The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-11-07
THE POWER OF BEAUTY OVER
THE MIND

A young man was indicted and found
guilty before the Recorder Of New Yoh,
for having stabbed lady, Mrs. Cathalle
Morgan, with pen-knifp. He proved 10
| be youth but of twenty -One years of age
| and he was sentenced 10 the Peniientiuy
for three years. The following is his ex-
PLANTATION OF his motives for attempting 50
sangunary an act:
Herenpon the prisoner, young man Of
q or 22, of slender frame, and rather be"
| low the middle stature, rose TO address the
court. His calm and mild. but firm de.
pos tment, his regular countenance, IrfD-
dered little pale by imprisonment, though
luElined by clear and expressive eytsJ
his plain, yet very decent dress and his
youthful appearance, altogether impaired
| much interest to the case. His voice was
clear and distinct, void of all trembling or
embarrassment and, without any of the
0ratOrcai forms and attitudes taught any
where but in natures schOol-witholi any
nf the preparations in position or in speech
and gestures, praClIsrd BY some great ora
tors in courts and congress-he " told his
tale" in n manner far superior to that VI
most of the daily speakers at the bar, both
AS to the matter and language, and tia
judgment displayed in the arrangement Of
the whole. Nor did two or three interup'
lions, by noise In the court, 10 the least
dlscUncert W embarrass him, but when no
could be- heard he resumed his remarks,
aud pursued them with composne which
| showed him capable, in mind and manner,
| Iif in different situation) Of great public
usefulness. Still his address was but bnclp
aud the following is ouy broken sketch
Gifts outlines. He said in substance
81 wish now to tell your Honours that
when first became acquainted with Tho
complainant, Mrs Morgan, she was poor
and in distress, as ii appeared to me-
found her with young and sick child, and
herself in but feeble health, alone ana
without a FREUD or protector. pltled her
Il was pleased with her department, and
c0mmisserated her meek and patient sOr-
row-perhaps | may say, loved her.
wished To assist--tn relieve her--lf possible
TO protect her ; and accordingly every
thing could possibly spare, from my own
subsistence, OUT OF my scanty earnings
gave To her to enable her to sustain her"
self and child aud restore their health. IL
WAS but little, but it was given freely, ano
thought received with sincerity of heart.
Ii helped TO support her--it raised hr'
spIrits-and | continued 10 do every ,hln9
| could for them, till her child died vbfo.
her own health being improved, she c0ua
do more for herself For time she sun
continued to receive my visits ; and ~
true, did press upon her the SUBJECT %
oh l,a AZ q
But on repetition Of my soCitali, 9",,
though she objected that she codn nOI
then marry me, yet she did not discourse
me at all i; but gave me, as then though
and still think, every reason to expect l0a'
one day she would consent. Thus matters
stood for while, during which We had ire
quent walks together, till other COMPANY
or What know not, began to render he'
cool towards me.
"ln this way she ensnared me-ln u''
way was led on from one feeling TO ano'
ther, aud unfortunately was too much e"a.
INQUIRED with what, | find, though y'.
pleasant to reflect upon, may prove NY
bittcrest enemy.* But far has II ever peru
from my thoughts to injure her, unsene.
tously and coldly as she had treated me
though | do not pretend to deny, man.
stabbed er-because, | am not CONSCIOUS
what ! did, or whether did any thug
Ii has been proved here that did STAB l,e' ,,
and presume it must have been 50. D'.
was Jealous of her-I know not but ne'
treatment made me frantic, but here W.
clare, before your honols-before the J"oh1
of all, that am not consoles what a'Ji
Or that | intended to do her any harm
Till rospact hnr thunyh aha has apptaEtf