The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-09-24
MISCELLANY.
HENRY M'CAUSLAND.
Almost every one, we suppose, has hea

N
of. Old NCausland," the veteran prison
er. who for thirty five long years, has beer
confined in solitary cell IN the county
iall at Augusta. Many, too,-very many
prompted by curiosity, have looked thro
his iron crates and beholding the stately
form. grave countenance and long white
beard of him who has not seen the sun nor
an object III the world without for more
than one generation, have listened TO the
simple, well committed story Of the tragi.
cal circumstances which brought him there.
They will see him no more. The old man,
is gone. His body has nj length left the
dark, damp dungeon in which he had been
immured for more than a third OF century
and death has kindly set his spirit free for
ever. lie died on Friday, the 2lst ult. aged
40 years.
The circumstances that cut him of for
ever from the society Of man, and that con
signed him to prison for life. were peculiar,
and 90 far to show how mistaken views
OF religions duty may sometimes drive peo-
pie to the most shocking extremes. MCaus
land was an inhabitant Of this town al the
time Of his Imprisonment. His devotion to
religion. or what was then, and peihaps
now is, by some, considered religion, ope-
rated so powerfully upon some peculiar
passion, as to render him on that subject
partially insane. On all other subjects,
except religion, he was, and to bis death
remained perfectly rational. Instances we
believe, are on record, Of similar mental al
other passions Of the mind. In this state
Of religious ianatlcism, he imagined that
he was called Of God TO make burnt Of.
fering and sacrifice For time he strug
gle against this fancied, but as II appeared
10 him, rcdi divine command. At length,
however, he yielded under the persuasion
that "hc should obey God rather than man"
10 the execution Of his supposed duty, he
set fire to the church in this place, which
was consumed This was his burnt Of
iering" In his conflict with the Spirit,
it as to the necessity Of making "sacrl.
fee" he was reminded oftbe scripturaI de-
claration, that "without the shedding of
blood is no remission ofsn.'; 1t was plain
then, to him, that in order to have his ons
RENTED he must sled human blood. lie
knew thai for so doing he wond have to suf-
Ter capital punishment; but this would be
10 " suffer for Chrisi's sake" which would
be highly meritorlous on his part, and give
HIM u stronger claim on the blessings Of
heaven hereafter. These considerations led
him to seek for victim.
There was a femae-a married woman
resi- ding in the back part OF the town
who, as he interpreted the Scriptures, had
sinned against the Father, against the Son,
and against the Holy Ghos'. in that az he
thought, or as the Spirit bad revealed the
secret to him. had given birth to three II.
Legitimate children. These three CORES
pondcd to the number OF persons in the
Trinity, against each OF whom the of.
fence was therefore severally committed.
The Lord directed him to choose her US
the victim for sacrtice.
Accordingly he selected bis tl,Qc, and in
the still hours Of night, launched boat IN.
to the Cobbosse Contec stream, and made
his way, not without much difficulty and
fatigue, for he had rips to encounter in his
passage, to the residence orthe woman,who
was then confined 10 bed by sickness. Ar
rived at the house. hr entered without
ceremony. A female attendant was sitting
near the bed, watching the sick female.
Without saying much, he proceeded TO the
bedside and noticing large butchers knife
recently wheited, pending from the ceiling
ut the head Of the bed, with one hand he
seized the head If the woman and with
the other took down the knife and drew it
with single fatal stroke across the throat
of his victim. "She bleG." said he to us q
few weeks ago,with n smile that sometimes
accompanies on act Of conscious duly-'sbe
blGd like calf;' lie took no instrument
oil death with him, and when he discovered
the knife near his intended victim,he knew
it was provided by Him who sent him, TO
enable him to fulfil his painful commission
The woman died Immediately; and having
made both burnt Offering and a sacrifice,
he was willing to abide all the consequent
ces which might follow the execution Of
mere human laws. We believe he made no
effort toconceal hmsclfai.rr the commits
sion OF this mnrderous act. Immediately
he was arrested on the charge OF murder.
The charge, ifprovcd against him, or ac-
knowlcdged to be true by him, would sub
ject him to the penalty of death. When bro't
into Court,thc indictment being read and he
being interrogated-are you guilty, or not
guilty? A" Guilty," he replied. The Judges
apprehending that in the perpetretlon of
the deed, he had no, acted under the in
iluence o(a sane mind, proposed that he
should plead mot guilty. in order that the
Jury might bring in verdict that he was
not guilty by reason of INSANITY. which
would avert The sentence of death. The
Chef Justice, therefore. remarked to him
that he was under no obligation to plead
"gnlty." 1.-THE government had charged
him with a crime the burden was on the
Government to prore him guilty; and sug
gested to him the expcdlency ofrecaling
his,plea and pleading mot guilty ""What"
returned mr.. M'Cansland. would the hon.