Star.
London, England, 1830-09-15 00:00:00

TRIAL OF HENDERSON.

From the rife Herald.
The trial of Henderson came on yesterday (Wednesday) about eleven
o'clock. When brought to the bar his appearance was perfectly col.
lected, and he seemed altogether unconscious, except by a slight flush
in his countenance, of any thing singular in his situation, or in the feel.
ings of the spectators towards him. His countenance appears to wear a
certain habitual complacency, which did not forsake him in the situa-
tion in which he was placed. He has a certain weakness in his eyes,
which seems to prevent him from keeping them sufficiently open; and
gives his physiognomy a peculiar appearance. He heard the most
agitating parts of the evidence against him with apparent calmness ;
and whenever it was requited that he should be identified by any
of the witnesses he rose readily, with an appearance even of courtesy
and attention to the wishes of the Court, which was sufficiently
I striking.
The jury were absent about five minutes, when they returned into
Court, and delivered by their chancellor, Ale. Pitcairn, of Pitcairn, the
following verdict :
The jury is unanimously of opinion, that the prisoner, John Hen-
demon, is guilty of the three charges—theft—forgery—and murder—as
libelled.

It was exactly twelve o'clock at night when judgment was passed.
Lord Mackenzie said, that a very painful duty now devolved on the
Court. All the three crimes charged against the prisoner were of such
a nature, that any of them might have been followed by a capital pu-
nishment, but for that of murder no punishment but one was awarded
by the laws of GOD or man. He was unwilling to dwell on the aggra-
vated nature of this crime; yet he could not avoid stating that the pre-
sent case was a dreadful one. An unfortunate man was basely and
cruelly murdered by an assassin, while sitting at his own honest trade;
and that by his companion, and his only companion—one who was
bound rather to defend him, even at the risk of his life, had that been
required. The crime, too, was committed for the sake of base lucre;
and the determination to attain that end was followed up with a degree
of coolness and perseverance unexampled. Considering these aggra.
rated circumstances, his Lordship could propose nothing else as punish-
ment than that he should suffer death, with all the aggravations directed
by the statute in such cues. The execution of this sentence he pro.
posed to be carried into effect at the county town of Cupar, on the 30th
day of September.
Lord Meadowbank proceeded to pass sentence. Prisoner, be
after a very long and patient trial, a Jury of your country has declared
you guilty of [three crimes ; one of these Is the most aggravated of
which a human being can be guilty. Our Maker has declared, in let.
ten of fire, " Thou shalt do no murder ;" yet in the face of Aug com-
mand from the GOD before whom you must shortly appear, under cir-
cumstances of cruelty and dire barbarity, have you perpetrated that
crime, and that crime must now be followed by the fearful punishment
which is justly awarded to it. It is quite in vain for you to expect that
the sentence of the law will not be carried into certain execution.

The Lords Meadowbank and Mackenzie do therefore decern and de-
cree that you, John Henderson, be taken from the bar to the gaol of
Perth, there to be fed on bread and water ; and with all convenient
speed thereafter, that you be transmitted by the Sheriffs of Perth and
Fife shires to the county gaol of Cupar, there to be fed on bread and
water until the 30th day of September, in this present year ; and that
on that day, between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, and at
such place as the Magistrates shall direct, you be hanged by the neck,
by the common hangman, till you be dead, and that your body be then
given for dissection. And now may the Lord Almighty have mercy on
your soul.
After these awful words the prisoner was removed from the bar. He
stood collectedly while sentence was pronounced.