Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-12-01

occupied in publishing. in adsiisioa to tic OF. ~
bove, ,l.e following
! SENTENCE.
Theodore Cheney. You now stand
convicted Of one Of the most daring
and strocious crimes which can be
committed against the Laws Of God and
society, that Of murder and robbery,
committed with great violence and un-
usual dcliberation. Before pronounc-
ing the dreadful sentence which the
law deDounces against the offence with
which you stand convicted, the Court
would willingly avail themselves of
this. the only opportunity they can
have, TO endeavOr To awaken your mind
to just sense Of the awfu and peri.
lous situation in which you stand and
to encourage you. by just regard for
your present comfort and your future
and eternal welfare, by sincere rcpen-
lance for your past offences, by pious
and devout meditation, to make your
peace with Heaven, and thus prepare
yourself for the fearful termination Of
life which so soon awaits you.
J We know not, nor is it'important 10
know, what has been the course Of
your past short life. IL it has been
one Of vice and profligacy, it is SO
much the more necessary that you
should make all the atonemcnt which
you can now make: that Of earnest and
sincere repentance for a short and
misspcnt life. resting on an humble
hope Of the forgiveness Of God.
u your life has been one Of sobriety
and purity, 1t is so much the more to
be iamented, that at SO early an age
you should have sunk, by one fearful
plunge, into SO deep gulf Of wretch
edness and crime. Let me entrcat
you tn reflect deeply and pcnitcntly
upon the foulness and atrocity Of your
guilt. Having devised a scheme Of
cruelty and plumber, against one Of
nearly your own age, q townsman and
schoo'mate, and having, under the
guisc Of friendship, and a pretence Of
iair and honest traffic, gotten him and
his property in your power, with a
dangerous weapon, ia q lone and re-
tired place. at the hour Of midnight.
and TN the defenceless state Of sleep,
you cruelty fell upon him--by the sud :
denness and violence Of the attack,
disabled him, and then possessed YOUR
sell OF his little property, and with the
full consciousness of guilt, attempted
to escape by flight from its conse-
quences.
That crime Of so much malignity
ana cruelty, SO unusual, improbable,
and unnatural. should be perpetrated
IN our peaceful community, by a man
OF any age, would DC a subject alike of
, wonder and regret but that such an
offence should have been committed by
boy Of such early years, under cir
cumstanccs indicative Of a heart sin.
suiarly depraved, was, least Of all, to
be expected. But such is the melan.
choiy tact. These circumstances have
been proved by satisfactory and un.
) questionable evidence. A Jury Of your
coumrymen, after patiently attending
TO the able and eloquent defence oi
{ your counsel, have upon their oaths
pronounced their belief of your guilt.
Let me once more earnestly and af.
| iectionately advise you to reflect deep.
~ and justly upon your past offences,
, 10 implore the fOrgiy eness Of your sins,
TO invite the assistance Of your friends
and those pious men who may aid your
reflections. and direct your thoughts 10
Just views OF your condition and pros
. poets aud thus may YOU endeavor by
prayer and penitence, to reconcile
yourself To that God, whose laws and
preeepts you have so deeply offended.
hese suggestions, permit me ia
ADJ, are made with the kindest feel.
'ngs. not TO increase the sorrows Nth
winch you are already overwhelmed.
but TO awaken train of thought, and
10 encourage you to q course Of con
duct which may contribute 20 YOUR
present, future, and eternal welfare.
Nothing now remains for this Court
but TO perform the last painful office.
which their duty imposes upon them
that Of declaring the sentence which
the law dcnounees against the crime
oi which you stand convicted,--M hich
IS: that you be taken 20 the place from
whence yon came, and thence, at such
TINE as the Governor, with the adyic.
and consent Of Council, NAV fix for
that purpose. 10 the place Of execution.
ana there be hanged by the neck until
YOU are dead, and may God, Of his in .
hn'te grace and goodness, have mercy
on your soul.
From d'c Salem Observer, No, -.
TIN ,Ngl,yo 1(Or,In. II =.