The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-04
Great rials Of History.
Trial of Horne Tooiee.
IS BEST CARTOONS.

The dissatisfied American colon
; lists of England prior TO tho Revolu-
ton found many ardent sympa thi zers
at homc-many of them out OF true
patriotic motives and others no
doubt on account OF grievances they
had with certain Ensiish statesmen
VINO were doing all in their power to
prccipitate war. There was strong
party In England, known as tho
opposition leaders. who frequently
appealed to the principles OF freedom,
yet there y no doubt but that tho
ana the vast majority OF that nation
approved OF the North Cabinet, Chief
Justice Lord Mansfield. and others,
who were for crushing rebellion and
preserving British asccndnncy.
one OF the most outspokcn Of these
lovers % liberty was Horne Tooke.
and his sentiments In favor Of tho
Americans led him TO become charged
with libel and placed on trial rooke
was q man OF remarkable acuteness
/ against him was for writing and
publishing nm advertisement propos-
Ing a subscription 80 he applied TO
the relief OF the widows. orphans ana
aged parents OF our beloved Ameri-
can ow-subjecis who. faithful 10
the character OF the English race
/ preferred death 10 slavery and were,
FOR that reason only. inhumanly muir
dered by the Kings troops at Lex
ngton and Concord, in the Province
Of massachusetts"
When Tookc was placed on trial he
conducted his defense In person
against the English At;orrcy-Gen-
cral Thurlow. Lord Mansfield heard
| the case II was Tookc's prime
object To provoke Mansfield To n sally
OF impatience, OF which he might
have taken advantage. and he even
: lvtn
newspapers respecting their having
been inundated by the court. hut
IN this ne he was foilcd, for the Chief
Justice remained throughout calm
and omplacent.
The trial Of Horne Took. began on
November II, l7ai, and lasted for six
DAYS The solicitor-gcncral in pre-
sentinS the case. claimed that Tooke
han engaged in conspiracy to
! erect change In the sovereign
| n3Wer me King. Lords and Commons.
mat No had. TO accomplish his ends.
not only Quarrcled with the admins
iration and the form OF government
Nut The principles Of the Constitution
lie then adverted 20 the various So
cic;i"s throughout England, particu-
larly the constitutional and London
corresponding societies. OF which
locke vas leading spirit. He said
he would attempt to prove that Tookc
MAS In the chair when certain rcsolu-
/ lions were adopted.
IT required four days to hear tho
witnesses for tn. prosecution. end
at the end OF tile fourth, Mr.. TooIse
began his evidence. His first witnes.
called was Major Cartwrirht. who
STATED that the obIec' OF the soctetv
was to eniighten tho minds of tho
ithpc with respect Ia the nature OF
'hclr Just riThts, 70 obtain radical
reform In the House CT Commons
ana TO recover certain rights which
hey conceived had Lecn lost by tho
oco1lc. Others who testified I'm hls
ishHN were the Duke OF Richmond
the Hon. William Pitt. Rev Mr.. MyvilI
ana the Lord Bishop of Gloucester.
Al the conclusion OF the evidence
Mr. Gibbs. one of the prosecuting
attorneys, addressed tho jury, when
me Lord Chief Justice proceeded to
ms charees. captivating the nd
dresses of the several societies, and
aftcr very able and Impartial
speech. proceeded 20 conn vent upon
( me evidence produced in behalf OF
the prisoner: the result OF which. to-
| "ether with his observations on ths
/ other parts of the case, and how
( me whole was horne out by the rvi-
d"nce 1t was solely their tmportnr,
province 10 decide according to thnir
conSciences ''i
The jury, after contcrr:nr f,-
about eight minutes, returned Win :,
verdict Of "Not guilty" 1t was -"
sooner announced by the fornrnat,
man 1t was received with universni
acclamation.