The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-15
From The Commercial Adpnfiser a
Toaosro, Aug 9, 1887
SIXTEEN PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

SIXTEEN PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH.
Previous to the departure OF the boat on Saturday
from Niagara had barely time to inform you that six
teen Of the state prisoners had been that morning SEN
fenced to death four are Americans and twelve sob
jects Of lie Queen,
On Friday several pleaded guilty, and VIM Yorks
was tried and acquitted. On Saturday William s.
Wilson was tried and acquitted,
A bill Of indictment for high treason having been
found at the close Of the week. against Jacob Besmer
Of whom have before spoken, he could not he tried
forthwith. consequently the court determined TO ADJOURN
for the coming days. and TO postpone the far
their trials until Besmcr's could he brought on
They therefore gave notice that the prisoners who had
been tried should be brought mp for sentence together
with those who had pleaded guilty.
About o'clock, the jury which had been out with
the Of Wilson. returned with verdict Of Hoigpby
The Court then directed the sheriff TO bring 10 those
| sixteen prisoners who TO be sentenced me
sheriff expressed doubts Of the proprety Of bring
ing in large number at once The Judge very
| properly remarked that there WAS danger that
the civil force was not sufficient detachment Of the
| military were at hand. About half past one o'clock,
the prisoner came in, attended by military guard and
were seated ~ the jury-box.
was favored with very eligible seat, being close
both to The bench and the prisoners Twas surprised to
find so many Of the prisoners very young me,--some
Of them mere boys--snd two three looked more de-
serving the ordinary chassement Of psret than the
| heavy penalty about 10 be adudged them Two or
handsome,
nnfsyorable could he drawn from their appearance
They all well dressedMiller in black snit' lie
had been, you will recoec law student at Mays,le
III Chautsnque county and would probably have defend
cd himself had not his counsel offered at the outset,
| plea of insanity
After the crer had made proclamation for all per-
10 keep silence while his ordship the queens JUS
iice pronounced the sentence Of deafh Mr. Justice
Jones called over the names Of four American cilzes
no had been tried under the THE last session Of
III haH
Miller After brief recapituation Of the evidence, he
asked whether he had thing say why sentence OF
death should not be pronounced on him. After
pausIg few moments, he spoke, in fine melodious
voice, III substance as follows
| "My Lord:
| "Your lordshp has asked whether have any thing
10 offer why sentence OF death should not be pronounc
ed against me. shall, with the permission Of your
Iordshp, offer few remarks. not however with belief
that shall be able. hy any thing that might say, TO
turn aside the impending fate tina, awaits me
la reference the statute under which have been
tried, under the full that II Is nnconsti-
tuonsl. and in this opinion believe am sustained ny
sore Of the legal gentleman now present. J am Of
oplon that statute affecting the life Of an individual
whether subject or not can be considered the law Of
the land unit, shall have received the sanction o. the
sovereign know. my lord, that under thus act Others
have suffered and have 10 suppose that my
plrading lis unconstitutionaty viii be any bar to The
awful fiat which is about fall from the lips Of your
lordsblp
| g am, indeed. asked why sentence Of death shall
not he passed upon me. il had done deed
worthy Of death, would say, let come but declare
to your lordshP, that according 10 the dcts'es OF my
ow n Judgment, / deserve neither death nor bonds
q have not been gully Of The death Of any one.
| have taken from no one that which was not my own.
not into your country TO destroy its form OF go
yerlment j came not upon It's borders Win arms III
my hands Young and inexperienced as am WAS
led the error. for which now stand convicted. by
the advice of others Had Truth aud justice prevailed,
should not he called TO stand before your lord
ships III peril Of my life.
1 :. say stand convicted-hut on what evidence has
my conviction been obtained Upon that OF pcrJnred
| Doan, who has become evidence for the crown to
his life True there has been some other EVIL
dence against me, from persons who believe intended
TO speak the truth, but they we're IN error No doubt
they led as,ray from the necessary confusion Of the
| moment
| +" When became sensible Of my error-when
found that better for return 10 my home
was told tina, the lines could be passed. and that il
| iorsook my party. death would be my portion Thus
situated, What way was there for my escape
y" appeal, my lord, the lancers, whether did not
my best exertons the hand OF the assassin
appeal 10 every individual who was present at the
ausck upon the ancers. to say whether did not do
every thing ~ my power to prevent the death oil ANY
one, the loss of any property.
I" ! am here, before your lordshp, convicted ss
feon but appealing my own conscience. s,ow to
your lodshp and this whole court that cannot con-
slider myself guilty Of feonous act-yet IT II is my
fate suffer DEATH must bow to the mandate which
DEGREES it," "
The Judge asked the other three the usual question,
and nothing being said he proceeded to pronounce the
sentence prefacing il with some pertinent remarks,
particularly addressing himself to Miller. He sad it
apparent that his education should have led him to
a different than to be found with band OF ndi-
siduss, and with too, whose ann was to snbvert
The government Of country with which he was not
connected, and one which was st peace with The Unt-
r.. ,n.tt ha rtaxy hn
had taken Of the constulionslty of the law he had
transgr, ss.d, was not sound aud that it much
the law Of the land as any under which the province
vas governed.
The Judge then ordered Lucius Wilson Miller
George Cooley, Norman Mallory, and William Rey-
nods. TO be taken the Jail from whence they CAME
aud that on Saturday, the 25,h day Of August they
he taken the place Of execution and there be hanged
by the neck until they are dead.
Mr. Solicitor General Draper then moved the Court,
rha, sentence he passed upon the following persons,
convicted Of high treason Samuel Chandler. BenJa
min Wait James Gamble, John Grant, Murdoch Nc
Fadon, John James McNulty George Buck. David
TAYLOR, James Wagner, Care, Van Camp, John YER
non. and AisIdnder Mcleod. ...
The Judge urged upon them ell the importance OF
pre- partition for another world and then pronounced the
following sentence, CATER calling each IVY name .
" That ,ou, aud each Of he taken to the jail IRON
whence YOU came and that the 25'h day OF the pre-
sent month Of August, you, and each Of you I've Hdmh
on hnrdie The piare Of execution, ard 'hoi yor 90
thcc hanged Ly me neck nn,d you are brad that yonr
b,jjes are 10 be guarered and may God haoe mercy
on your sonls."
1t was a scene pray may never be called again
TO look upo--a1teen feilor beings rhom an earthly
jadge had hm,,ed to- life Of three re,ks and these
men III the prime Of llfe many Of them with the blood
of youth coursng IN their veIns--her average age,l
Think Is not more than twenty-five.
One thing more and close my letter, alresdy 100
long Let the friends Of Miller Of Cooley, Of Mallory
and Of REYNOLDS, be on the alert Let them sppiy
without moments delay to Sir Gtorge Artha ~ their
behalf and NV opinion is that their efforts WIN he