The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-22
Burf's CONSPIRACY.

trial OF Aaron Burr tor conspiracy
against the United States-D.. Davi(
Creel, by name-was recently interview
cd by Cincinnati Commercial reporter
DIR. Crecl is now over ninety years old
and is undergoing treatment for catarac
of the eye IN Cincinnati hospital. H'
furnished the reporter some interesting
recolections of the Burr trial, which, il
will be remembered, took place in Sep
TENDER, 1906.
"The trial lasted month" said Faith
er Creel.
"And how did the jury stand ?" was
asked.
"Unanimous for acquittal," said he
-"unanimous." Burr's principal law.
yer was Luther Martin, of Philadelphia
Luther Martin was considered the finest
lawyer of the day, but he was, unfortun
ately, hopeless drunkard. He was re
tanned in the Burr case on condition that
he 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 Mar
tin could no more keep from liquor than
q duck could keep from swimming; so,
though he kept his pledge by the letter,
he broke il in fact. Lilo took bread
and soaked in in brandy, and ate in in.
cessanfly during the trial thus whip.
ping the devil around the stump.
"Oh it was famous trial, that was
worth q lifetime TO hear. Luther
Martin Was one of the first lawyers OF
the age, and put forth his most powerful
efforts in BarrIs behalf. Chief Justice
Marshal allowed Burr TO speak in his
own defense whenever he chose, and al
though, as said, Martin was one of the
most accomplished lawyers Of the age,
yet Burr knocked to pieces in five min
utcs all that Martin could say. When
ever hc opened his lips there was most
perfect silence in the court. Burr was
so graceful and SPLENDID in everything
he did or said. Every word made a
most profound impression on the jury.
shall never forget it-never-though
live TO be five hundred years old"
"Was he so eloquent! 2"
"No; he was not eloquent at all, in the
ordinary sense ofthe word. he was not
:. bit 6owery in his language. 1t was
Just clear, prescise, and simple, with no
attempt whatever at ornamental clap
trap, but he had way efputtlng point
before the jury more clearly than any
man ever knew, so clearly that they
had to SEQ it,
"What was the fascination about HIM,
do you think 2"
al think it was his manner. There
was g charm about him that no human
being could resist, particularly woman.
1t is fact, that when once he fixed his
fascinating eye 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
If there was ever another as fascinating
q man on earth as Aaron Burr. Then,
his intellect was far more powerful than
was generally supposed. His head did
not slope back from his brows like that
of Henry Clay las is sometimes represent
cd in his pictures but it was massive and
full in the forehead. His brain was
magnificent, in my opinion, equal to JEFF
ferson's."
"Was Aaron Burr so very handsome?"
"Not so handsome in the face but
though rather a small man, he was the
most perfectly formed man that | 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 design 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 plans were
about this: FIRST the conquest OF Mex
leo, and the establishment of govern
ment which would probably have been
n mild form of monarchy, with Aaron
Burr for King. Then afterward, per-
haps 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 itsclf. After
conquering Mexico, aud perhaps annex
ing few OF our Southern States, his
plan was TO go on South, and add to his
kingdom from the South America States.
There was not the shadow of doubt
10 our minds either, that Gen Wilkinson,
who commanded the United States
troops in the south, was just as guilty
rs Aaron Barr was, but for somo reason
Wilkinson was never brought to trial"