Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-12-22
ONE or BURRs JURoRs

A venerable gentleman, with his.
tory ofpeculiar interest, is at present
solourning temporarily at the Good
Samaritan hospital, in this city. He
came here several weeks ago, totally
blind, suffering from cataract of his
lett and sole remaining eve. He was
operated on for cataract by one of our
Cincinnati oculsts, and although the
venerable man had attained the un-
common age of ninety years and four
mouths, the delicate operation was per-
iectly successful, and the patient now
has the happiness OF enjoying his sight
once more.
o The old gentleman is physician, by
name DIR. David Creel, and is one of
the earlier graduates OF the old Uni
vcrsity Of Pennsylvania, at Philadel-
phia. He is the father.in.law of Judge
Stafford, of our State and is at present
resident OF Chillicothe,
Part of DR.. Crecrs history is q mat.
ter Of national interest, from the fact
that he was one of the jurors in the
great trial of Aaron Burr for conspir-
acy against the United States gov
crnment.
The trial of Aaron Burr, il will be
remembered, took place in September,
1907. So far as our venerable friend
knows he is the sole man remaining of
the the twelve men who acquitted Aa.
ron 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 youngest of the jurors, and
he IS now over ninety years old.
"Tho trial lasted a month, said Fa.
ther Croel..
"And how did the jury stand p was
asked.
Unanimous for acquttal," said be
Unanimous Burr's principal law
yer was Luther Martin, of Philadel-
phin. Luther Martin was considered
the finest lawyer of the day, but be
was,uniortunately,a hopeless drunkard.
"ohl il was famous trial, that was
worth n lifetime TO hear. Luther
Martin was one of the first lawyers of
the age and put forth his most power.
ful efforts in Burr's behalf Chief Jus.
tice Marshall allowed Burr TO speak in
bis own defence 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 be opened his lips
there was most perfect silence in the
court. Aaron Burr was so graceful
and splendid in all he did or said. Ev.
cry word made II most profound I'M
preston on the jury. | shall never
iorgct-neve though live to be
five hundred years olds
"Was be so eloquent2"
"No, he was not eloquent at all, in
the ordinary sense of the word. He
was not a bit flowery in his language.
1t was just clear. precise and simple,
with no attempt whatever at orna-
mental clap-trap, but he had n way of
making point before a jury more
clearly than any man | ever knew, so
clearly that they had TO see il" -
"What was the fascination abont
him, do you think ?"
~ think it WINS his manner. There
was charm about him that no hu.
man being could resist, particularly
woman. 1t is fact, without u parti-
Gle Of exaggemtion, that when once he
fixed his fascinating oye upon woman
there was no escape for her 1t may
sound strange, but | having seen and
known the man as have, must say
that doubt il there was ever another
as fascinating man on earth as Aaron
Burr. Then bis 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 represented in his pictures,
but IL was massive and full la the fore
head. His brain was magnificent, in
my opinion, equal to Jetlcrson's.n
"Was Burr SO very handsomc2'
"Not 80 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 ihdcscribably princely and splcn.
did"
add the jury which tried him really
believe him innoccnt?'
"Not one of us thought be 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 gov
ernmcnt which would probably have
been n mild form Of n monarchy, with
Aaron Burrforking. Then afterwards
perhaps few OF the southern United
States would have been attached, but
he never had an idea Of breaking up
the United States government itself.
After conquering Mexico and perhaps
anncxing few OF our Southern States,
bis plan was 10 go on south and add
10 his kingdom from the South Ameri-