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


The'iury did not withdraw; but consulted to-
eether for perhaps ten minutes, in their box
During tina, interval, the court was as still, ex-
cept when its stiffness was interrupted by their
whispers, as if life had departed from all with
in it. Once, and once only, the chain upon
Brockman's legs ratified, as he resumed his for
mer positions; aud the sound went TO my heart
like tina, of his death-knell. l looked at him.
He was pale as corpse, but It was not the pale
ness of guilt; for not nerve shock, nor did
muscle invountariy culver AT last the lore
man addressed the Judge, and told him that
they had made up their minds.
"And what is your verdict, gentlemen Of the
iury?"
"Tha, Zachariah Petey, and Edward Petley
are not guilty on the first count, but guilty on
the second; that William BrocknIan is guilty on
both"
she is not guilty" again shreked out his
mother, as she wildly rose from her seat. "Oh,
mercy, mercy, my lord Judge. spare the life of
the widows son--her guiltcss, excelien! son!
Oh, mercy, mercy" She could utter 10 more.
Her senses forsook her, and she was Carried IN
that stale from the court.
Brockman heard the verdict unmoved. He
made forward spring when his mother tainted,
and seemed TO curse the chains that kept him
back; but he recovered his self command again
as soon as she hal been borne out, and calmly
awaited his sentence. For myself, started up,
and needless of forms, implored the Judge to
spare him, pledging my credit that he could
not be guilty, and that his bare assertion was
Infinitely more to be relied upon than the oath
Of the person on whose testimony he had been
convicted. The Judge, who was mild man,
heard me out, but could not receive my tesii-
monv. "You may employ these arguments,
said he, ain petition 10 the throne, which l
shall certainly forward, if you present it. But
mus, tell you plainly, thar | see no grounds
on which any petition can be got up; far less
can il be expected to avail in saving the lte oil
a man convicted, as the prisoner has been con-
yicted, Of murder"
could do no more, so I sat down in state
of utter despondency,to watch the conclusion OF
the scene "Zachariah and Edward Petley,'
said his orlship, addressing himself to the
dock, "you have both been convicted OF vlolat-
ing the laws OF your country, by dctrandng his
maiesty's revenue. What makes the crime
more heinous in your case is, that you appear
to have carried fire arms about your persons
when engaged in your ncfarous occupation; and
in what way those arms were meant to be used,
is hardly to be considered question. The i'm
mediate consequence OF your being armed, IN
deed. has been, that the life Of felow-creature
has been sacrificed; and though he died not
Immediately by your hands, you can hardly be
acquitted by your own coDsciences OF some
share in the blame attaching to this murder.-
taking all these matters into consideration. the
sentence Of the court is, that you, Zacharlah,
be transD ported beyond the seas for the term OF
seven wears, whilst you, Edward, be transported
for the term of your natural lite.-And now,
William B.ockman," continued the Judge,
whilst at the same time he put on the black
cap, ga more Distressing task awaits me with
respect TO YOU. Of your character previous to
this business the court knows nothing, and can
know nothing officially; but ii has been said OF
YOU, that the time is not very remote when you
were accounted a credit to yourself and 10 your
connexions. | would to God you had always
continued such, for then the painful duty would
not have been imposed upon me, OF passing
upon you the last dreadful sentence which the
law awards. In your case, the sentence OF the
court is, that you be taken from the place where
YOU stand to the Jail, and from thence 10 the
place Of execution, and that you be hanged by
the neck till you be dead, and your body given
for dissection; and may God have mercy on
your soul | can hold out to you no hope of
mercy from man, and therefore advise you 10
make your peace with Heaven. But as your
friends seem anxious to petition the throne in
your favor, | will appoint as distant day for
your execution as is consistent with proprie:y.
You shall suffer on Wednesday next"
Whilst others sat as if frozen with horror,
Brockman alone seemed calm and unruMed.-
"My Lord" said he, 81 thank you for your good
will, but have no hope that it will avail me.
Indeed, hardly desire it. My character is
blasted, and have no wish to survive it; but
am nnocent-innocent Of the crime laid to my
charge. | have been led astray by misplaced
passion, and betrayed by false friends. The man
who did the deed stands here" laying his hand
upon the shoulder Of Edward Petley, who abso-
lutely shrunk beneath his touch. "And there"
pointing to Thomas, sis he who aided ham.
This wound holding up his right hand, 81 re-
ceived in striving to protect the man whom
one brother had smitten down, from the fury of
the Other, and as to the knife found in the
grave, it is thus accounted for. We exchanged
knives whilst at sea; and here is that for which
bar;ered mine. But it matters not, | shall
suffer; and as l hope 10 be forgiven when
stand before the throne ofmy Maker, so do l
freely forgive my murderers.
It's impossible to describe the effect produc.
ed BY this speech, and by the holding up Of a
seaman's knife in the hand of the prisoner, bear