“At the time appointed for the session of the Circuit Court, Wilson appeared agreeably to his recognizance.  A motion was made by Wilson’s counsel for change of venue, founded on the affidavits of Wilson, and two other men.  The court thereupon removed the case to Saline county, and ordered the Sheriff to take Wilson into custody, and deliver him over to the Sheriff of Saline county.

“The Sheriff of Pulaski never confined Wilson one minute, but permitted him to go where he pleased, without a guard, or any restraint imposed on him whatever.  On his way to Saline, he entertained him freely at his own house, and the next day delivered him over to the Sheriff of that county, who conducted the prisoner to the debtor’s room in the jail, and gave him the key, so that he and every body else had free egress and ingress at all times.  Wilson invited every body to call on him, as he wished to see his friends, and his room was crowded with visitors, who called to drink grog, and laugh and talk with him.  But this theatre was not sufficiently large for his purpose.  He afterwards visited the dram-shops, where he freely treated all that would partake with him, and went fishing and hunting with others at pleasure, and entirely with out restraint.  He also ate at the same table with the Judge, while on trial.

“When the court met at Saline, Wilson was put on his trial.  Several days were occupied in examining the witnesses in the case.  After the examination was closed, while Col.  Taylor was engaged in a very able, lucid, and argumentative speech, on the part of the prosecution, some man collected a parcel of the rabble, and came within a few yards of the court-house door, and bawled in a loud voice, ’part them—­part them!’ Every body supposed there was an affray, and ran to the doors and windows to see; behold, there was nothing more than the man, and the rabble he had collected around him, for the purpose of annoying Col.  Taylor while speaking.  A few minutes afterwards, this same person brought a horse near the court-house door, and commenced crying the horse, as though he was for sale, and continued for ten or fifteen minutes to ride before the court-house door, crying the horse, in a loud and boisterous tone of voice.  The Judge sat as a silent listener to the indignity thus offered the court and counsel by this man, without interposing his authority.

“To show the depravity of the times, and the people, after the verdict had been delivered by the jury, and the court informed Wilson that he was discharged, there was a rush toward him:  some seized him by the hand, some by the arm, and there was great and loud rejoicing and exultation, directly in the presence of the court:  and Wilson told the Sheriff to take the jury to a grocery, that he might treat them, and invited every body that chose to go.  The house was soon filled to overflowing.  The rejoicing was kept up till near supper time:  but to cap the climax, soon after supper was over, a majority