The Trial of John Loslo

A recent email to the library... 04/22/02
It has come to the compiler's attention that the date of 1825 is wrong.
Lorimier died at Cape Girardeaux in 1812. The microfilm is hard to read,
but the date may be 1805.

I stumbled across this account of John Loslo when I was indexing
the obituaries out of the Ouachita Gazette. Someone who was related to this
gentleman would probably never have heard of this trial and so I thought
it interesting enough to print out and transcribe. What happened to
this gentleman,....I don't know.

The Washita Gazette
October 25, 1825
Page 2, Column 2
John Loslo, aged 79 years was found guilty of murder during our
District Court last week.-It is said that he fought at the battle of
Bunkers Hill-that the tenor of his life has been that of an inoffensive
honest man.

The Washita Gazette
November 1, 1825
Page 1, Column 4
To the Washita Gazette,
Mr. Editor:
I send you an extract from the journal of a gentleman from
Pennsylvania, now on his travels in this state. I have obtained his leave to publish
this extract, because it may be viewed as an impartial attestation of an
interesting fact, to wit-the progressing moral improvement of this
country. It appears to be addressed, in the form of letters to a
friend. Saturday, October 22, 1825. I arrived on Thursday last at Monroe, a
Port-town on the Washita (sic) river, and the seat of justice for the
Parish of Washita (sic). On Friday morning (the court being now in
session,) there was arraigned before the court,- Overton Judge, an old
man of the name of Leslie, on the awful charge of murder!-I will now, my
dear friend, give you a faithful outline of the trial, and from this,
you will easily perceive how grossly false is the opinion which prevails
in the Northern states, with respect to this country. It is there
generally thought that this country is a hot bed of heathenism; that the
inhabitants are in a state of constant and savage warfare; and that
villainy and crime, however enormous and shocking, are certain of
connivance & impunity. But although it is undesirable that this
caricature has once been applicable to this country, yet a new era has
evidently commenced, and glorious to the country itself.
The clerk read the bill of indictment with that dignified solemnity of
feeling, which was due to the occasion. A plea in abatement was urged,
with great ingenuity, by one of the counsel for the defendant; but the
judge, with a precision and clearness, which reconciled all opinions in
a few moments, demonstrated that this plea could not be sustained, and
ordered a jury to be empanelled.
On this occasion, the inhabitants of the country had an unsought for
opportunity to develope (sic) their really-amiable character. With due
deference to the obligation of the oath which they had severally taken,
they exhibited an universal disposition and wish to be excused from the
trial. More than 50 men were sworn, and interrogated by the judge, with
respect to having formed or declared an opinion, before a jury could be
formed. At length however 12 men were found who declared under oath,
that they had formed no opinion.
The court being then fully organized, the winesses (sic) were called
in, and their evidence given in that cool and dispassionate manner,
which did credit to their feelings.-Scott, the prosecuting attorney then
rose, and in a luminous and forcible manner, expounded the law, and
proceeded, with becoming solitude to demonstrate to the jury, that the
evidence did simply sustain the charge as laid in the indictment. His
comment on the law and the prominent points of the evidence was highly
judicious and consistent-his emphatical (sic) pauses appeared to be the
offspring of astonishment, and not designed to give effect to his
address. In his conclusion, he assured the jury that he did not wish
them to convict the accused, unless they believed he was unquestionably
quitty.(sic)-The gentleman appears to be a mere youth, and his
performance on this occasion, reminded me of John Randolph, in the year
1798.
An elderly gentleman then rose, on the part of the defence (sic), and
in a concise pertinent and impressive speech, endeavered (sic) to
convince the jury that the evidence partook too largely of the
circumstatial (sic) character, to admit of conviction.
The arrangement and distribution of this gentleman, showed the man of
talent and experience-but when services of the accused, (some account of
which he had been given in the evidence.) He appeared to be overcome by
the recollection of the "times that that (sic) tried men's souls" and he
set down in emphatical (sic) silence.
Next rose an youthful gentleman, of the name of Downs, who addressed
the jury in a speech of perhaps three hours deviation. This gentleman
adverted to the laws and referred to analogons (sic) cases, with a
dexterity and precision which would have done honor to the bar of any
court of America; he analized (sic) the law and brought the evidence in
comparison with it, in a logical and masterly style; his intermediate
inductions were not neglected, but were earnestly impressed on the jury;
and his grand conclusion was awefully (sic) impressive with wonderful
aptitude and energy, he tod our old friend Duane's motto for his
concluding words-"When you shall these unhappy deeds relate nothing
extenuate, nor set down aught in malice."
The Jury, who had paid the most earnest attention to the evidence and
debates and (), now rose to their feet as if involuntary, to receive the
paramount instructions of the bench. It would be needless for me to
undertake, at this time, to deliniate (sic) the deportment and character
of the honorable Judge. I feel incompetent for the task. Let therefore
death-like silence that prevailed, and the suspended breathing of the
jury, indicate to you the implicit confidence universally reposed in the
judg. (sic) He proceeded to elucidate the law, marking out clearly the
lines of seperation between its various definitions of homicide; and as
if aprehensive (sic) that too much weight might be attached to an
opinion expressed by him he referred the whole matter to the awful
responsibilty (sic) of the jury. They retired and about half hour
returned with a verdict of guilty.

I do not recollect, my dear friend, that I have ever seen a trial
conducted with more dignity and solemnity. The behavior of the people
at large was that of feeling and sensible and feeling men, the present
aspect of the country indicates an improving society, and although in
all new countries ruffian and atheists are occasionally to be found, yet
there are good grounds to say that, in this beautiful country, a few
years more will reduce them to soverign (sic) ().

The Washita Gazette
November 15, 1825
Page 2, Column 1
His Excelency (sic), Gov. Johnston, will shortly be here, when it will
be his duty to determine the fate of an unfortunate veteran of the revolution, age 79
years. The following certificate the original is in the possession of
the prisoner.

I certify that John Luslo has been one of the first inhabitants at the post of Cape
Girerdeaux, that he has long resided yere and conducted himself
as an honest quiet good citizen, given under my hand at Cape Girardeaux
the 27th of April 1825.
L. LORIMIER, Comdt. At Cape Girardeaux.

There is satisfactory testimony that he fought at the battle of
Germantown, Princeton, Trenton, Brandywine, RedBank, Mud Island and at
York, at the taking of Cornwallis and finally securing our independence,
he not only faught (sic) but was so destinguished (sic) for bravery that
he was frequently selected for hazardous enterprise-he was the soldier
that was selected and actually did fire and burn all the hay and forage
that was provided for to winter the British cavalry although it was
guarded day and night by british soldiery, he was ordered to do it or
never return; it was expected he would do it but that he would die for
it, but he escaped.
This was an act that ought to have immortalized him.
Mr. Klady dec'd. A wealthy planter and honest man; always received
Luslo as a brother because he knew his revolutionary services, and
himself to be an honest man.
Mr. Luslo has long lived the life of a hermit had about 4 or 5 acres of
land cleared and a small stock.
Common report say that Laslo held 5 or 600 dollars, this accounts for a
young robust man entering the hermitage of this old man.
The man for whom Laslo has to die for was first known in Monroe by the
name of Wm. Jeffrees, after he was apprehended as a deserter from the
U.S. army, he was known by the name of McNeir, it is said that his true
name was James Finillay.
It is said McNeir was in the act of robing (sic) Luslo of his horse and
saddle when Luslo shot him.

Subsequent issues of the paper advertise an auction selling Mr.
Luslo's property to pay for his trial expenses.

 

A recent email to the library... 04/22/02
It has come to the compiler's attention that the date of 1825 is wrong.
Lorimier died at Cape Girardeaux in 1812. The microfilm is hard to read,
but the date may be 1805.