Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-12-12
From the Nev-York Commercial Advertiser.

Mss, senior Justice OF the Supreme
Court Of this state, on Joseph Mason, who
had been tried on an indictment Tor the
killing OF William Farrell. We republish
it from the report Of the trial, that our
readers may see what principles and seu-
timents mark the Judicial conduct OF this
able expounder oil the laws of the land ;
and because we wish TO pay just tribute
of respect 10 the comprehensive mind and
Christian feeling ofthis enlightened Judge.
Thursday, july l3th, The prisoner re-
ceived The following Sentence.
Joseph Mason, you were Indicted for
the murder of William Farrell; aud. after
a careful examination OF the facts and
circumstances, which attended the killing
Of this man, the prosecution Tor murder
was, in some siesses, abandoned. and The
jury have convicted you Of the crime oil
maoslaughter. You have great reason TO
be thankful that you have so easily got
rid Of that part of the charge.
Notwithstanding the impeachment OF
the character OF Morgan, one OF the vii.
nesses against you, have reasoo to be-
lieve that Morgan's testimony WAS true;
and have reason to believe it from insor
nation subsequently received, that his
testimony would have been supported by
another witness, is that witness had mol
found that he stood alone. IL his testimo-
ny were true, which would have been
Supported by Johnson's, instead oil now
being placed here 10 receive this judgment,
you would have been sentenced for public
execution. Your life would have been
forfeited TO the laws OF your country.
For these reasons it is, that you have
cause to be thankful that you have come |
off as well as you have You have shed
human blood. You have probably sent
10 eternity, unprepared aud unexpectedly
an unforgiven man. You have hurried |
him before the jndgment-seat Of his Maker, |
under circumstances which ought TO make /
you shudder during your remaining life.
You have been brought up 10 Christian +
country, aud take it for granted, tina
you have heard, although you may not
have believed, that there is a future state /
of rewards and pnnishments after death:
and j presume you have no doubts, that
after death, there is judgment: If you
have, fear You will find it the case when
it is too late. Recolleet, that when you
and | shall appear at the judgment seat Of
God, 10 that world which is to come, !
your sins will be unsolded TO you, and the |
killing and murder OF Farrell, will be
written 10 characters OF blood on the
eternal records of remembrance then you |
must appear before your God to render |
an account for terminating the existence
OF this man. Are you prepared TO meet
such judgment as is presented to your
view? IL you are not, is it not time Tor
you to begin to reaec,2 Is it not time
that your heart should be subdued, aud
that you begin to live life of holiness,
and eudeavor to be forgiven for this great
est Of offences, which one man can COMM,
against another; aud Cor which offence
the residue Of your life, in all human
probability, must be spent in solitude,
wrelchedness and misery. However hard
your heart may be, and. however scared
your conscience may have become, there
is a time coming, when, though against
your will, that conscience will accuse
you. Now you are TO be made as wretch
ed as it is possible for man to be. Yon
are to be confined, your food is 10 be scan
ty, and you are to labor hard, through
the remaining part Of your life. You are
to be sundered from all your kindred.
Your wife will be your wife no more
You are to be separated from those little
enes to whom you have given existence,
and who are looking up to father for
support and protection, and to whom you
are bound by every tender aud affection
ate tie. IL ever being ought TO feel,
you are that man. 10 the opening Of the
spring you are no longer to be cheered
by its enlivening verdure. When the
harvest is come, you are no longer TO be
the reaper or the husbandman. When the
autumn is come, and your little ones shall
be gathered around their mother, your
paternai eye shall not behold the Lowell,
group. During the season of winter,
when your friends and relations are sur
rounded with comfort, you will be fsozen
and dead to every human enjoyment.
The beauties of nature shall no longer
delight your eye. You are to be shat
out from all earthly enjoymeuts; ant
your prospects Of futurity must indeed be
gloomy, as you look forward TO that here
after when yon are to appear before your
God, stained with the blood Of that MAJ
who gave you btA a little offence. You
ought to shudder when yo,hreflect on your
present situation. After al, let me speak
a, word Of hope. and consolation. You
are great sinner, but at the same time,
shere is Redeemer who has diedfor You
as well as others. Though your sins be