The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-11-11
BURR'S CONSPIRACY.


One of the Jurors of the Great Trial Still
Living-lnteresting Recollections of the
Event.
The only surviving juror in the famous
trial OF Aaron Burr for conspiracy
against the United States-Dr. David
Creel, by name-was recently inter
viewed by Cincinnati Commercial re-
porter. DIR. Creel is now over ninety
years old, and is undergoing treatment
for cataract of the eye in Cincinnati
hospital. He furnished the reporter
some lnertestlng recollections of the Burr
trial, which, it will be remembered, took
place in September, 1907:
"The trial lasted month, said Faith
er Creel.
"And how did the jury standg' was
asked.
| Unanimous for acquittal, y 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, unfortu-
nately, hopeless drunkard. He was
retained IN the Burr case on condition
that be would drink nothing Intoxicating
as long as the trial lasted. He accepted
the condition, and agreed to drink moth
ing which would make him drunk till the
case was finished But Luther Martin
could no more keep from liquor than
duck could keep from swimming SO,
though he kept his pledge by the letter,
he broke it in the fact He took bread
and soaked it in brandy, and ate it in
cessantly during the whole trial, thus
whipping the devil around the stump.
ooh it was famous trial, that was
worth lifetime to hear. Luther Mar
tin was one of the first lawyers of the
age, and put forth his most powerful
efforts In Burr's behalf. Chief Justice
Marshall allowed Burr to speak in his
own defense whenever he chose, and al
though, as I said, Martin was one of the
most accomplished lawyers of the age,
yet Burr knocked to pieces in five min
utes all that Martin could say. When
ever he opened his lips there was most
perfect silence in the court, Aaron Burr
was so graceful and splendid in every
thing he did or said. Every word made
most profound impression on the jury.
I shall never forget it-never-
though 7 live to be five hundred years
DID,"
"Was he SO eloquent %
emo /; he was not eloquent at al, In
the ordinary sense of the word. He was
nota bit fowery in his language. TWAS
just clear, precise, and simple, with no
attempt whatever at ornamental clap
trap, but he had way of putting point
before jury more clearly than any man
ever knew, SO clearly that they had to
see it.
" What was the fascination about him
do you think9"
81 think it was his manner. There
was charm about that that no human
being could resist, particularly woman.
It is fact, without particle of ex-
aggeration, that when once he fixed his
fascinating eye upon woman there was
no escape for her. It may sound
strange, but [, having seen and known
the man as 1 have, must say that / doubt
If there was ever another as fascinating
man on earth as Aaron Burr. Then
his intellect was far more powerful than
is generally supposed. His head did
not slope back from his brows like that
of Henry Clay, as is sometimes repre-
sented in his pictures, but it was mas
sive and full in the forehead. His brain
was magnificent, in my opinion, equal
to Jefferson's."
Was Aaron Burr so very hand
some?"
"Not so handsome in the face but
though rather a small man, he was the
most perfectly formed man / ever saw,
and his manner of carrying himself was
indescribably princely and grand.
"Did the jury which tried him really
believe him innocent?"
"Not one of us thought he had any
direct designs against the government OF
the United States. His ambition and
his plans were magnificent, but they
were not to be directed against this
country, at least not then. AS nearly as
we could conscientiously get at the
truth, we judged that his plan was about
this First, the conquest of Mexico and
| the establishment of a government
which would probably have been mild
| form of monarchy, with Aaron Burr for
King. Then afterward, perhaps few OF
the Southern United States would have
been attached, but he never had an idea
of trying to break up the United States
government itself. After conquering
Mexico, and perhaps annexing few OF,
our Southern States, his plan was to go
on South, and add to his kingdom from
| the South American States. There was
not the shadow of doubt in our minds
either, that Gen. Wilkinson, who COM
manded the United States troops in the
South, was just as guilty as Aaron Burn
was, but for some reason WilkinsOnwas
never brought to trial.