The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-12
THE TRIAL OF CLoUGH.
Copy Of a letter to the Editor dated
Mount Holly.

TIE trial of the unfortunate CLoUGu
has commenced. The examination of
the witnesses is progressing while write
and at every word which falls from
their lips the hopes Of the prisoner ebbs
away.
The excitement produced is universal
and intense. The Couit House crow
ded to suffocation. Doors, windows,
the bar, and even the bench is filed with
an excited auditory.
1t is not surprising that the case
should produce excitement. 1t is ro-
mantio- and melancholy in all its partcu-
lars. The deceased was knownto many
and esteemed by all who knew her.
She was lively, engaging, accomplished,
and amiabIe. Her personal beauty at
iracted the admiration aud her estima-
bic character secured the affections, of
many of the most respectable young
gentlemen, IN her vicinity. She had
not been twelve-month a widow, vet
there were several suiiors for her hand.
The most impassioned was the unfortu-
nate Clough. 1t is said that there had
been between them several 'sgen,e pas
sages" that she had accepted from him
Il gold watch, and had presented him in
return, with, an unfortunate aud fatal
gitt-her husbands dirk The dark re-
serve and lofty passions of Clough's ma
ture made him to his rivals an object of
mingled fear, envy and hatred and his
suspicion and Jealousy did much with
the object Of his love, either to repel the
affections he sought, or ALLEVIATE the f.
deity winch had been plighted to him.
1t is indeed said by her friends that she
never encouraged his attentions and
that he only shared in common with
others the affabli,y and kindness which
characterized her in all the relations of
life. This. may well be subject of
doubt. 1t may be doubled whether in
the exultation of conscious power she
did not trifle with the naughty and pas
sionaie spirit she had captivated and
encouraged the wild, frenzied, but faith
ful affection winch she well knew he
cherished FOR her. If so, the, playful!
folly proved fatal one--,he moving
cause of Il tragedy most deep, bloody g.
affecting.
The character of Clough, as depicted
to me by his friends and associates, was
moral, gentle aud affectionate but re-
served, naughty, prone osjealousy, and
when reused perplexed in the extreme
Upon former occasion, in which he
had exhibited this last dangerous trait,
an aged friend solemnIy rebuked him,
concluding with these words. 'Mark
me, Clough, this jealousy and passion,
if not subdued, will bring you to an ear
ly and infamous death."-TIis words /
fear are about to fearfully realized.
A short time before the commission
of the fatal act for which he is now ar
raigned. the malicious taitle of the Will
age informed him, that Mrs. Hamilton
was engaged to another. His worst
suspicious were realized. The torture
of spirit which, during the whole course
of his passion, he had constantly beiray-
ed, was heightened into intense and
frenzied agony. Reason was swept a.
way before the storm. The passion
which had so completely engrossed his
nature was disappointed, baffled, sham
ed, his pride mortified; his elevation of
manner and loftiness of pretension OPP
posed to ricicule and himself subjected
10 the sneerng pity and open and bitter
ribaldry of his rivals aud enemies
The spirit of revenge started up in his
bosom, and he became, as he has since
confessed, the passive and reckless in
strument ofthis new passion. It did not
we are told, exhibii itself in wildness of
demeanor. or violent ofoutward passion.
He was calm and desperate; and deter
mined to bury himself, the cause and the
remembrance ofhis passion and morIifi-
cation in one common grave.
1t will he remembered that he boar
ed in the same house with Mrs. HamiI-
ton: He feigned illness, aud Mrs. Ha-
milton being sent into the room he seiz-
ed her. He held her in one arm,
while with the other he brandished her
husbands dirk, the fatal pledge of fa-
tai affection. The weapon fell once
again-and third time, and at each
blow ,pierced through her heart. Her
cries brought several men into the room,
but the suddcnness and horror of the
scene APPALLED, them, and to their eternal
disgrace they fled. II has been said that
when seen, the dirk was in his victims
bosom, aud he was moving it about in
the wonnd for the purpose of making il
deeper and wider. This however, is de-
MED, and its alleged that the weapon
had struck upon her breast-pin and that
he was disengaging it, He inflicted in
all eleven wounds. Mrs. II. shricking,
struggling and covered with blood, esca-
ped, with strength altogether unacoun-
table, and lied from the room, but shortly