
tol, WIN. V. Dradeiick. Oh BIounf.
Vile, and Hon X. X. Butler. The
case was opened for the State nv Mr.
vance. MIR. Miles litt .e daughter am,
Wlfe were present, - Ting Oh each SIDE
OF nm, encuurag' ng him with that
! tender, sublime. and most toucLiuy
| OF eIoquence, wife's love and a
! daughters tears. What thoughts
! must have come into his mind that
! ihoinent! Arraigned as he was Ice
/ lore court Of his 5tale, to answer for
/ the terrible crime of murder. Did
/ the bloody scene in which he was ell
( gegeu IN on the streets Of Bristol. in
mat DARK midnight hour, when nII
was as still as the silent majesty of
! The grave-when nothing was heard
save the indiscribable voices of the
ght? Or did he think os that one
that had passed beyond the portal of
The grave, without one ray of hope Ia
illuminate tile darkness Of the tomb
We fear from his actions, he did not
think much of this. When Mr.
Vance rose TO address the iury
everything was as still as death. He
reviewed the testimony with force
and effect, speaking little over Az
hour, and during the time, he smoke
with Goodness and deliberation. and
gave evidence nl ability rarely equalIpd
Ia one so young. Mr.. McCruskey
came next, aud though he spoke but
twenty-five minutes, his speech had
good effect ii was brief and pointed
aud had its weight with the Jury
Mr.. BursOn, in behalf of the State.
was the next TO speak. A deep So
lennlty pervaded. Much was expec-
TED OF him, and | am certain none
were disappointed. He surpassed ex- |
pectatlnn. For one hour aud Il hail. |
Mr.. Burson addressed the jury in the |
most eloquent and convincing mau-
ner, Recalling TO their minds The blood, /
scenes al The midnight tragedy. tell
ing tile jury ia the most whitening
tones o! IurectIve that passion SPOKE
not the language Of cnOlHess and de-
nor did ii wear the garb oI
caution dictated by the workings of d
mind sercHe in its OperatI..ns and q
he art dark and terrible in lis des,ru-
pat on Tn" contrary, passion If aroused
Dy Insult and danger, usurts the
,hrOne OF reasOn-is OutspOken in liz
lcts, and for the moment, like q ma
llac, ~ dreadful in its utkerauces ~
we'll as It's conceptions. Such is about
he substance at Mr.. BursOn's argu-
nent with rof-rence To the language
nd the acts Of passion. But MIR. x.
aid, what does malice and premedi-
alton say - They speak the words
l caution, OF discretion they resume
he Innocence OF the child. he mild.
ass OF J:Ie lamb, but within - a..
lger's heart-the lions ferocity.-
his vas applied to the conduct O.
IIIes alter the crime had been com
IIited.) Mr.. BurSUn closed with a..
uquent and touching ap cal to the
ny in behalf of law a d society.
'hIch he sad had been wamiumIN ON e.;
aged by the prisoner at the bar I
lie speech as waOle, was elOuurut
Die ana seYerc-nne that any man I
Ilght truly be proud of. Mr. Bailey >,
llOwed MIR. BursOn, and spoke about :,
ne hour, and made All able speech II,
;half CT his client. Mr.. BIS. speech Z
ilrSt, ala not seem To he as grave =
id solemn as the occasion demanded,
1t as he ADVANCED, ms feelings warm I.
IN sympathy with the man for -
HON he stood forward in defense
space would permit, We would like +.
give the details of Mr.. Bailpv's q
eech. Mr.. Deaderick was the next +
speak and all who heard him. SAY
$ speech was the most brilliant ;ht AZ
Ost argumentative, and the ablest
Crt OF his life, and let me say with ,
due respect To the other genjlemru .,e
tile defense, that Mr.. Deaderick's &c,
eeCh saved his client ON behold
3 the lgnOmy and teTrOrs of the. en-,
iilold, or Gliding his days in feI-
8 cell. Judge Butler showed his ~.
ual skill and ingenuity, and dpvci-
Ell an eEhaUstless mind of Dathns.
d displayed that admirable tact so sH
cullar 10 tile man. Capt Hacker
'sed the case for the State. Ii is
edless for me to attempt to eulugiZe Al, T
effort made 10y him. As a crimI- sn 'G
lawyer, he has few equals in the vii
uth, and the cOnSumaLe skill and stat
weriul ability he displayed on this I'VE
'aSlOn, VIII not soon be forgotten bv
)se who had the pleasure of hearing sol'
u, To use the words of an emiu-
writer let me say, che spoke light
-. This Is enough. 1t is "a la {
HtabIe fact, that III all prosecutions y
crime, the most abandoned peuplp
nlpulate ana control Circum Stances z
such way IS To secure q favorable c"ur
lie Miles Is declared 10y jury OF VI.
countrymen To he guiitlrss of any uhe
ne, and we bow with proper dcflcr- at II
@ TO the verdict, believing thust- oH''
D composed the jury were hunora-
MEN. We know the most of them
1t is true the jury trIai sian,
cndcared Itself To the people all NOR,
r the earth, aud will continue To deer
% while law Tcigns and impartial
ice is melted out. But while this Cash
'ue, We can not express our fears of ~
he serious consequences that mus US ,' ~
'ItaGly flow from this dangerous is TO
Will not say OlOudy) preceden., bond
I've good men of the County al with
ivan have established. Aud in No
admOnltiOns of the Judge To Ia
oner on his acquital, We could bL ( n
JrcIbly touched by the Out"rupping |, C
Is sentiments it regard to The vrr-
lie IL Il man of strict integrity,
wears his judicial ermine with J.
'ity and impartial barring.
hen We reflect that an act OF ours
encourage the vicious to perpe- = 7
: their nefarious deeds with I'M 80
ity, the position of juro: is a tt
onsible one, and none should are
competent whose eScutL heun the
solled by crime, and whose r'"s
1 of a sense of justice and in coun
renee TO the welI.beIng OF socie- VS.
ire their only qualifications. liza $50
turns loose on a ieac.fuI uIlirt plail
orderly community, uu outlaw OF Ia
Sc hands are red with blood, and I'll
takes y fieudisn delight in the IN I
Lection of IL, and That criminal DAY
.Wards gels his morbid nnnrfiIe IN