Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-05-26
GEORGE WILSON,
THE CONVICTED MAIL RunpER.

This unhappy young man. now con.
fined within the gloomy enclosure of Il
solitary cell. has been convicted. b, n
jury Of intelligent and conscientious
men. Of n crime which the laws of the
United States declare TO be punishable
with DEATH. After an impartial trial.
m which numerous witnesses wcte ex
amined. more a matter of form than
necessity, because his own confessions
sufficiently proved the crime after the
most unremitted exertions Of gentle
men learned in the law. he has been
convicted by jury which his own
counsel had selected. La the present
state Of public feeling produced by this
trial, and that which has been procr. So .
ing this week, it may not be amiss TO
lay before our readers some events in
the life OF the criminal. proving. as they
viii, that but for a single unfortunate
circumstance, he might never have
been reduced TO the unhappy condition
in which his evil propensiiies have
plunged him.
GEoaoE WILSON was born IN the
city Of Trenton. y. j.. Of honest and
reputable. though needy parents. lie
Is now only four-and-twen,y years Of
age. His father was Waterman in
the Northern liberties some years ago,
but now follows the sea; his mother is
tenant in the Philadelphia Aims
House, and aged and poor, survives TO
see her only son condemned by the laws
OF his country to perish an the scaifulG.
Al an early age. George was thrown
upon the world without the benefit Of
trade, and a stranger 10 that paternal
oversight which should have directed
his youthful Footsteps IN the path of
rectitude. While still very young, and
having no regular occupation. hr COM
mitted larceny which caused him to
be committed to the Walnut Street
Prison for the term Of two YEARS.
While convict there. his doeiie aud
gentle behaviour, together with The
deep penItence which he expressed for
his crime. and the shame and humilIa.
ton he felt at being So degraded. at
tracted the notice Of the present Su
perinteBdent Of tho new Peniteniiary,
MIR. =. X. Wood, who took much into
rest in endeavoring TO render his re-
formation complete and lasting. Mr..
w. with that humanity which all who
know him are aware is a prominent
feature ia his character, continued to
keep n friendly eye on George until
his term of service had expired when,
DESTROYS Of Oiiording him every possible
opportunity to reform his character and
become n worthy citizen, he placed
him as an apprentice with Mr.. John
Hagany. o( Wilmington. Del. IL being
first made known 10y Mr.. Wood that
George was convict. Mr.. Hagany
being n preacher IN the Methodist -
ciety, and 81 a Kind ADD charitable DIS
position, consented TO receive him ~
an apprentice. II was agreed. more.
over, between the three. that in order
to give George every chance of rcifiev-
ing his forfeited character, the fact Of
his having been IN prison should be
kept a profound secret between them.
For about two years George remain.
ed with Mr.. Hagany. whose treatment
of him was Of the most benevolent cha
racter. and who endrayored with much
success, To instli into his mind the
principles Of virtue and religion. How
Tar he succcr,led. George conduct
while he remained with hIm nIll sqfli