Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-27

| 10 apprehend that it might be SO managed as
to cause his destruction. i accordingly return
ed to nv inn, more than ever alarmed Tor the
fate Of the young man.
Nor were my fears groundless. visited him
again on the day following, only to ind him
more than ever fixed in his unwlse determlna-
,ion. The syren had cast her spell over him;
and resolution, grounded upon false notions
of honor. received ten-fold strength from her
persuasive Establishments. "All will be well, y
said he. "They cannot, and will not disclose
any thing; anG without some declaration on
our parts, what evidence is against us! And
should the contrary happen, my mind is hrmiy
made up; | will never become an lniormer- -
| 1t was vain TO reason farther with one so COM
petely infatuated, so | Quilted the place with a
heavy heart.
! OF the manner in which he conducted him
self, during the fortnight which INTERVIEWED, be-
tween my last vistand the arrival oil the Judg-
| IS knew nothing. His mother, learned,
who spent the interval in lodging at Maid
! stone, failed as had failed, in inducing him to
save his life by speaking what he knew; and
| the official offer made by the sheriff was reject
ed. Not even when assured, that one OF the
brothers stood ready to accept the mercy which
| he dcsn;sed, could he be persuaded TO alter his
mind; and hence, when | returned, as l was
obliged TO return, to give testimony on his trial,
| his prospects were not in the most remote de-
gree ameliora,ed On the contrary, though
much of the fierce and desperate character
which marked his former demeanor had de-
parted, yet on the single point OF becoming
| Kings evidence, he was still as resou'e as be-
| fore, praying that Heaven would abandon him
in his hour Of greatest need, whenever he a.
bandoned that determination" This was rea-
div accounted for. Not day passed by with
| out his receiving a visit from Harriet, and not
an interview occurred, during which he was not
reminded Of his PROMISE and urged TO keep H.
| AT length the period Of the asslzes came round
and the Judges having gone in procession 10
hear divine service, opensl the court in proper
form for the conduct of public business. The
first day, as usually happens, was spent chiefly
in the arrangement of preliminary matters;
the iuries were called together, the charge de-
li,ered, and bills of indictment brought Tor
ward. On the second day, the cause OF the
smugglers came on. 1t IS probably need
less to observe, that the trial for murder, un'
der any circumstances, never fails 10 excite
great degree Of attention; but III the case
TO be tried today, there were features OF more
than ordinary atroci'y, and the interest" ia
ken in it by the public was fully evinced by the
multitudes which surrounded the Court house
from an early hour in the morning. No soon
er were the doors opened than every bench and
corner was crowded to suffocatlon, Wills; all
who filled them bore upon their counienances
an expression Of he deepest and most painful
anxiety. For rumor Of Wills behaviour had,
BY some means or other, got abroad, and hence
all descriptions Of people appeared to interest
their feelings in his behalf; indeed, there were
not wanting several respectable persons, who
volunteered such advice and assistance as they
had it in their power TO offer. Al the suSges-
ton of one Of these, Mrs Brockman had taken
care, in addition TO the lawyers employed Tor
the prisoners generally, to engage counsel eX-
pressy for her son, whose reputation stood
high. and who certainly merted, in the present
instance, all the praise which could be heaped
upon him.
Such was the state Of affairs, when, in obedi-
ence to 4 message from the Court, entered the
hall, and took my place among the gentlemen
of the bar. For the first minute or two alter
was seated, my brain swan round, and my eyes
danced in their sockets, so that could dIstln-
guish nothing with accuracy. A dense mass OF
objects floated before me,-and hum, like that
IF bees on summers evening, rung IN my ears;
but saw no separate man, nor heard any sepa-
rate or artculare sound. BY and by, however,
nv selfcommand returned, and looked to-
wards the dock,--.it was terrible vision -
There stood the Widows son, hand-cutted, and
bound with chains, between two Of his terocious
comrades Apar, from the res, stood the third,
not chained however like them; but as 1t seem
ed, ready to step from the box TO the witness
box. closed my eyes involuntarlly, and, l
fear cursed him in my heart.
And now, silence being proclaimed, the MUIR
muir Of conversation ceased, and you might have
heard pin drop to the ground, whilst the pro-
per officer proceeded to read the Indictment
IL accused Zacharia Petley, Thomas Petley,
Edward Petley, and William Brockma an, of hav-
ing, during the night Of the 18th Of August last
past, a, a certain place within the parish of St.
Alphase, in the county Of Kent, feloniously,
and with malice prepense, killed and slain Ro-
Der, Sharp, an officer of his MaJesty's customs,
when in the performance OF his duty. A Sc
cond count charged the prisoners with an at
tempt to defraud the revenue by running and
importing cohtraband goods. All against the
peace Of his Majesty the king. "Zachariah
Pe,lev," continued the officer; "arc you guilty,
or not guilty?"-"Not guilty, my lord Tho
mas petley, are you guilty, or not guilly!"-
"Not guilty. "-"Edwara Petley, are you gull
tyr'-'' Not guilty, my iord?"--" William
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