Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/395

 The examination of the witnesses toolt up great part of the time, and the lawyers were probably exhausted. Brackenridge was eloquent; but Henry left no dry eye in the court house. The case I believe was murder,^ though possibly, manslaughter only. Mr. Henry laid hold of this possibility with such effect, as to make all forget that Holland had killed the store-keeper at all; and presented the deplorable case of the jury's killing Holland, an innocent man. By that force of descrip- tion which he possessed in so wonderful a degree, he exhibited, as it were, at the clerk's table, old Holland and his wife, who were then in Louisa; but the draw- ing was so powerful, and so true to nature, that w^e seemed to see them before us, and to hear them asking of the jury, ^ where is our son.^ what have you done with him.'^' All this was done in a manner so solemn and touching, and a tone so irresistible, that it was im- possible for the stoutest heart not to take sides with the criminal: as for the jury, they lost sight of the murder they were trying, and wept most profusely, with old Holland and his wife, whom Mr. Henry painted, and perhaps proved to be very respectable. During the examination of the evidence, the bloody clothes had been brought in: Mr. Henry objected to their exhibi- tion, and applied most forcibly and pathetically An- thony's remark on Caesar's wounds, on those dumb mouths which would raise the stones of Rome to mu- tiny. He urged that this sight would totally deprive the jury of their judgment, which would be merged in \he\Y feelings. The court was divided, and the motion fell. The result of the trial was, that after the retire- ment of an half or quarter of an hour, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty; but on being reminded by the court that they might find a degree of homicide.

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