The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-07
nnrIrINe an OLD MURDER TRIAL.
The Remarkable Blackburn Case That
Brought Lawrence 4. Neal co the Front.


brought Lawrence Il. Neal TO the Front.
COLUMBUS. o.. Sept GA leading lawyer OF
Ross county received the other day letter
from John S. Blackburn OF Cincinnati an
nouncnG the writer's intention OF bringing
suit against that county to recover 100000
damages for alleged false Imprisonment, and
soliciting the services OF the lawyer In pre-
sentinR the claim. On looking into the merits
OF the case. the lawyer found that the extraor-
binary claim Of his would-be client, II taken
into court, would he q long delayed sequel to
the Blackburn Lowell tragedy OF twenty-three
years ago. the sensational murder trial follow
ing which gave Lawrence T. Neal. then
young and struggling lawyer at Chllicothe.
the opportunity to win his spurs, sent him to
Congress. and started bin on the remarkable
professional and political career which has
made him the foremost man in the Ohio De-
mocracy and Its candidate for Governor
John S. Blackburn was q prominent farmer
living near Greenfield. He was himself
member OF an influential Cincinnati family
and was connected by marriage with another.
In 1870 he was A years old and had grown
children. About that time he became enam-
ored OF Mary Jane Lowell. aged 20 years. n
relative Of his by marriage. who was visiting
at his house. The girl permitted his advances.
and In short time their relations became a
public scandal. One day In March. 1871. Miss
Lowell came from Cincinnati by appointment
with Blackburn. as 1t was aftsrward known.
and the two met on q lonely road late In the
afternoon. near the entrance to q deep
glen at the mouth of Cliff Run. This
was mile or SO from Blackburn's
house. They were seen to enter the glen
together The next day Black burn returned
that Mary Lowell was dead in Gin Kun Glen:
His story was that es their illicit love had
end the@ and SD die .eS that
end Blackburn had purchased a quantity OF
went to the Isolated glen to. drink. The girl
drank OF the deadly draught first. and was
ssz @as With so tafse Sa sc
burns heart failed him. and instead OF keep
ing his part OF the death contract he had made
This Wild story was believed by Biackburn's
friends and people GENERALLY post TN. mor M'I,
Lowell had died from strychnine poisoning.
Strangely enough. no move at first was made
took in the crime under the impression that
hls act was not indictable. an opinion to that
sIs ps ey
and lie proceeded against Black burn. had him
The trial of blackburn was among the nota-
accused. through his influential family. was
able to bri ing to his aid formidable array Of
hlgh legal talent. among the lawyers QelenQ-
ing him being United States h., Senator PuEh;
Fitzpatrick. They asked for the discharge
Of the prisoner on the ground that
Miss Lowell having taken willingly the
poison that caused her death. no charge
Of murder could stand against the
accused. a suicide not being legally murder.
Against all the experienced and able lawyers
young Neal contented that by the giving into
although she mig t have begged him to do so.
made him as much accountable for her death
as il he had given her the poison without her
knowledge. The Court sustained the young
lawyer and tho trial proceeded. The defence
entered the plea OF insanity. and by the aid OF
After Senator PuEh and Congressman Dickoy
had summed up tho case Blnckburn's acGuit-
tai seemed assured. but young Meals
presentation Of the case against the prisoner
was so masterly that he secured q conviction.
although it was the extraordinary conviction
OF murder in the second degree. Even this
narrow escnpe of Black hurn from the gallows
appealed the case pending decision. on which
they obtained the appointment OF commits:
sion to examine into Blackburn's sanity. aud
the commission reported that he was in
sane. He was sent to the insane Rsy-
lum, from which he was in a few
years discharged. Both he and the tragedy
had been forgotten. until tho announcement
the prospects OF his obtaining damages from
Ross county for false imprisonment on the
murder, charge twenty-five years ago an in
Guiry which gives some strength to the de-
cision that he was insane after all The ability
that Lawyer Neal. then but ~ years old. de.
veloped on the trial OF Blackburn. took hi 10
the front at one bound. and he has been there