Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-08
BY THE STEAM BOAT.


be admitted as witness. In the course of
his remarks he observed:
From the evidence before the courtv il ap-
Peared that Strang, the principal in this case,
mednfv0d the murder he committed, for the
space of six months; that he had an illicit in
tercourse with the prisoner at the bar; that he
had expressed himself determined to have her
if it cost him his life, and proposed TO take her
with him TO Canada he Is a man OF a bout 80
years of age, not deficient in experiences; on
the contrary, artful and deceptive, passing him
self off as an unmarried man, and under a false
and assumed name. The charac cter in which
he appears before The court as 10, his partici-
patton in the crime which has been commit
ted is not that Of a technical, but of a real
prncipal-not as an instrument used by the
prisoner TO get rid Of her husband, but as the
seducer of the prisoner to obtain posse ssion of
her person and property. The prisoner at the
bar appears as young woman, now about rs
years of age, married. at the early age of ID or
I to her late husband possessed Of propertyto
n considerable amount; of a chara cter light,
frivolous, weak, vain, mprudent and wicked,
and guilty to certain extent; fit instrument
in the hands of designing man but destitute
of those qualities which might be supposed to
have swayed the mind or controlled the ac-
tions of the person with whom she had had an
Illicit intercourse. Had the case been revers-
ed, and she presented woman of expert
ence, Of strength of mind and energy of char
actcr, who had lived unhappily with her hus-
band, and expressed determination to get rid
of him who had selected as her paramour q
youth of nexperience, and by the seductons
Of her person and her fortune had induced him
to- commit the murder, in the exercise of their
discretion the court would not have hesItated
10 admit him as a witness, and on full dis
closure of the facts, TO have recomm ended him
TO mercy.
This case, however, rests on very different
grounds; and the court must now say whether
public policy and the advancement of Justice
requires that Strang the principal, shall be ad-
mtted to testify TO produce the conviction of
the accused At the hazard Of emitting him to
pardon from the punishment which awaits
him for the crime he has committed. If he is
admitted and makes full disclosure, whether
the prisoner is convicted or not, he has an
equitable title to the interposion ofthe court,
which upon their oaths they are bound to al
low: il viii not then be matter Of discretion
with them, bat ground Of claim, which will
be irresistible; and to recommend him to mer-
cy is not what the court feel disposed to do.
The conclusion, therefore, is, that Jesse Strang
cannot be admitted as a witncss.''
After this decision, the District Attorney
observed, that he should abandon the prosecu-
ton. unless Strang was admitted rs a witness.
After few remarks from the Judge and coun-
sci, the case was submitted TO the jury, who
returned verdict Of NOT GUILTY, without
leaving their seats.
STRANG's SENTENCE. Al half past nine
o'clock on Saturday morning, Strang was con-
Quoted INTO court. He came in between two
consta bles, his head inclined forward his ewes
downcosi, and his whole appearance indicating
a sense of guilt, and the apprehension Of pun
ishment. He had been sustained hitherto
probably by the excitement of the occasion; by
possible lapses in the testimony; and by the
prospect of appearing as witness against
Mrs. Whipple: But the decision Of the court
which excluded his testimony, and the abrupt
termination Of the trial, in the acquttal Of
Mrs. W. had removed any unreal expectation
that had been nduged in, and with them had
flown all the previous assumptions Of conf
dence and compOsure. He was much ag-
itated, and wep' aloud. During the interval
between tho coming in Of the court, and the
passing of the sentence, the prisoner sat lean
ing forward upon the table, frequently weep
ing and applying a bandkerchefto his face.
At eleven O'Clock, the district attorney
said now move for sentence Of the court, in
pursuance Of the verdict against Jesse Strang.
Judge Duer addressed the criminal IN an ap-
propriate manner; stating, that from respect
for the feelings of his aged and respectable
parents, which had been so deeply lacerated
by his crimes and misconduct, his body would
not be delivered over to the surgeons for dis
section, but would be given into their charge
for burial; and concluded with the following
sentence:
That you, Jesse Strang, be taken hence to
the place from whence you came, and there
remain in the custody of the sheriff, until Fri
day, the 24th day of .August ms stant; and be
then taken thence by the said sheriff to some
convenient pla ce, and there, between the hours
of IL at noon and o'clock in the afternoon,
be hung BY the neck until you are dead: And
may God, your Creator, God your Redeemer,
and God, your Sanctifier, have mercy on your
soul!
The court and auditory were sensibly affect
ed; and the prisoner seemed to feel the sol
emnities of a moment awful in reference to
himself The large concourse of spectators
then retired; and at proper time the prisoner
was re-conveyed TO prison.
The Hon. VIM. B. Rochester, late Secretary
to the Commissioners at the Ta cubaya Congress-
arrived at his residence in Rochester, NJ Y. on
the 9th ult.
Important Report. The schr. Elizabeth,
Capt. Frisbic, arrived at Baltimore on Satur-
dhy morning, III lZ dayS from ~. Ihomas-
Capt. F. states, that before he sailed, the brig
Edward, Capt Davis, arrived there from Per-
nambuco, having left on the first Of June, and
reported from Mr.. Mansfield, the American
Consul at Pernambuco, that Peace had been
concluded bcfpeen Buenos ayres and the
BrazHs. tCapt. Bertram, at Salem, from Per-
nambuco, and who relates a capture by Bue-
nos Ayrean privateer in sight Of Pernambuco-
on the 18th of June, makes no mention Of the
above. There is, therefore, good treason to