Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-13
From Rlack,roOd's iHGgasine for Harch.
FIRST AND LAST CRIME.
JAMES MORLEY, THE MURDERER.


read myse.! Described in every newspaper. Inus
I.m designated, by every tongue that speak, OF
met And MANY are those who have already
made the appointment TO be up betimes, and
90 10 MoyLey's erecuti0ni The execution OF Nor
lev the murderer. Yrs-it would become me
well, 10 let the haugman play The dog with mt;
rude rabble ga'her round my scattoidj and
hear,less world amuse itself, an hour perhaps
WI, n the Newgate history ofmy words, my cons
duct. nav, nv very looks, from my hrst mo
rneni in condemned cell, to my last, under the
gibbe,, IL is not death fear: bu, what do
fear, worse than ten thousand deaths, and wha'
have no spirit In me TO sustain, is Inc Inaieiac
ror-rxhibt,ion Of myself. These hands bound
with cords-the arms ignominlousy fastened
"a vile halter round my neck-and the leading
forth TO public exec u,ion! Oh! 'hese prepare,
lions. and these adjuncts are dreadful! look
INFO mvs.f and find have less forttude 20 go
through such aNscene. than should have rrso-
luton to escape IL, OF only tina, escape were lei
me J bv dashing out my brains sgainsi the walls
Of nv prison.
sWhy then, should undergo IN" mockery OF
trial? WHY stand at the bar OF justice. to hear
myself arraigned-to endure the public gaze
listen to wei, turned periods Of trlte horror at
nv crime-and hear Others tell ho,c iperpe'rat'
ed il? And wlen twelve men shall gravely
pronounce | an a murderer, to receive judicial
rtrnce, with a solemn exhortation 10 prepare
10, Ions Hc.th; Add the orthodox appendast,
,ha, !, '2,r duly penitent, for the remaining
sixty hours anu permitted TO breathe, my soul
may find heaven, while the surgeons are scrap
imp nv bones 20 make skeleton tor their mus
scum OF curlosi,irs
Yet, even 20 this ordeal would snbm" wee
il thus only the world could learn by what d
\ har. rIpyp ~
But il is no, so: for that which living ears might
have listened To IN my defence, hVing eyes Can
read after my death
81 was the younges, child Of three; but before
had attained my tenth year, was IN only one
had ALWAYS been the favourite Of both my pa
rents and now was their idol. They hung
upon my existence, as d shipwrecked mariner
ciings TO the last Coating fragmen, OF the gal>
liant bark that bore him; they lived, hut while
they held by me, in the rough tosslngs OF The
ocean Of life, was not slow to discover my
value in their es ima,ion, or 10 exercise, IN Its
fullest extent, the oapricious tyranny OF con-
scious power. Almost the earliest impression
which my ripening mind received, was regal
immunity from error could do no wrong.
There " a, no deficiency Of moral uainrng
either by precept OF example. The str"am OF
yirtuous admoni ion was poured, in tn tide,
:
model Of vir,uous conduc vas held bsi1re my
eyes IN every action OF my parents; out | Was
absolyed ON HI duty Of imitation. What
WAS the Consequence? limpercepribly created
wi hin myself ~ arbitrary standard vi righ' *
wrong; my moral vision became habitua.iy DIS
tor.ed: had one code OF ethics FIR the world.
aud an 4ther for myself words changed their
ne anir-, according as hey were to express my
own actions, or those If others. | vas aught
10 know, bit not requlred,o practice, the oblga-
ton Of social lif and r;oted in all the excess
SEES, ran through all the ransgrcsSUnS, which
mere by hood could commit, wi prodig al,
but warran ed reliance upan parsna indul-
gence Oh God. what afteriifc OF guilt aud
sorrow should have b en- spared, If authority,
hand in hand with wholesome discipline, had
frownsd upon my first off,nee
"As nay passions grew stronger, they took
wider raD ge, and rapidly outsIipped my years
An slmost unlimited command Of money plac,
ed at my disposal the means Of gratifying eve
~ inclina,Ion, BY giving me the power 10 pu,
meaner instruments in motion, those sordid
pastiers To vice, who made smooth the paths of
sin for the privilege of dipping into an heirs
nurse. had three or four of these pioneers in
nv nav by the time was sixteen; but though |
knew the rumour of my youthful RIGHTEOUSNESS
sometimes reached nv fathers ears, never
saw Gispleasure darken his brow towards me,
nor heard the language of reprooftrom his lips.
They are The weeds of a rich SOIL he would
say, which lutte culture will soon eradica'e.
II is true, the more degrading of my follles were
unknown TO him.
INV educ alton was not neglected. had a
thirst for knowledge, and, amid all me dissipa-
ton into which plunged, 1 willingly and ca
gerly devoted much OF my time TO study
Masters Of every kind were provided for me;
but they were strictly prohibited from exercis-
ing any control IL so chanced, needed none;
engaged in the acquis ion of learning with
the free grace Of a volunteer, aud believe my
precep,ors were not reluctant to claim me as
their pupil. Alas! the only u.s. l nave ever
made Of what acqu red has been 10 guild my
vices when acted, OF refine upon the manner Of
acting them while in con em?la'ioa.
"Mv father had brother, his elder by many