Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-15
~xAN DTEMEN's D.-cANNIBALIsM

TRIAL OF ALEXANDER PIERCE,
A Convict, arrived in Van Diemens Land Oh
board the ship Castle Forbes, Feb. %, 1920 for
the Murder of Thomas Cox, whom he nut to
death, aud cut up to exist upon.
lBcfore Chief Justice Pedder, -Nonday, Ju,,e 14A
Alexander Pierce, i convict, was arraignei
70; the murder OF fellow prisoner named Tho
mas Cox, at or near Kings River, in the month
ii November last, and he pleaded--Not Guilty.
The circumstances which were understood
to have accompanied the above crime, had long
been considered with extreme horror. Report
had associated the prisoner with caunibais; and
recollecting as we did the vampire legends of
modern Greece, we confess, that on this occa
sl9a, our eyes glanced III fearfulness at the be-
ing who stood before retributiye Judge, laden
win the weight OF human blood and believed
10 nave banquetted OH human flesh, Ii was
therefore, with much satisfaction we heard his
Maesty's Attorney General, whilst candidlv
opening his case Tor the prosecution, eutreat
the Jury 10 dismiss from their minds all previous
impressions Against the prisoner; as, however
justly their hearts must eXecratc the fell enor
miles imputed To bun, they should duteou.Iv
Judge mn not by runoius, but by indubitabEc
evidence. The Learned Gentleman then prc
cc"dcd 10 det3Ii certain confessions made by the
pn4Oner. before the late much iamented ion
tenant uthbcrt5on (COmmandant AT Mac
quaiIe tlarpOur) and at ms examination hy the
Rev. Robert ku"p,g oud-c confessions which
although IN some respects inconsistent, ,yould
yet, when coupled with all the facts, merit the
most serious attention. From them it appear
ed, that, other evidence would prove, the
prisoner and the deceased on the 9Th Noyem-
Der, absconded from their duty into the woods
each of them taking his axe, and the prisoner
being heavily ironed; that they for several DAYS
wandered on without provisions, and, educed
by weakness, until, on the following Sunda,
evening, the deceased and prisoner arrived at
Eing's RIVER; quarrel then arose because the
deceased could not swim. and after the prisoner
had struck him on the head three or four times
with his axe, tue deceased seeing him about TO 90
away (bls irons having been knocked off, said
In faint voice, ''for mercy's sake come back
and put me out Of my misery!n Prisoner struck
him fourth blow, which immediately caused
death; he then cut piece of one thigh, which
he roasted and ate; and, after putting another
piece IN his pocket, he swan across the river
with an intent to reach Port DalrynpIe soon,
afterwards, however he became so oyerwheIm-
cd with the agouies Of remorse, that lie was con-
strained to recToss the river, ADD on seeing
schooner under weigh from the settlement, he
made signal Ere, which, on being seen, indu-
Ced the pilot boat to put Off and take him on
board.-lte was then conveyed to the harbour
where he publicly owned the murder and said
che was willing to die for IT." The attorney
general concluded thrilling tale Of almost in.
credible barbarity.
The facts were proved by witnesses; the jury
found verdict of Guilty; and the learned Judge
who appeared much affected from the dreadful
relation so horribly ,el forth in evidence. and
confession, the case being too inhuman to com.
mcnt upon urged the miserable culprit to pre-
pare himself TO appear before that tribunal
where mercy NAV be obtained.
The following Monday, June q, was named
tor tho execution 10 take place, and on SuDda
morning al The convict service. at nine o'clock.
ar rroatc sermon was preached bv the Rev.
#n Bedford. Tho whole Of the convicts iu|
am near ilOb7ft own were ordered to church,
upon the occasion.
~ he following IS his confession. made first to
VI Birder and repeated.iu substance at the
riace of execution.