SC1896_FF1_072

70
property and instead of attending to business
closely, indulged in the fashionable habits
of the day. I was for two or three years by far
the most popular lawyer at the bar of Paris
and Bourbon County, one of the most popu-
lous [populous] & wealthy counties in the state.
[X in pencil in the left margin]
In the spring of 1818, I was employed to de-
fend [defend] a Mr. Petty in Cumberland County, char-
ged [charged] with the murder of a man of the
name of Johnson. I was associated with the
honorable John Rowan, Col. [?] & others.
The trial resulted in a conviction of man-
slaughter [manslaughter], but the Judge (Christo. Tompkins)
granted a new trial. The venue was after-
wards [afterwards] changed to Pulaski, where he was tried
and acquitted. This was the first case, in which
I was associated with Mr. Rowan tho' I had heard
him before. He was a man of decided talent
& commanding eloquence, but I always thought
he had full as much character as he deserved.
Some few years afterwards, I was associated
with him in the Bourbon Circuit Courts in the
defense of Robert and David Shields charged
with the murder of an old man of the
name of McCormack. Mr. Rowan then re-
sided [resided] at Louisville, but on account of his high
character, as a criminal advocate, was sent
for to assist or take the lead in their de-
fense [defense]. The late Govr. Clark of Kentucky &
the Hon. Thos. Marshall at present on of the
Judges of the Court of Appeals of that state
were associated with us. The prisoners were
undoubtedly guilty of beating the old man of
which he died in two or 3 days, perhaps by
unskilfull treatment; they probably did not intend to kill him