The Sun.
London, England, 1812-03-28 00:00:00

1174 T ERFORD ASST?CS,INIincH 17.

INTERESTING TRIAL FOR MURDER.

Thomas Kennagh, a private in the Coldstream
Guards, was arraigned for the murder of Mary Dog-
herty, on the sth of January last, at Newrath, in
the County of Kilkenny, in the liberties of this
city. This man's. case had excited a considerable
degree of public attention,. and the Court was
crowded to a degree rather uncommon. The pri-
soner is a•remarkably handsome man, of about 30
years of age, of middle size, and of rather a genteel
appearance. He wore the uniform and watch-coat
of his regiment. Upon Coming to the bar he had a
cheerful smiling air, which scarcely forsook him
doting the trial, which time he chiefly passed in
reading a prayer-book. 'When called on to plead,
he answered with a smile, Guilty. The Judge then
requested he would consider well the line of conduct
which he was about, to pursue, and told him, that
however sincere his contrition might be for having
offended egainst the laws, it was more prudent in
him to allow the laws to take their own course in
vindicating themselves, and that he might find that
they were not deficient in mercy. He replied,
with good humour,. mixed with resignation, that he
wanted no mercy " but the mercy of God," and
persisted in his plea. The humane Judge. renewed
his request,and urged it strongly, v< hen the prisoner
withdrew his first plea, and answered Not Guilty.
The only witness called was--
Michael Evelyn, Esq. Coroner, who proved, that
the body of a woman, with several marks of vio-
lence, was found at the period, and in the place
mentioned in the indictment, and that he held an
inquest on the body, by adjournment, from the 7th
to the lath of January. He saw the prisoner after-
wards -in custody in the City Jail. Prisoner, wit h-
cut the least suggestion of hope or fear, acknow-
ledged hiniself to be the murderer, and said that he
gaVe her the first blow with a stick, which Mr.
Evelyn shewed him, and now produced in Court,
and afterwards finished her with a stone. This stick
he had received horn one Munns at Pdltown, at
whose house they had passed the preceding night.
He said she was not his wife, as had at first been
supposed. He first met her in the packet in which
. they came over from Bristol. She induced him to
live with her and to desert, -a tying that she was en-
titled to somei property, which he should have.—
She said she was married to a soldier of the 66th,
who was probably dead. On the day of the murder
he had taken much liquor, and was intoxicated.—
They had quarrelled, and she had used galling words
to him, and threatened to have him arrested as a
deserter. Provoked at being threatened by the ad-
viser of his misconduct, and maddened by liquor, he
struck the fatal blow which led to her murder.—
From that time peace of mind fled, nor did he enjoy'
a moment of relief until he made a full confession
to Mr. Bradshaw, at Carrick. This was the sub-
stance of the prisoner's acknowledgment to Mr. Eve-
lyn in jail, and, Mr. Evelyn declared, that he con-
ceived it to proceed from a heart ttuly contrite, and
guided.by a sincere impression of religion.
Afrer a short charge from his Lordship, the-Jury
retired, and soon after returning with a verdict of
Guilty.
The Foreman, with emotions which did him ho-
nour, begged to represent the feelings of the Jury.
Though bound in duty to bring in the verdict
which he had just handed down., they could scarce-
ly consider this as a premeditated murder. They
would fain make some allowance for the sudden-
ness of the impulse, and they would fain grant
something to his edifying contrition. On these
grounds he begged to recommend the prisoner to
mercy, and had nothing to add, but that the Jury
were unanimous.

The Counsel for the Crown instantly concurred
in the recommendation, and the merciful senti-
ment ran like an eledric fluid through the_ crowded
Court.

The, Hon. Baron GEORGE then addressed the pri-
soner. His case had excited the compassion of the
Caurt and Jury. The unfortunate fad, of which
he had been convicted, appeared irreconcilable with
his former life, and with his demeanour during
trial. His Lordship would transmit the humane
recommendation • of the Jury and the 131 r, as fa-
vourably as truth would allow—more he could not
say. He hoped the prisoner was deserving of a bet-
ter. fate than what the law'compelied him to pro-
nounce. After a short exhortation, his Lordship
proceeded to pass sentence on him in the usual form,
to be executed on Thursday, the 19th in4:t. but im-
mediately after respited hint to Wednesday, the Ist
of April.

The prisoner was scarcely moved at heating his
sentence. His smile, indeed, f9rsook him—but
his countenance was still a picture -ot placid resig-
nation.

HATTON-GAVDES.-Thursday afternoon a num-
ber of shopkeepers were summoned up to this
Office,. at the instance of the Society for the Sup-
pression of Vice, charged with keeping their shops
open, and serving their different articles on the Sab-
bath day, contrary to the Statute. The several wit•
nesses proved the fa&, when the case being substan-
tiated, they were severally convicted in the penalty,
With costs, which they paid.
A person was convided in the penalty of 101. for
haWking and offering for sale at the diffetent shops
hardware, not having a license so to do, which tie.
paid.
On Monday, at twelve o'clock, were executed at
Ipswich, in the presence of an immense number of
spectators, E. Thrower, for the murder of Thomas
and Elizabeth Carter; and John and Elizabeth Smith,
(or the murder of the daughter at the former.—
Thrower confessed himself guilty of many enormi-
ties, but denied all knowledge at the murder laid to
his charge, and affirmed that every thing he had sail
about the same was mere idle talk, and not true.—
Smith and hie wife both confessed their guilt, ac-
knowledging it to have been their intention to de-
stroy all their children, by starving them to death.
Saturday morning, Julien Dubois and Guillaume
Scary, French prisoners of war, fully c4.,ttvi6ted of
the crime of forging and uttering Bank notes, at the
late Winchester assizes, suffered the execution of
the law. A respite was received, on Saturday last,
for Andrew Ferguson, Thomas Cassidy, Manuel
Gomes, Eli Burniugham, LVilliatn Milson, John Ne-
ville, and Win Davies, till further orders.