SC1896_FF1_115

of the Circuit. This warrt. I put into the hand of Handly
In the course of an hour or two a friend
came from Goodmen's office, & informed me
that they were about to go into the trial of
A. before Wallis Estill Esqr. & James Sharp
Esqr who had issued the warrant - returnable
before himself the next day - I immediately
left my dying son (for notwithstanding
he lived 48 hours, we expected him to die
every Minute) & went to where these worthy Ministers
of Justice were in session, & having ascertained
that they heed convened for the pretended
purpose of trying Anderson but in reality to
discharge him from custody. I objected to their
proceeding, called their attention to the Warrant
which was issued by one of their Worships
(Sharp) and returnable the next day - It was
then after night - In a short time a
messenger came from my dying son, he wanted
me with him. I left their Worships to dispose
of the case, as they pleased - but had
been absent but a short time, when a messenger
came to me from the court room
that if I did not attend, A. would be immediately
discharged - I returned, & stated
to them, the impossibility of going into the
examination that night; it was then late
the witnesses had gone home, upon the understanding,
that the trial would not come
on until the next day - I made oath &
these facts - A. insisted upon a "speedy
trial" a right, which he said, was