Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-07-01

ers, inprrsuauce Of That statute.
iaoNaS Jch.sioa, You have been indicted
ana tired in this court for rape upOn La
r,aia JoaiS;sa. you have had "a ia,r ,ri.i,
Oy a spectacle and Intelligent jury OF your
own cAoice, who after patient aud alter
i've nearing, and G0o deiiOeraiiOn upon Your
cas-, have pronounced you guilty OF the
charge.
it tas remarked by your coansel on the
ulli, that by uie laws ~ III! nat.oms IN ChTyst-
chdon rirucG eNcepsed) the crime OF
rope Is punished vith death; Iii is an offence
marked ~ the r~Prooat'on aud detestaliUn OF
ak civilized men According 10 the general
sense - feelings OF mdisSiad, distressed and
unprotected lenlie las "a rlght at all times
and cadeg 81. circumstances, J0 cidlm and eN-
pcct protection CT any man who may be in
~ Uouio 2SOri It, against violent and for
Die attempts upon her personit no such
,p.', evurh As At hand, the only hope of escape
= appeal 10 the humanity and honorable
feelings OF ker asSailant. That laau who
coEj resist suvn an appeal, aud proceed TO
lis aDoMlnabie purpOse Dy force and violence,
aSaiasta female in tears, begging and be-
>cecnius INN "a have mercy on her, 10 take
10y oi hci Wta>i'2sS. di~ her innocence, is
monster Al human shape, possessing the form
""d Inquire, Without The heart and feelings
gvmMUu 10 man.
Sat yours not an ordinary raoe, IL was
pcipstrated Under circumstances of the most
unusual 1Ed extraordinary character, such as
have OcCn Ncry seldom, ii ever, submitted to
tht consideration of i court and jury. The
I
fhan child she is Your daughter. aud YOU
the UnN parent she had To look up to, Tor adj
Wee aud protection, The most sacred aud so.
Tenn Obligation was imposed upon Won. 10
biog mp jhlS Guild "a the paths OF innocence,
b teach her iessouS of morality and virtue,
and TO bsher faithful adviser, guardian and
pr te ,or through LIE. How have You failed
lin the discharge o! those duties! Not simply
n neglect and om!sSiJn; but YOU became her
worst enemy, STRIVING to corrupt her morals,
To persuade her to the COMMISSION Of an act
calculated to blast her character, and DESTROY
her peace OF mind for eyer-wlen she could
lOt be induced by the persuasion. or the
stem command OF parent 10 submit to dis
grace and pollution so foul and unnatural
II seems that force aud violence was resort
cd tn, al d time When She was begging and
entreaiig yOar pIt> and your mercy calling
upon You by the tender appellation of pa
rent, IN hopes ny thus reminding YOU of The
existing ties 81 nature, To soften your most
oidniate heart, and 10 avert the calamity
but all resistance, ali appeals to the heart and
feei!ng. were made an vain, and You triumph
Ell over the Innocence and weakness of yCur i,
own child. Dy threats of pntting her TO death
III case OF disclosure, Your offence was for
long time concealed, and during dat time Of
ten repeated. Such Is the history of tie trans
action as given by your daughter under oath :;
to her evidence the Jury have given full Gre
at, and in SO dong, us | think, decided cor
rcctiX.
The developement of acts so cruel. inhu
man, and unnatural, so contrary TO the laws of
nature, the laws ot the land, and the laws Of
heaven, excite feelings of the utmost horror dis
gust and establishment They present one of
the most extraordinary, unnatural, and melaiI-
choly Instances of the ,!epravity OF human ma
tnre thlt has perhaps ever occurred in the
commonwealth. 1t is believed To have no
parallel IA tlic annals of our judicial proceed
ngs. The leuily of our law, in its appca-
non 10 this case, must he acknowledged TO
be very great indeed, in permitting any 9TH
er punishment than death, under such circum-
stances
1t has b cen proved that you protested to
believe ia future state of rewards and pun
lShmcntS and occasionally, with your daught-
erS, bowed yourself down, and offered up
prayers am suppiicatious to heaven for mer-
cy and protection. 1T so, if you believe, (as
we are all taught 10 beieye,) that at some tlI-
. ture time, we shall all stand at the bar of e.
teTnal justice 10 receive Judgment according
to deeds done i'll this life, il becomes Won TO
make speedy preparation for that awful trial!
by sincere repentance, aud fervent pray.
ers and supplica,ons for mercy, to endcavor
10 ake Your Ieace, O. tam for.iyeuess ard
reconciliation, 10 the favor of the supreme
being, against whose divine laws YOU have
So highly ofcn edit only remains for me
to pronounce tne Judgment of the law That
you he taken 10 The place from whence YOU
came, and from thence TO the public ial or
Pemtentary House, near the City of Rich
ii0nd and be there confined at hard Iabour
IWENTY-oNE YEARS, one half OF which time you
are to in the Soitar. cells.