Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-13
From the Philadelphia Saturday Bulletin.
GEORGE WILSON,

From The Philadelphia Saturday Bulletin.
GEORGE WILSON,
THE CONVICTED MAIL RoBBER.
This unhappy young man, now confined with
in the gloomy enclosure of a solitary cell, hal
been convicted by jury of intelligent and con
scientious men, of a crime which the laws of thu
United States declare to be punishable with death
After an impartial trial. in which numerous wit
nesses were examined, more as matter of form
than necessity, because his own confession suffi
GENTLY proved the crime; after the most unremit
ted exertions of gentlemen learned in the law, he
has been convicted by jury which his own coun
sci had selected. In the present state of public
feeling produced by this trial. and that which ha,
been progressing this week. it may not be amis:
to lay before our readers some events in the life
of the criminal, proving as they will. that but
for one unfortunate circumstance, he might never
have been reduced to the unhappy condition in
which his evil propensities have plunged him.
George Wilson was born in the city of Tren-
ton. n. j. of honest and reputable, though nee.
dy parents. He is now only four-and-twenty
years of age. His father was Waterman in the
Northern Liberties some years ago, but now fol.
lows the sea; his mother is tenant in the Phil
delphia Aims House, and aged and poor, survives
to see her only son condemned by the laws Of
his country to perish on the scaffOld. At an
early age George was thrown upon the world
without the benefit of a trade. and a stranger to
that paternal oversight which should have direct
ed his youthful footsteps the path Of rectitude.
While still very young and havingno regular oc-
cupation, he committed larceny which caused
him to be committed to Walnut Street Prison
for the term of two years. While convict there,
his docile and gentle behavior, together with the
deep penitence which he expressed for his crime,
and the shame and humiliation he felt at be.
ing so degraded, attracted the notice Of the pre-
sent Superintendent of the new Penitentiary,
Mr. S. r. Wood, who took much interest in en-
deavoring to render his reformation complete and
lasting. Mr.. w. with that humanity which all
who know him are aware is a prominent feature
in his character, continued to keep friendly
eye on George until his term Of service had ex-
PRED; when, DESTROYS of affording bin every pos
sible opportunity to reform his character and be-
come worthy citizen, he placed him as an APP
prentice, with Mr.. John Hagany, of Wilmington,
Delaware, it being first made known by MIR.
Wood that George was convict. Mr. Hagany
being preacher IN the Methodist Society, and
Of kind and charitable disposition, consented to
receive him as an apprentice. 1t was agreed
moreover, between the three that in order to give
George every chance of retrieving his forfeited
character, the fact of his having been in prison
should be kept profound secret between them.
For about two years George remained with Mr..
Hagany. whose treatment to him was of the most
benevolent character, and who endeavored with
much success, to instl into his mind the prlnci-
pies of virtue and religion. How far he succeed
ad (.aarorosc conduct uhila ho rou,a,poI ,r,.,
him will sufficiently attest. He behaved in eve
and his family, and never gave the slightest cause
of regret that hehad been admitted INTO his house.
A thorough reformation had apparently taken
place; when most unfortunately man was take
into the service of Mr.. Hagany, who had for
merly been constable in Philadelphia, and who
knew that George had been tenant of the state
prison. This man, ignorant of the experiment
making upon Georges character, imprudently
and tor no good reason, divuged the secret to his
fellow-apprentIces. Their taunts and jeers sue
ceeded, and it was soon whispered among all the
lads with whom he had made acquaintance. They
Ignorant of any crime themselves Stunned him
as ifearful of contamination; and the tact of the
secret being known, coming to Mr. Hagany's
knowledge, he felt it his duty, in order to guard
the other lads under his care from improper asso-
cations, to tell George that he must leave his
house. Accordingly, outings dollar into Georges
hand, he told him to return to Mr.. Wood
and acquaint him with the circumstance.
But George never did return as he had been
directed! The blow was SO tremendous, and
came upon him with such startling suddenness.
as almost to deaden his faculties. His desire to
become worthy and vrtuous citizen had been
sincere, and the hope that former transgressions
were forgotten, had cheered him up, and served
still more to encourage him in doing we'll But
now his hopes were suddenly-unkindIy, and ir.
retrievably blasted. He wandered away from
MIR. Hagany's friendly dwelling into the adjacent
country, working among the farmers for preca-
rious living. He crossedo oyer into New Jersey,
where he labored in the harvest field or at the
plough-tail, as chance threw a job in his way. Bv