SC1896_FF1_127

17
But when the vote was taken two days afterwards,
the lash had been applied, the result
was different, tho' the majority was not
sufficient to break him.
I attended the trial from its commencement
to its close - heard every word of the evidence &
the arguments pro & con. I have been in Courts
all my life, & have witnessed much corruption
therein - I had scarcely ever witnessed
more in any case, than I did on this trial of
Judge Williams. There was a great deal of
false swearing, particularly by a young man
of Winchester, who had a License to practice
Law, and a general Licencse to Lie : He was
one of the greatest Liars, I ever knew - Tho' it
was said others of his family were his equal
- upon the trial Mr. Balch, claimed the
priviledge of Cross examining him. Mr.
Balch was a man of ready wit, keen,
cents & sharp as a razor, & withall, tho
an accomplished Gentleman, could when occasion
required it, play the wag in fine style
We had heard what his evidence was before
the Committee, or one of the charges, every
word of which was false. When he was
called before the Senate, he could not stand
up, to what he had sworn before; but stated
that he was in the Court house at the time
the transaction alluded to, occurred; that Thos.
Taul, went on the bench & spoke to Judge W.
& if I heard what he said & have not forgotten
he said so & so to the Judge - and if I heard
what the Judge said & have not forgotten, he
said so & so. Mr. Balch cross examined him
at great length, with a great deal of "mock
dignity" of manner, that threw the witness