The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-04-26

sentenGe .slay.-- rhe yea business u thc
court is, TO a strange aud philanthropist,
highly interesting. The FIRST thing IS 'fhe
discharges" Fifty orsiAty miserable wretch
es are called up AMI ranged outside OF the
bar, without any regard to sex, age or color
here a thick-lipped African, there pallid
prostitute, in tadedsplendor; there sturdy
vagrant, with hlar ike tallow candles, and
trow sers that disdiin their office; next
greyheaded culprit trying to hide his inta-
my behind the brawny shoulders OF WICK
ed looking ruffian ofnineteen with copious
sprnkling of negre wenches, exhibiting
curious specimen of he strange company IN
to which vice and misery bring their VIC
TINS. This gang is then discharged by
proclamation, and they vanish III an instant.
| Then come the persons convicted of ttie
more serious crimes. They arc brought up
in pairs, and the Recorder very briefly re-
capitulates their offence, and pronounces
their sentence. Occasionally the unhappy
culprits make an appeal to the mercy OF the
court. On Saturday there were two lhstan-
ces where the prisoners appealed very pow
erfully and atEectingly to the humanity OF the
Jldge. The first was young and good
looking Irishman, who had pleaded "gnilty"
money by means OF forged drat. upon the
| North River Bank. lie admitted his crime,
and gave short history of his life, as ground
for asking some modification of his sentence.
He had been about year in the country,
and had exhausted all his means in vain
attempt to obtain some permanent employ.
ri family in Ireland was respectable, and
his own character had hitherto been unim-
peachcd. II know" said he, "that in my
country. such a crime would have been eX-
plated with my death. ask no mitigation
OF nv sentence here, deserve to be pun
ished, and | submit. But do not--oh do
I not send me to niingle with the wckedness
and proiligacy Of the common prison, as my
principles aud my heart are untainted. and
] would be spared the temptations and the
poutions Of such ycons communion. Put
me in solitary confinement; send me to death;
! be let me shot at once, SO that my name may
never more be heard of. and my family and
friends may be spared the story OF my
shame." but justice was inexorable, and
the poor fellow was sentenced to seven years
ha.tl labor il the state prison. The other
was case Of still greater intcr,t.
A we'll dressed, Well educated. aud well
bern young man was placed ct the bar, cott-
yictetl oshaving been engaged with two boYS
ia the commission Of some petty felony. His
{ address to theFcourt was long vehement, pa
thesic and eloquent He very ski!flliy re-
viewed the evidence, and the examined facts
which appeared against him with the vain
hope Of obtaing a new trial, and then pray
ed the lent, Of the court on the ground q
I his misfortuncs and his sutlerinEs. lie stat
ed that he was actually the plaintiff in .
chanccry suit against his brother-in-law ioi
5..t
the sum Of gil, Geo, aud that his aged moth
; er had been dragged from his arms and col-
fined in mad house. Ills address was eX-
tremviy we'll worled, and was very impress
lively delivered. 1t eyinced large share d
talents The court, however, was deal tc
his ntreaties, and sentenced him to three
wears in the state prison. It seems he ha!
already been there. Fer one female, we irl
no little anxiety She was an Irshwoman
neatty dressed, Of very respectable appear
ance, aged a. and tie mother of s children
i The children are At Boston, and her hus
: band "a sailnr) is hourly expected from sea
f 1t appeared that this woman obtained stu
0 alton as a servant in one of those vile recep
tacles of sin which are permitted to eXis
. even in the respectable streets Of our CITY,
: As soon as She discovered the character o
the place. She wished 10 quit it, bat her mis-
!, treSs refused to pay hei wages. The poo
y woman then took some articles Of furniture
. as security TIL She would get her money
" This was her ciiHt, and the recorder il
passing sentence, save her strong hopes {
. speedy pardon from the governor On
tall Eaunt Iiiberninn amused us q rreat deal
. He was sentenced to SIX months hard labo
c in the penitentiarv.--" Could not your excel
o lency", said he in perfect sincerity, "contriv
Z to alter it to three months i'll one Of til
a states vessels"
II