Reports of the Trials of Colonel Aaron Burr Volume 1; (Late Vice President of the United States, ) for Treason, and for a Misdemeanor, in Preparing ... of the King of Spain, with Whom the United St - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808 Excerpt: ... Mr. Wickham then Addressed the court. May it please the court: The counsel for the prosecution having gone through their evidence relating directly to the overt act charged in the indictment, and being about to introduce collateral testimony of acts done beyond the limits of the jurisdiction of this court, and it not only appearing from the proofs, but being distinctly admitted, that the accused, at the period when war is said to have been levied against the United States, was hundreds of miles distant from the scene of action, it becomes the duty of his counsel, to object to the introduction of any such testimonv; as according to our view of the law on this subject, it is wholly irrelevant and inadmissible. It is not without reluctance that this measure is resorted to. Our client is willing and desirous, that at a proper time, and on a fit occasion, the real nature of the transactions which have been magnified into the crime of treason, should be fully disclosed: and unless he be greatlv mistaken, it is now in his power to adduce strong and conclusive testimony in direct opposition to that which has been relied on in behalf 01 the prosecution. But if we may calculate from the time that has been already consumed in the examination ot the small number of witnesses that have yet been introduced, out of about one hundred and forty, that have been summoned on the part of the United States, it is hardly possible, that an opportunity will be afforded him of calling a single witness before this jury. Weeks, perhaps months, will pass away, before the evidence for the United States is closed; and at this unfavourable season, nothing is more likely than that the health of some one, and perhaps more of the jury will be so far affected by the climate and confinement, ...