Edgefield Advertiser

The Caroline—Trial of McLeod.—We have had an interview with Mr. Wells, the owner of the steamer Caroline, and one of the principal witnesses on the trial of McLeod at Utica. Mr. Wells is an intelligent and respectable man, and his statements may be relied upon. As the trial will not be called on till Monday, he has come to this city to transact some business and procure the attendance of two witnesses, who, subsequent to the Navy Island affair, enlisted in the U. S. 2d Artillery.

Mr. Wells informs us that he purchased the steamboat Caroline a few weeks before she was destroyed. Though possessed of considerable property, he had never owned a steamboat before, and was very proud of the Caroline.

The Navy Island expedition had proved a failure—there were not more than three hundred men on the Island—provisions had stopped coming in—they were in a state of starvation, and were anxious to get off from the Island. For that purpose they made overtures to charter the Caroline. These Mr. Wells wholly refused. He got out the boat upon the sole condition, that he should run her upon his own book, charging what he pleased for carriage, and go when and where he pleased. For this purpose he took out regular papers from the U. S. Collector at Buffalo. Subsequently, he submitted the whole case to Mr. Garrow, U. S. Marshal, who decided, that he had violated no law, in the whole transaction.

Mr. Wells was in the Caroline when she was boarded. The only weapon on board was a pocket pistol, in the pocket of Capt. Haggerty, commander of a brig on Lake Erie, which he did not probably know he had, which was not loaded and which there was not powder enough on board to load.

Mr. Wells stood under the deck, when the party from Canada boarded her. At first he supposed that the purpose of the party was simply to take possession of the boat. He had no idea of any other violence, than being turned ashore, until he heard a cry of "no quarters!" and the commencement of the work of death.

He saw Durfee taken from the fire-room, and supposed when the man approached for that purpose, that he was coming for himself. The darkness concealed him, and Durfee was taken instead. There was a scuffle of a few moments, and he saw Durfee no more, until he was lying dead upon the dock. It is the belief of Mr. Wells, that this was the man that killed Durfee, and that it was with a pistol.

On the part of the prosecution, the act of the Caroline being unarmed and unchartered will be fully proved. No man will swear that he saw McLeod shoot Durfee. The one who offered such evidence, proved to be a miserable wretch, who could not tell in what year the Caroline was destroyed, and was advised by the State's Attorney to take the first boat West.

The evidence of those upon the boat in relation to the identity of McLeod, is much less conclusive than of those who swear they saw him go and return with the expedition from the Canada shore.

On the defence, there will be an attempt to prove an alibi—probably an ineffectual one. Some have entirely refused to testify. The testimony of MacNab and others is negative only. They swear they did not see McLeod with the expedition. MacNab swears that he thinks he took a list of the volunteers—is not certain, and is not able to produce it.

We judge, that though a strong case will be made against McLeod, the Jury will not agree upon a verdict. However this may be, the trial is of the highest importance in a national point of view, for it will be shown beyond all further question, that the destruction of the Caroline and the murder of her crew was an outrage not warranted by the character of the boat, and the business in which she was engaged, and wholly indefensible—one for which England should make the most ample reparation. No less clearly will it be shown, that this act was regretted by the officers of the provincial government at that time, and the responsibility taken by the government subsequently only for the purpose of retaining the loyal service of those, who would otherwise be given up to the authorities of this state, to be punished by our laws.

The grounds of difference between the two great nations are daily and hourly growing broader and better defined; the atrocious kidnapping of Col. Grogan, has stirred the whole northern frontier to a flood of mutiny, and there is the strongest necessity for prompt and energetic action, either to maintain peace or prepare for war.

N. Y. Herald.