Virginia Argus

From the Poughkeepsie Herald.

The Dutchess Circuit and Court of Oyer and Terminer, commenced on the 16th, and closed on the evening of the 21st current month. Seventy-four civil causes were noticed for trial. Notwithstanding Judge Yates, who presided, opened court at 8 A. M. and held it to a late hour every evening, yet not more than one half of the litigated causes were tried. Many suitors in the civil causes experienced all the comforts of the "law's delay."

The Grand Jury perhaps the first in point of talent and respectability, which ever convened in any county, continued their session till Thursday noon, and found several important bills.

Of the criminals, the following were convicted and sentenced to the state prison. James, a slave of Mr. Berry, was tried and found guilty of sodomy, sentenced for life. James M'Kinsey and Edward Roswell were convicted of grand larceny, in stealing goods & money, was sentenced, M'Kinsey for 5 years, and Roswell 4 years. Abel Penny, convicted of horse stealing was sentenced for seven years. In this instance, justice trod closely on the heels of crime. We understand Penny stole the horse in Pawlings, thirty miles from this village, on the 17th, he was pursued, taken and indicted on the 18th; and convicted on the 19th inst. all in less than 48 hours.

There was one criminal tried for perjury, which, after consuming half a day; terminated in the honorable acquittal of the defendant. Another trial for sodomy occupied almost all Saturday. The court and counsel on both sides managed this cause, so shocking to our feelings in its very nature, with delicacy and ability. The defendant was acquitted by the jury on the ground, that the consummation of the crime was not sufficiently made out. We cannot, in justice to the presiding magistrate, but remark, that Judge Yates, in his unremitted attention to business, his impartiality, the acknowledged accuracy of his decisions, and his eloquent address to the prisoners, when about to sentence them, greatly distinguished himself as a judge and a good man.