JOHN J. CRITTENDEN describes a trial in which, by his persuasive eloquence, he so completely fascinated the jury that they lost sight of the law and even of justice: "Court day is a great day in the small inland towns of the West. All business to be done in the towns is, if possible, deferred until that day, and the plowing, planting, and reaping are stopped without remorse. The plow horses are fastened to the long lines of fence and the yeomanry- gather in groups about the taverns and court house. Any important trial brought together the prominent speakers, and the chance of announcing and spreading one's opinions by a lusty fight or two was an ever new delight. Mr. Cole and a friend named Gillespie of the same caliber and tastes rode into the little town of Versailles on court day. Every thing was propitious; they drank, played cards, and were merry. Late in the day they rode most amicably, side by side, out of Versailles, going home together. Unfor tunately they had both cards and whiskey in their pockets and of the latter they par took freely. They rode slowly and were benighted. Passing a dismantled log cabin by the wayside, they determined to stop and rest, tied their horses, struck a light, and concluded to play ' High, low, jack and the game ' and take a little grog from time to time by way of refreshment, till the morning. As might have been expected they grew quarrelsome and abusive. It is a short step from words to blows. Gillespie struck at his friend Cole with a knife and killed him instantly. The sight of the blood and of the dead man, his friend from boyhood, sobered him fully and his sorrow and remorse were indescribable. . . . Mr. Crittenden was employed to defend him. . . . Mr. Critten den 's speech was pronounced a masterpiece of oratory. Almost the entire assembly were moved to sobs and tears. The attempt was made to invalidate or set aside Gillespie's testimony; he acknowledged the killing and his statement of the circumstances was the single point in his favor. Mr. Crittenden's
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reply to this effort on the part of the prose cution is all I can recall of his speech. In fact I remember but he sentiment he expressed; the voice, the eloquent lip, it is impossible- to portray. ' Can any man in his senses with a throbbing heart in his bosom doubt this man's testimony? No, gentlemen of the jury, the truth gushes from his burdened heart in that hour of agon}' as pure as the water from the rock when smitten by the hand of the prophet.' The orator seemed inspired and his aspect and words carried conviction not only to the audience but to the jury as well, as was evidenced by the verdict of acquittal. Afterward he was heard to say of the case, ' Yes, I begged that man's life of the jury.' " According to the law the man was guilty of manslaughter at least; but when the master hand had played upon the chords of human sympathy the jury could not find it in their hearts to convict. Gifted with the highest powers of eloquence and the possessor of as great and generous a heart as ever beat in a human breast, Crittenden easily impressed his own ardent and sympathetic views upon the minds and the hearts of his hearers. His eloquence was not a lot of stately imagery and rhetoric. It was a hot and glowing message direct from his heart. The words were but the echoes of his own generous impulses. Probably few more generous men than Crittenden ever lived. His mag nanimity in the forgiveness of personal wrong was almost incredible. Take for instance his treatment of Francis Preston Blair. He and Blair had been friends through life until the " bargain and intrigue " days of the con test between Jackson and Adams, when they differed and became separated. The polit ical feeling ran very high in Kentucky and Blair and Crittenden were frequently opposed to each other, each making speeches to further his cause in and around Frankfort. Mr. Blair is thus quoted in substance in connection with that period : A few days before the election was to take place, an appointment was made for a political meet
