The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-08
CONTAMINATION.

courthouse, Va. last week, VIM r. H"oe
MAS srnfrnced tn be hung Oh Monday lht
Soih da, of June, on account OF "ilif'J
murder which he committed some tim.
sinc-, upon WIN. Simpson, negro tr ade'
from North Carolina then robbi < him oi
snn. Of money. The particulars of thl'
horrible Transaction our readers Will recol-
let, We published Ii months ago--its az
grasated character finds only parallel l..
the annals Of crime in our country, ~ the
case of Drsha, in Kentucky.
The prisoner has been nndera extra
guard ever since his apprehension, and W.
understand that it was doubled after sen
tence was pronounced upon hun, with the
additional So, nrity of lrons.
He was convicted entirely upon circum
stsnIiai te,tmony-but 50 convincing as 10
leave not The remotest hope Of his pardon
by the Governor,
The prisoner is said to have conducted
himself with the utmost resolution evin-
eng very little agitation until the verdict 0t
tn" jury was pronounced.
Much difficulty occurred in obtaining
Jurors who had not formed then minds a
10 the guilt of the prisoner.
The jury made up their verdict in aye
minutes after retiing--but to avoid an
imputation of precipItancy did not return
INTO cou, for near half an hour.
The trial lasted from Monday the 2ad,
till Friday night.
An Indictment was found against the
pris0ne, at thu last May term. bot at his
own quest, his trial was postponed t" the
next term: aud then unavoldably protr act
ID 10 tn. present period III consequence III
hr severe indisposition of Judge Dade.
Council for the prisoner--Thos. Swami,
Thompson F. Mason, T. w. Hewitt aud
John VI. McCarty.
Council on the part of the prosecution
John Gibson lattnroey of the common
wealth, X. Ii. Henderson, aud Nathaniel
Tyler.
Since the above was in type, Mr.. Noss,
clerk of The court, has politely favored rs
with Judge Dade's address 10 the prisoner,
which follows
Prisoner! If, on this sad occasion, | could
hope that any thing gnt say to you.
would turn your thoughts into better
channel than that in which they have too
long flowed, this last duty would be- dis
charged With less painful sensblllty: but
when advert IN the circumstances under
which your dismal crime was conceived
and psrpetrated, an MT sangulne IN such
exppct ation. Born 10 the inheritance of
an ancient aud nnspnttrd namr--'n the en-
joymt nj of youth, health, and a fair cha
racte"--the road 10 independence, aud e.
ven honor i,y oprs before you: and the
tx,nple of nduy of our arqualntances
mig 3t have encouraged you To become "A
ste dy traveller in those paths. But ynu
have chosen to wander from them: fon
nave folio ed the coulsrl- oi evil passions:
you have sowed thu VIVID. and you have
rraprd The whirl"ind;" you have sowcd
lnlquity and c,imr, and you will have reap
ed remorse, iufa ny, and death. Painful, al
all times, is the spectacle of the highest
sacrifice To thu ia"s of the country Bnt
when the victim is young, just entelipg up
ON thr career # life, al that stage of eXls-
tence WHEN the hes, feelings of the heart
IRE most vivid, and the inspirations of hope
aud ne,olrnce the most warm and Ant
euth ime, To behold the place
of these klnd md generous emotions uspr-
ped b, the fell Vaccinations of gray haired
nd disciplined depr sity--slckens the
heart, aud we turn from its contemplation
with M" and Illuminating reflections, ON
he fatal stamp which sin has impressed on
orr nature. 18th yDu, the glass is nearly
run out: the lamp OF HE is hlckering in its
socket; and the hour is at hand, when the
limits which separate time and eternity, are
To be- passed Indulge, then, no vain hopes
which have their foundation in this world,
Cheat not Yourself with th- deIushe ina
that any rarthl1 power will inter
pose between you and 10. fate which i'm
ponds over you. But rather seek pardon
fro Il higher source, where il may even
yet he granted Appeal with earnettnrss
In that Power whose dearest attribute is |
mrr' ) who can wash The foups, sinner
!" hte who is omnipolent TO save. Con
sole yourself with the reflection that the |
r'sentments of an injured community can
not W0ufd not pursue you beyond the +,
grave: that although. at ,onr time of life, |
It is hard TO tar ones self from the antici- |
palrd enioym.nts of the world. yet age
night prove them lllnsory that there
are many whose lives have been passed
Without criminality, and whose heads have
been "hlteoed by time, who have h. d FREE
qnent occasion to deplore that death had
net snafched them away in youth, befOe
disease, and disappointment, and sorrow,
bad left nothing but drrgs in their cop
ct there is terrible hour to be passed
and it is my SOLEMN 1nry to announce that
aour-To award Tat Judgment in the ex-
Pcu''on of which your offence against the
institutions and safety of society is to be
expiated.
You are, then, remanded to jail-thpre
IN remain in close custody, until the sOth
day OF next June, on which day, between
the hours of eleven in the forenonn, and
tour IN the afternoon, you are to be taken
L.