The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-10-21
From the Hallowell Advocate.
TRIAL TOR MURDER.

supreme judicial Court. OCTOBER Term.
On Tuesday last, came on the trial Of Hurry
WILSON, indicted for the murder Of JOHN
VALENTINE. The Indictme nj contained twol
counts-one setting forth that the murder was
perpetrated by stranghng the other, by beat
ing and stamping on the breast of the deceas-
ed On" not guilty" pleaded, and after the
prisoner had challenged 10 Jurors, MIR. Attor-
ney General FooTE opened the cause, and
proceeded to examine the witnesses on the
part of the State.
II appeared 10 evidence that the deceased,
whose parents reside in Boston, came TO live al
the prisoners house in the summer or fall of
1922, at winch time he appeared 10 be or
years old, and was remarkably healthy and
active. No marks of i'll treatment were OBJ
servsble in the boys appearance, till February
last, when some Of the neighbours remarked
a severe confusion under one of his eyes, APP
pesriDg TO have been occasioned by a blow.
One Of them observed scratches and wounds
on his face and neck, and on examination found
bis back bruised in a cruel manner. TIE skin
was broken in many places, some Of the
wounds we're fresh, others appeared TO have
been inflicted some days previous. Several of
the witnesses had observed similar marks OF i'll
treatment, but in general were unable to state
how they were received. Throughout the
months Of February and March the boy had
every appearance Of being treated with ex-
IRENE cruelty and neglect. He was miserably
clad, and often appeared nearly starved. He
was obliged to 60 without shoes or stockings,
in consequence Of which his feet were badly
frozen. He was often so hungry that he
would devour any thing Of the nature of food,
and on one occasion was seen to eat a mixture
of bran and brickdust that had been prepared
for fowls. The prisoner confessed 10 one Of
the witnesses, that having missed some corn
from poi that was boiling oyer the fire she
accused the boy Of having stolen it, and, on
his denying The charge, seized him by the
throat and choaked him till the corn came out
Of his mouth. She sometimes fastened the
house against hun and obliged him to stand
without in the coolest weather. Some of the
witnesses had seen her beat him-one Of them
saw her knock him down. For month or two
before his death he was observed to be IN
very languishing state, and il appeared TO the
witnesses that he could not exist much longer
under such treatment.
On Saturday the 18th Of April the boy was
missing. The prisoner stated to some Of the
witnesses that be left the house early that
morning, TO carry some old iron to the river,
and that she suspected he was drowned. Search
was made, and his hat found floating among
the ice.
John Stockbridge, who lived with the prison
er, and was uncle TO the boy, stated that he
was absent from home on Thursday the 10th
of April-that he returned in The afternoon,
of Friday, and was informed by the prisoner
that the boy was dead-that he proposed call
ing 10 the neighbonrs-that she told him be
had better not do so, as they had already been
threatened with a prosecution for i'll treat
ment Of the boy, that she had been absent
from the house, and on returning found the
boy lying on the hearth, nearly dead, and that
she tried TO restore him by giving him herb
drink, but to 10 purpose-that he was advised
by the prisoner TO put the body in a sack with
some stones and throw IL into the river, which
he accordingly did on Friday night, throwing
the hat ameng the ice, that il might be suppo- |
sed the boy was drowned.
To show the murderous intentions Of the |
prisoner, il vas proved that she often used me
nacing and opprobrious language in reference
to the boy, such as the following, " If be does |
not die before spring, | will Kill him." "If lie |
had been my own child, would have killed |
him before now" He is not human being,
be i one Of the devils imps. II would be no
more harm to kill him. than TO kill a black
snake. =" II would be doing God service TO
kill him, &c. Sc.-But it also appeared, that
he was in the habit Of using vile language
when in passion.
The cause was managed with great ability
IN both sides. Mr.. Bonn. one Of the counsel !
or the prisoner, contended for her acquittal in
forcible and elegant plea Of considerable
ength, and was followed BY Mr.. ORR in his
usual style Of eloquence. We regret that
want Of room obiges Us TO omit their argu- \
nents entirely, as well as the very able and !
interesting remaks Of the Attorney General |
Aiter an affecting and impressive charge from
9dges WESTON aud MELLES. the Jury retir 1
d, and returned in a short time with verdict /
{ NOT GUILTY"
The trial lasted from eight in the morning till I
bout ten O'Clock al night.