Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
AARON 5URR'S TRIAL.

AARON eURRS TRIAL.
The Exciting Scenes In Richmond May @2.
IsO7-The Debate and Decision.
fHarper's Mngazine.l
The 22d of Nav. 1907, opened with an
intense excitement IN the metropolis OF
Virginia ThrOngs pressed into the city
from the break of day from all the neigh
boring region. Carriages swept along the
street filled with inelv-jressed ladies and
gentlemen with powdered wigs and snowy
buckles. whipping Ia from their estates IN
the adjacent country. Upon the bench
with Chlef-Justice Marshall sat Cyrus
Griffin, the Judge OF the District OF Viz
ginia. Calm, dignihed, as competent to
try the most important case which had as
vet presented itself in the American re-
public as the best Judge who had ever
worn English ermine. Marshall was then
in the very prime Of mental and physical
vigor. having only passed his tfty-second
birthday.
If John Marshall was the great Judge Of
the day. Writ. on the side OF the prosecu-
ton. and Luther Martin. on the side OF
the prisoner, were two Of the most skllful
LAWYERS. William Writ was then about
thirtv-fve. aud had been associated by JEFF
fersOn with George Hay, the prosecuting
attorney, sOn-ln-law Of Monroe. as one OF
the most expert advocates Of Virginia. Al
exauder McRae. the Jieutenant-Go
Of the State. acted with them. Hay was
shrewd and alert. but scarcely equal TO the
occasion. McRae was keen, sarcastic and
indefatigable On Writ mainly rested the
herculean and impossible task Of fastening
tho charge of treason upon the prisoner
Writ Joined TO the other ordinary talents
of the lawyer great fulness. ease, and
force of defamation which was apt to
carry iuries. Burr led on his own side,
dressed with his accustomed scrupulous
neatness.
WRIT AND MARTIN.
He brought "a cool head, q quick sight,
and a moderately fluent tongue TO bear
adroltly in his own behalf. Joined with
him in his defence was Edmund Randolph.
an elderly gentleman who had been a
leader IN the convention tor framing the
Constitution, and afterwards the successor
of Jefferson as Secretary OF state under
Washington. He was second cousin TO
John Randolph Of Roanoke and had re
signed his secretaryship sat the capital
under serious suspicious. There was
also John Wickham, one OF the
ablest lawyers IN Richmond; Baker,
lame lawyer, who. If he depended upon a
crutch, had a full compensation for MS
bodily weakness in a ready wit fertile
brain, and an exhaustless tongue; and
BENJAMIN Bolts. the father OF John Minor
Bolts, a man of uucOnquerable Will and
hne ability. But Luther Martin, OF Mary
land. was. next TO Burr himself. the bull
wark of the alleged consprator. Yer
satile, interruptions. fond Of a vulgar
iOke, given to eXtravasant proianeness.
and never in better condition than
when stimulated by huge draughts
of wine or brandy. Luther Martin was
esteemed as one of the best lawyers
of his time. He. too. bad been member
of the Philadelphia convention from
which issued the Constitution and had
come prominently into notice IN the I'M
parchment of Judge Chase before the
United States Senate at the close OF Burr's
Craftsmanship of that body, when his
sharpness, strength, and fitness Tor con-
ducting a defence gave him hign place IN
the Judgment of Burr. The Tilt of the
Richmond trial was between Martin and
William Writ. 1t was the 3Oth of August
before the trial was completed.
HIS TREAsoNABLE PLANS.
The principal witnesses against Burr
were General Eaton and General Wilkin-
son. The evidence may be summed up 10
"A few words. Burr had been in the habit
OF talking wildly about the crazy Consti-
tuition and the certainty of the Union eX-
piring IN CONFUSION. Among most lnti-
mate friends. and with others sometimes
wnen more than usually confidential, he
had not hestated To speak with military
accent OF throwing the Administration at
Washington into the Potomac. The ex-
pedition which he had arranged was
meant to seize Spanish territory. out
of which q great Pacific empire was
TO be formed, over which Burr ana
IheOdOsia were to reign after the
NapoleOnic manner in France. Wilkinson
was TO stand at their right hand. only Sc
cond 10 Aaron Burr. HIS expectation was
strong that affairs in the United States
would so shape themselves that the west
ern States and Territories would break
loose from the Union and Join their for
tunes with the more splendid Mexican EN-
pire. It was possible, in carrying out ms
plans, that. to obtain the necessary money.
New Orleans might be seized and the bank
plundered, though this was only dlmly re-
vealed as q very natural suspicion through
the thick veil in which the adyenturer's
scheme was necessarily hidden. No state
of actual war was shown to have existed
IN which Burr was guilty OF any overt act OF
treason, kotwO witnesses showed, nor dld
any one claim that there ever had been, on
the part OF Burr any overt act OF treason
in the district in which the trial was
taking place.
GREAT DEBATE.
Nine DAYS were spent in arguing the in
admissiblity of indirect evidence. and IN
settling the point that direct act OF trea-
son must FIRST of ali be proved. When the
decision OF Judge Marshall was rendered
that before any evidence showing lnten-
ton could be admitted, the fact Of treason
must be shown III some distinctly treason
able act, the trial was virtually settled.
Seldom has such q debate been heard
in England or America as that
which began on the 2Oth OF Au-
gust. Writ, on the part OF me
exceled himself IN splendid
declamation, while Luthur Martin. more
than his match IN ability, and with the
master position 10 MAINTAIN, tore IN
shreds the evidence offered, and
battered into the finest dust the
strongest positions OF the prosecution.
With memory singuarly retentlVe,
great quickness III perce.viag and taxing
an advantage, and with an immense Ter
tility OF resources, he moved steauiiy
upon the intrenchments OF the Attorney,
General. and the abandon OF conviviai
man, never absolutely sober, only seemed
10 bring his faculties more under bus con-
troll, and to mass his forces for oyerwhelIn-
INK NiNNOiNs MS ilh oH'N~@'
fourteen hours, in which he traversed the
whole line Of testimony adduced by the
and showed that no treason
able act OF any weight whatever had been
established against the prisoner.
BUHR ACQUITTED.
Randolph concluded the debate on the
10Th Of August. Alter Luther Martins
torrent of bitter sarcasm and storm OF
iery eloquence 1t was the mere pattering
If summers shower. judge Marshall
summed up IN decision which required
.hrse hours TO read, the point of which
Mas that no overt act of treason had been
,hown against Aaron Burr and that accord
ngly thelury must acquit him. In accord
nee with this decision the Jury on the
morning of August 80, 1907, returned their
yerdict Of not guilty and the prisoner was
elcased.
Upto Date.
tPuck.l
D,d King Cole