The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-02-18
FROM BLACKwooD's MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
JAMES MORLEY, THE MURDERER.

FROM BLAcKwooD's MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
JAMES MORLEY, THE MURDERER.
And to this, it has come at last Thus reac
myself described in every newspaper - Thus / an
designated, by every tongue that speaks of me
And many are those who have already made the ap-
pointment to he up by times and go to WOrley.
crecutiOn The execution of Morley the murderer
Yes-It would become me; rude rabbe gather
round my scaffod and heartless world amuse it.
self, an hour perhaps with the Newgatc history oi
my words, my conduct, nay, my very looks from
my first moment in a condemned cell, to my last
under the gbbet 1t is not death fear but what
do fear, worse than ten thousand Deaths and what
have no spirit in me to sustan is, the macfactor-
exhibition of myself These hands bound with
cords-thcse arms ignOminiously fastened, a vile
haltar round my neck-and the leading forth to pub
lie execution Oh! these preparations, and these
adjuncts are dreadful ] look into myself, and |
have less forttude to go through such scene, than
should have resolution to escape it, Gf only that
escape were left me,) by dashing out my brains
against the walls of my prison.
Why then, should undergo the mockery of
triall Why stand at the bar of justice, to hear my
self arraigned-to endure the public gaze-listen to
well-turned periods of trite horror at my crime
and hear Others tell hop 1 perpetrated it2 And
when twelve men shall gravely pronounce am n
murderer, to receive judicial sentence with sol
emn exhortaton to prepare for a felon's death; and
the orthodox appendage, that if am duly penitcnt,
for the remaining sixty hours l am permitted to
breathe, my soul may find heaven, while the sur
geons are scraping my bones, to make skeleton
for their museum of curostcs
Yet, even to this ordeal would I submit. were
It thus only the world could learn by what a chain
OF circumstances became murderer. But il is
not so: for that which living might have listen
ed to in my defence, living eyes can read after my
death.
~ was the youngest child of three; but before |
mad attained my tenth year, ] an only one.
had always been the favorte of both my parents,
and now l was their idol.-Thcy hung upon nv
existence, as a shpwrccked mariner cIings to the
last Heating fragment of the gallant bark that bore
hlm they lived, but while they held by me- in the
rough tossings of the ocean of life. was not slow
10 discover my value in their cstimation or to ex-
ercisc, IN its fullest extent the capricous tyranny of
conscious power. Almost the earliest impression
which my rpening mind received, was u regal inn
munity from error-I could do no tcrong.
There was deficiency of moral training Ell
ther by precept or example. The stream of viru-
Gus admonition was poured, in full tide, over my
heart; but it was left to stagnatc The model of
virtuous conduct was held before my eyes in every
action of my parents; but was absolved from the
duty OF imitation. What was the consequence |
imperceptibly created within myself an arbitrary
standard of right and wrong my moral vision be-
came habituay distorted; had one code of ethics
for the world and another for myself words chang
cd their meaning, according they to express
my own actions, or those of others. | was taught
to know but not required to practice, the obligations
of s5cial life; and rioted in all the cxccsses ran
through all the transgressiOns, which boyhood
could commit, with prodiga but warranted reli-
ance upon parental indulgence. Oh God what an
after life Of guilt and sorrow l should have been
spared, IL authority, hand in hand with wholesome
discipline. had fowned upon my first offences!
T" A my passions grew stronger, they took wi
der range, and rapidly outstrippcd my years. An
almost unlimited command of money placed at nv
disposal the means Of gratifying every inclination,
by giving me the power to put meaner instruments
In motion, those sordid pandcrs to vice, who make
smooth the paths of sin for the privilege of dipping
into an heirs purse. l had three or four of these
pioneers in my pay by the time was sixteen but
though knew the of my youthful licentious-
ness sometimes reached my fathers cars, never
saw disploasurc darken his brow towards me, nor
heard the language of reproof from his lips. They
are the weeds of n rich SOIL he would saw (which
Little culture will soon eradicate 1t is true the
most degrading of my follies were unknown to him.
My education not neglected. had thirst
for knowledge; and, amid al the dissipation into
which plunged, ! willingly and eagerly devoted
much Of my time to study.-Masters of every kind
provided for me hut they were strictly prohibited
from exercising any control. II so Glanced needed
none: engaged in the acquisition of learning with
the free grace of a volunteer and believe my pre-
ceptors were not reluctant to claim me their pupil
Alas the only use have ever made of what 7 ac
qured, has been to gild my vices when acted
or refine upon the manner Of acting them while in
contemplation.
my father had brother, his elder by MANY
years q man of stern and rigid character as I
then considered him but, as I would now call him.
Of urr Ji1f firm and honorable y,vpc;clc II. Ior.J