Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-23

vision IN the will or MT. Vaieh
located at the southwest corner o. Fig.
venth and Clay streets. The Cnrea
States Marshal who nad cnalk'
OF Colonel Burr after his ARRIVAL IN hicn-
mond was Major Joseph Scott a Revo-
Intionary veteran. and warm personal
friend OF John Randolph If Roanoke.
One of Marshal Scotts deputies was
Thomas II. Drew. who has not been dead
so long as TO make people forgef him
here. Mr.. A. y. Bot. of Chesterfield coun-
ty. was one Of the Burr jury. His son
OF the same name was lately State OIL
cial IN the Capitol. under o recent Cover
nor. OF course, he knows nothing about
Burr's trial. but II Is two TO one that he
has often heard his father talk about the
events connected with that critical and
eventfur period Of his life.
1t took about three or four months 10
get witnesses to and from New Orleans
to this city during the trial. Remember
the distance is about 1.5o0 miles. and the
only then mode Of communication was
horseback. and through many wilder
nesses and swamps. Forty days were
consumed by General Wilkinson In coming
from New Orleans to this city.
DR.. Boliman. warm friend OF Burr,
being arrested by Wilkinson In New Or
leans, waS sent to Baltimore for trial.
The UnVed States District Attorney
there announced on his appearance there
that he had a full pardon from the Presi-
dent (Jefferson). but wanted Boilman to
start Immediately for Richmond to ap-
pear against Burr. Bollman said he dldn
want any pardon, and failed to see now
man could be pardoned against his
win. He gained his point-he was let OH
and did not say anything against Burr,
even If he did come to Richmond.
Burr was amongst the best of his own
counsel, though he did not pretend TO
lead He was a suggester OF material
points. One of. these was whether the
court could require the President OF the
United States to hand over for inspection
the various cipher letters and other COM
munications relative to his supposed urea
sonable doings. He knew his old-time
antagonist bore him no good will, and
after his trouble began had said: "Of his
guilt there can be no doubt" As an
astute lawyer, Burr knew the animus of
Jefferson. of course.
Two prominent parties among The
scores of spectators at this trial were
Winfield Scott and Andrew Jackson.
Treason trials have been singularly rare
in this country, and Ii Is worthy of re-
mark that The only two considerable ones
took place in this city. In England a
man can do ten things and be guilty OF
high treason; in the United States YOU
can only commit treason by levying war
against the United States. or adherin;
to its enemies, giving them aid and COM
fort.
OF the two parties most conspicuously
remembered for being tried for treason
in Richmond, both, according to legal
parlance, went thereof without day
Among the revelations OF General Eaton
as a witness. he said that Burr had re-
vealed to him that he was organizing o
military expedition to be moved against
Mexico, whenever the war with Spain
should be declared. Burr. so declared
Eaton, said the scheme. IL successful
might embrace the taking Of some of the
Western States and Louisiana as a coun'
try, with New orleans as capital, and he
RurD as the ruler. According to Burr
Eaton. In reply TO an inquiry as to what
ne would do with one Miranda, VINO
had then lately organized an expedition
for the freeing of Venezuela. Burr re-
plid that he would hang him. 1t may be
remarked that Colonel Richard IL. Par
ker, who married a daughter of Thomas
Richie the Father OF Democracy IN
Virginia, served in the Miranda expedi-
ton, but he arrived home safe. The Vene'
zuela mentioned is the same one wnicn
is now producing an estranged feeling be'
tween the United States and England
on account of the Monroe doctrine. now
much spoken of. but not then born.
Eaton testified also that the only way
til If - nf
spirit exhibited by Burr was 20 get Presi-
dent Jefferson to appoint him Minister
to some = ign country, but the ex-
FOUNDER al tounder of Democracy had II
in for Burr, and would not listen 70 the
suggestion. None Of the witnesses sworn
before the court could testify that Burr
desired to divide this country; his sug-
gestions in that direction indicated only
that he was DESTROYS of founding coun-
try OF his own. There was plenty OF tes-
timony as to the buying of provisions and
arms, and the assembling OF some mer
at Blennerhassetts Island. During the
trial Burr asked one witness, who had
been on the island, what he thought OF
Biennerhassett's fitness for war, and wit
messed answered that Blennerhasset'
couldn't tell a man from a horse at ten
steps, and that the country people said he
EdQ tNtIy kliu Vi cCbcC SAOtRl tOihAhNA
sense. Another witness, 10 show how
enthusiastic Blennerhassett had becom,
on the subject of Burr's proposed expedi'
ton. related that he once said: II tel
you, we are going to take Mexico. one OF
the finest, richest, places In the whole
world. Colonel Burr will be king
and. when he dies. Theodosia Al
ston will be queen" This mos
amiable and accomplished lady wa
Burrs only child. and was the wifi
OF Governor Aston. of South Carolina
Burr's last days were much embittereS
by her mysterious fate. Embarklns
at Charleston In a schooner for New
York city. to visit her father, neither III,
vessel nor any Of Its living inhabitant:
were ever afterwards heard of. Trad
ton has II that the vessel was cap
tured by pirates and burned. and tn,
crew and passengers murdered Glib
and Wansley, noted marine malefactors
hanged at Gibbet Island. New York har
Dor, In 1897. got the credit OF tn,
act. Once during Burrs trial dis
cussion. lasting nine days. took place OF
the question OF the right of the prosecu
ton to strengthen its rather weak cas-
in regard to an overt act by intro
ducing testimony as to subsequent acts
which implied a guilty intention. Th'
defence vehemently objected and tn
prosecution as persistently resisted. TIT
defence contended that no overt act hal
been shown. the nearest approach to on,
having been testified to by only one wit
ness. when the law required two.
This was the crucial point In the case
and Judge Marshall. In deciding 1t. reat
an opinion containing over $500 words
1t concluded as follows: 1.-THE motion o.
the defence must prevail. No testimon,
relative to the conduct or declarations o.
the prisoner. and subsequent 10 the trans
action on Blennerhassetts Island. car
be admitted. because such testimony
being in its nature merely corroborAtis'