Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-09-10
An Exciting scono in a Court Room.
Lounvnrn. Kr.. Aurust %.

count OF EAtner startling episode IN
the trial of James II. Arnold for the
murder of his brother-in-law, the Hon.
Robert Little, which was concluded at
that place to-day;
At little after four O'Clock Mr. o. ]. Brona-
ton, the Commemorative Attorney, rose TO
close the argument OF the prosecution and re-
view the facts In the case, and lay before the
jury the law and the facts bereft Of the orna.
mentation In which skillful counsel had cloth.
ed them. At the outset he explained that he
was simply disoharging his duty; that he rep
resented the prisoner as much as the Common.
wealth, and that he intended TO discharge that
duty honestly aud fOarlessly. Pausing for q
moment, he said, in measured accents:
"Gentlemen Of the jury, you do not know
as well as L do the difficulties with which
must contend, nor the danger am in; but, so
help me God, will try to discharge my obll-
CATION TO myself, to the Commonwealth and
man."
He hal Just concluded his enumeration Of
The wounds In Littles fragile body, and had
dropped from his hand TIE overcOat with the
aid Of which he had shown the jury how the
fatal deed was accomplished, when senator
voorhees,, Colonel bradley and Colonel ThOmp-
son, counsel for the defense, who had retired
after the speech of the Senator, re-entered the
room and took their seats within the bar. In
that moment Mr.. Bron5ton, who had elected to
call things By their English names, spoke IN
vigorous language Of the forgery wniCh Little
had denounced to Arnoids face. Quoting the
words Of Little, heexclaimed:
" 10 is n fOrUeryl'
Senator Voorhees, arose from his seat and
Interrupted, saying:
May It please tdo Court, no such testi-
mony as that has been introduced in this
case, and denOunce the statement as un.
true" There had been, God knows, plenty
Of excitement in that densely crowded house
all day; There were men there who believed
Arnold ought TO hang, and others who be
heyed he ought to be acquitted; men with
convictions born of personal feeling rather
than the mature result Of a careful weighing
nj "a NnH ffFVrfaH
busuble material which only needed a spark
TO set fire to and become a blazing, riOtOus
mob. This spark was, unintentionally no
doubt, furnished by Senator Voorhees,.
Thinking that our civilization was not on
trial, but was assured and based upon the
bowing OF all heads TO the imperial mandates
of the law peacefully administered, he fred
up at what he thought was an overwrought
statement by the Prosecuting Attorney, and
denounced 1t as untrue. There was buzz
of excitement, and mems voices began TO
hum. Mr.. Bronson, turning to the Senator,
said, earnestly and emphatically, that there
was such evidence, and bis statement was
true" The buzz Of voices became louder, and
womr'n's faces began TO pale.
Again the Senator said II was untrue, and
again the attorney Hsseyei ated the truthtulness
of his statement. third time the Senator
said:
II say It is not true"
Then Mr.. Bronston said in reply; 81 say It
A man named J. t. LEVEL, who was sitting
upon tho lower step of the Judges stand,
friend of the prisoner, James II. Arnold, said
nothing Of the kind had been offered in testl-
mOny.
At the same instant, some person in the
audience close To the bar, or imm ediatcly In
side the bar, shouted, with an oath, that 1t was
a lie.
Immediately following that came a woman's
scream, and then ensued a scene of cOnfuSiOn
and rtOtOus disorder almost impossible TO pOr.
tray. How IL was accomplished l know not,
but the vast audience of women got out OF
that house I'm quicker time than IL takes me TO
nd nfnT Nurnm ftuf lfufr
chairs and tables, leaving lunch, lunch-bns-
kets napkins, flowers, and other feminine
articles scattered in the wake of the retreat.
Some made their exit by tho windows, and,
when the danger of blOOdshed seemed most
imminent, there was a crowd of men covered
In the fer end OF the hall, who dared not ap-
proach tho door for fear Of stopping eccentric
bullets.
A brother Of the prisoner had run up TO Mr.
BrOnston, tho Prosecuting Attorney, and
pointing pistol at his bosom, exclaimed, with
"I'ye got you uowp
Before he could fire, the pistol not having
been cooked when prevented, some by-stander
Erasped the weapon aud turned its muzzle
aside. Mr. BrOnstOn backed 10 the Judges
stand, and cried;
give me pistol; give me a pistol some
body Don't you see that man Is trying TO
shoot meY"
Judge u. f. BucSner, the new Circuit Judge,
was on his feet taking In this scene with mis-
eagle eye. Quietly and deoisively he gave his
commands to the officers, who, numerous us
they were, were almost powerless to control
that vast and raging thrOng. BehOlding the
man with the pistol, he shouted;
Mr.. Sheriff, disarm that man."
The Sheriff had already his nands full guard
Ing the prisoner and attending 10 the jury,
ana the order not being obeyed instantly he
called to the clerk and bystanders 70 ut once
dlsarm the man, who was struggling TO hold
on to his weapon.
Among the bystlnders was Walter Rhodes,
Deputy Sheriff of Fayette, who took hand
Instantly In assisting to make the arrest
while Slew Baldwin, the Circuit Clerk, clear
Ing tables and chairs, succeeded in getting
hold of the uplifted pistol and wrencning It
from the mans grasp. On the instant he was
Where was the prisoner all this time, and
what was he doing. lie mad once during the
day showed signs of emotion, and at the close
of Mr. IhOmpsOn's appeal in his behalf made
an efOt to repress rising tears. HIS brave
little wife sat by his side all day, getting closer
to him as the time approached for them 70
separate. II was now near six o'clock. The
instant the cry was raised and the peaceful
audience appeared to have been converted into
a mob, 70 her wlfely fears IL BODIED no good 10
her husband, and she exclaimed, "Oh, my God,
my darlingl" and ilinginp her arms about his
neck she bore him down 10 the floor AT the end
OF the table ut which he had been sitting;
Ihen strong men seized the prisoner hnd
hustled him round toward the Jury-rOOm, into
which the palladium of our liberty had already
been placed for protection. Some one told
him 70 jump from the window The Sheriff
seized him by the shoulder, and the door Of
the Jury-roOm was instantly closed upon him
anu MS Wilts W us u6 III uhllHbIt anu uAu uo
fear itY He was, and he did. More hands were
placed upon pistols than that OF Arnoldg
brother, and as james H. Arnold backed round
TO bis place of refuge, with his wife clinging
TO him his eyes exhibited u sense Of danger
as he looked in the direction where sat men
who had interested themselves In his prOsecu-
tiOn,
When the Sheriff and his determined depu-
ties, assisted by Colonel Thompson and few
citizens, had restored order, and the Judges
gavel could once more be heard, he proceeded
10 ONnrgaa his opinion OF The outrage that had
just been perpetrated, aud announced that he
should stop all proceedings until peace had
been completely restored.
James s. LEVEL, the man who had denied
that such testimony had been introduced, was
called before his Honor, and was required to
give bonds for Sl,O0J each, one to keep the
peace, and one to answer any indictment that
might be found against him.
Andy Mershan was brought up and sem
fenced TO confinement In the jail for twenty
four hours and she payment OF u tine OF thirty
dollars. Then turning 10 tho clerk, the Judge
directed an order TO be entered requiring the
sheriff TO summon a Grand Jury at once.
when these things were DONE Senator VoOr-
hees arose 10 explain 10 the Court that he had
not Intended TO raise disturbance by his re-
mark, while, after an earnest conversation
between the Senator aud Mr.. Bronston, the
gentlemen agreed that their remarks had
been tho result of Misunderstanding. The
jury and the prisoner were then ordered to be
brought into court and the trial 20 proceed
Arnold came out with his wife olasped about
bis neck, and when he took his place beside
Nh Nolhstl hhu hkL upon MS hutet IeLuh-
ing TO be separated from him, and looking
defiance at amy aud all that should attempt
the separation.
u was a picture worth the study of an artist
and tho brush Of a Reynolds or a Hogarth
The trial went ON, but the noise among those
remaining In the hall being still great the
Judge directed the courtroom TO be cleared,
and suspended proceedings until his order was
fully Obeyed.
Then Mr. Bronston went on with his argu
ment as II nothing had happened, If anything
he was trlhe moro serene, and, with dark.
ness settling down nDou ina vtrnrlH NV tha