The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-21
=, 1, 4 Now war n, 81. IN q west Virginia.

The New War IN West Virginia.
The following article from the Wheeling
Inteligeacer. the leading Republican journal
In West Virginia, elbows that there Is a fine
prospect for much trouble on that States
northern border. We would remind the
In,ell;gencer that not the Dispatch only but
the New York Herald, the Providence lR.
~ Journal, and others Of our exchanges
have given this affair their serious atterl-
ton:
The MARION COUNTY MURDER CASE
| The Richmond Dispatch manifests gooa
deal az interest in the outcome OF the pro-
nosed trial of Thompson, the Federal sol,
der who has been indicted and is to De tried
for tho alleged murder Of Ice during tue
war. We presume the interest OF Inc D,S-
match il truceabie to the fact that MT. Drink-
ard. one of its editors, was formerly edltor
of the Fairmont Pirgintan. lie WRITES rs
one knowing all about Marion county affairs.
Generally Speaking he expresses himself in
a commendable spirit OF moderation in re-
gard 10 the proposed trial OF Thompson,
but nevertheless seems to be wrought up by
the report that General Kelley is going into
camp OF Fairmont with a lot OF his old sol
diers, in order to sec that justice is done to
Thompson.
we presume that General Kelley has no
serious purpose in this way, notwithstand-
ing the remarks attributed to him by the
correspondent Of the New York Herald
We happen to know, however, that he feels
great deal of interest in the case, ns do very
many others, citizens and soldiers, all OF
whom deprecate the finding OF such nh in
dictment at this late day for deed done IN
military service and while acting under or
ders. 1t is useless to disguise the fact that
the conviction of Thompson would stir up
q great comm6tion in West Virginia, because
there would be Thousands OF people who
would attribute it solely to political prelu-
dice and personal motives, and thus bellcv-
ing they would not willingly acquiesce In
what they would regard as most outrage,
Gus Injustice. The cry that was once heard
| in England would be heard In west VIZ
ginia, running thus:
" And shall Trelawney die? And shall Treiawne!
die?
Then thirty thousand Cornish men will know the
| reason why"
We take it upon ourselves to say that
Thompson will never be punished, whe-
Their convicted or not, unless facts not as
vet made public are brought to light, and
for the reason that it can never be proved
that he did not kill Ice in the discharge OF
what he believed to be his duty, whether
he had any personal motive or not urging
him on to the commission OF the deed.
The fact that Senator Arnctt was fore
man OF the grand jury that found the in
dictment, and that he was well-knoWn
secessionist during the war, has contrl-
buted not little to stir up great deal OF
feeling among Union soldiers and clti-
Zens If we were in Mr.. Arnetts place we
should have felt very charv about finding
such a verdict at this late day. BY this
we do not mean to say that he did not act
from conviction of duty when he brought
| in the indictment, but it was 4 proper qucS-
ton for the Jury to decide whether after so
many wears it was worth while to excite q
political feud throughout whole commu-
nity. and perhaps q whole State, in order to
ascertain to what extent personal motives
had to do with the killing, especially as
there were strong reasons to suppose that
he could not be convicted of murder. Mr..
| Arnett and his colleagues might very readily
have foreseen just what has to come to
pass, and to them belongs the responsibility
| OF having relit once more the smoulderlnS
eTberS of the war among their own people.
Here is threat OF open defiance of the
State authorities. Read: We tdhe IL
upon ourseIves to say that Thompson acW
uerer be punished, orhether convicted or not,
unless facts not as yet made public are
brought to light, and for the reason that it
can never be proved that he did not kill
Ice in the discharge OF what he believed to
be his duty, whether he had any personal
motive or not urging him on to the commits
sion of the deed" The InteHigencer pre-
diets that THOMPSON W ill never be punished
because the prosecution cannot prove Il
negative In this State, the burden OF
proof is upon the prosecution, but it
does not have to prove negatives. 1t
makes out its case affirmatively. However:
the MtelHgencer'S article is only another
evidence that the case ought to be dismiss
ed. The man cannot have fair trial; and
the salus popuH certainly demands that
there shall be no reminding of the flames of
sectional hatred. We hope to hear soon
that THOMPSON has been discharged.
Nevertheless, as General KELLEY is gen.
eral without an army, we don't suppose he
could do much harm. Nor have we any
idea that the southern sympathizers in Ma
rion county could not hold their own
against the northern sympathizers. 1t is
only because we think the highest interests
of both sides and Of the whole country de-
mand THoMPsoN's release that We arc in ia
yor Of it.