Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-12-03
Court Of Oyer and Term incr.
Present Judge Edwards.

2-Ssnfence on Saock for Murder.-At ten
o'clock, the prisoner, John Smock, was put to the
bar His physognomy bore still more the appear
arce Of insanity than it exhibited during the trial
and his eyes glared around with teariu! Witness
as If he was scarcely conscious Of the awful state in
which he stood, or cognizant OF the crime ne was
about to be sentenced to die for.
After the customary fermaiities had been gone
through, his Henor, the presiding Judge delivered
the following address to the prisoner:
pr;,ouer s,en TO what about say 10 ysu After
paent and thorous of your in the
Of which YOU were faithfully and ably defended by coun
sell you have been convicted BY jury oil your o. e
crime Of murder (o numbering whom you lived with
and acknowledged mife and you are now aragned
for the purpose receiving the sentence which the law awards
Jno, ,hi, solemn occasion may not BE- unattended with
good to the which has reduced you to this
rum Within last nine years have had eleven men ar
raigned before indictments Tor numbering Ahe.r wives
ten OF hom drankar What stronger proof could Dc
of the dcpo able consequences Contemporaries
Those victims urged by from one degree ei dpra
vity TO another till they not only induced 70 morue he
hano blood Of their fellow bel but to sacrnce he
partners of their whom they rested under the
the strongest obligations to love- cherish anu prosee, ~
deprived them Of life and they lie mouldsrng IA their
graves it.. .. L., ;nc,.,,,,;o, nav.
obtained am satisfied fourih of the crimes
mitted upon ntemperance ruakard. crowd
our pen aud s houses SLED with them or
With those whs are brought b, the CT
their In spite oil the sdmonons ~ wise
and good men, of nemperance daily swell the ihrone
and the tide Of misery consequent upon and will
pnne long like causes continue to produce
like effects.
Were II possible thing portray the misery consequent
upou Of ardea SPIRITS from t- FIRST ANXIOUS look ana
swh through all the sickness
poverty aud crime attendant II from the first disregard
kind admouton of friends ti the hanss oil tie VIC
TINS with the blood Of the partners Of tner boons So
ciev wosld horror the scene The counse oil
Inc wise dsregried, the tears OF near
est and dearest relations shed in vain -.
Every Young would fixed determination never
the accused ana every ola man woud 70 MS
ample add his influence to eradicate tn sv-sn evil Which
Of beings from the land ON which
we threatened 10 demoraIze a,oth-
err But 10 return from this d'gre.son-
Miserable man What can, what ought 70 say 20 you
Ysu row s nj this earthly tribunal upon the
for habits of intempcrance
would no fellow men, rePee'ase 40
Won the oil health And competence
What desiorabe contrast I" your present ecu WIN
ebed by dissip ,on aud with conscience eeking
nus now prepare 10 meet
th the Creator OF all things IL can hardly
be Necessary saonh you prepare Tor the change
fer yol human must be aware oil The
Of doing. Aer revolving suns ms world
will your haealioaom the society oil men, from
friends aud from the busy hum oil society, from alt
which awakcs hope gaddcns the heart you Will soon
be removed for Your lamp OF fe j. about to be ex
sushed. Prepare, teen, for the awful change
To the Creator Of all thng let your most ervent suppca
tou, Be- raed Az from him which you received all
VIII you esoyed to him alone m-st you Tor
all which you may hope to enjoy hereafter
will proceed to the ischai-s 81 tue last and most
p,inlul duty Of The court Listen to your senie zee.
The iadrmen OF the Court is aud such Is sentence
that yo1 he taken heuce to the Brdewe OF the
CITY and County of New York fiom whence you last
and ON twenty fifth day OF Jsaary next ensuing
the execution aud then aud there DC hanged oy tine
neck unit, you be deal.
And may Col have mercy Your soul.
The miserable culprt was then ironed and taken
back 10 :. the tombs." and the court Adjourned