The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-03-05
NAHSCHILE "A nh OEJS.
TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF BATES.

er's wife, Mrs Harriet Bates, at SALISBURY, on
the 2,l Oct. last. On cursory view of the tes-
timony in this case we do not perceive that it
differs materially from thar g iveH on the eXanli
nation before the Court of Inquiry, and which
was published in this paper ut the time. No
doubt could rest on the mind of any person of
the guilt of Bates from The testimony, aud
his confession must remove all uncertainty if
there was any.
We subioin the sentence of the Hon. Chief
Justice Williams, we find in the pamphlet, to-
geiher with what is said to he the substance Of n
CONFESSION made by the prisoner shortly
before his execution
SENTENCE.
Archibald L. Bates! You have been ndct
ed by the Grand Jury for the crime of Murder !
A nal has been had by petit jury, in which
you was ably and Ingeniously defended by
learned counsel and every thing urged in your
behalf which the law or testimony would war
rant That jury, have declared you gully. In
the opinion and by the verdict of twen.y four
iudicious and dsinteresed freeholder5, men who
could have other motive than to investigate
the truth and determine accordingly you are
convicted of most aggravated murder. one at
tended with circumstances, which strike the
mind with horror and is calculated to alarm and
carry terror wherever i IS heard of. 1t is UNI
necessary for to recall TO your mind the cir
cumstances which have placed you in this stua-
tonand oihan ow up your fcelings,hy u recital OF
the evidence Of your guilt. 1t is sufficient TO
say, that you stand before us convicted OF muir
der 81 that the proof of your crime is too strong
10 be resisted. 1t remains for the court TO award
The last g. the highest penalty known to the law,
and to pronounce the sentence which consigns
you 10 ignOminions death To award IL SEN
tence which sends fellow mortal into the pre-
sence of his Maker and his Omniscicnt Judge
is painful and Distressing duty, which would
gladly avoid and from the performance of
which, should he excused could ] consult my
own feelings alone bat it is one which ns Il
Minister of Justice may not and cannot decline.
A fellow being standing in near relation to
you by affinity, has been Ivy your means, almost
instantly deprived of life aud seut to her ac-
count and this done TO crafty malignant and
depraved disposition. Ii is neither excuse nor
palliation OF tie offence, that you was disSas-
fed with the mnnner III which the property of
your father was managed. II YOU was actuaed
by desire wish TO participate in his property
or if you cnvious at the prosperity of your
father, your brother or your sister-in-aw it is
but another proof that avarce and the love OF
money is the very root and source OF bitterness
and evil.
We can give you no encouragement that the
prerogative of pardon will be exercised in your
behalf Nothing was disclosed on the trial
which can Justify you in entertaining any such
hope. The crime is so great, and the trnnsac-
ton so appalling, as 10 forbid all hopes OF your
escaping punishment, which most civilized ma
iolIS have appropriated to the crimes. The
sentence Of The law will limit the days of your
continuance on EARTH and fix the period when,
you must appear in the presence OK your God,
who cannot be deceived rs 10 your motives
thoughts, actions. The victim Of your crime
was hurried from this world, with scarce OPP
portunity of utering prayer or suppcation
for mercy. You will lave time for reflection,
for penitence, and contrition and if with true
and sincere faith with humble and penitent
sense of all your transgressionsand Of this most
foul and aggravated murder, you truly and sin
a.,Ic oil nt tI,n mar nt
God, you may through the merits OF the Re-
deemer attain fors veEess of your sins. Guilty
as you are, you may yet find mercy and pardon.
in the prison where you will remain from this
to the day OF your execution you will have time
and opportunity for reflection. In silence and
in solitude, you can recall to your mind the E.
vents of your lite, your transgresslons, and your
crimes Let me beseecli you to employ this
time in deep and sincere penitence and contri-
ton for all your past offences. Should the voice
of blood cry to you from the ground ; should
imagination cali before you the image OF the I'M
fortunate being you cruelty murdered; should
the scenes of guilt and misery render this silence
an" solitude almost insupporable and in the
agony OF q convicted and wounded conscience
you should be led to exclaim with the guilty off
OH, my punishment is greater than can bear;"
remember your Heavenly Father has declared
That they who seek him in the way Of his an.
pontment shall surely be found of him and
mat your kedeelner declared to the penitent
thief on the last day OF his existence thar Le
should be with him in Paradise.
Hear'ien to your sentence. The sentence of
Law, winch the court award is, that you he talk |
Ell from the bar to the prison from whence Won
came ami be there kept until Friday the eighth
day of February next, and oil that day between
the hours of ten in the forenoon and three in the
afternoon at place of execution to he selected
by the Sheriff, you be hanged by the neck until
you are dead, and may God Almighty have mer-
cy o n your soul.
CONFESSION.
The prisoner denied the crime imputed to him
until some days after he had been declared
GUILTY by the Jury, and the sentence of the
law Mad been pronounced upon him by the |
COURT He tirSI cnnfiAsSnI Lis mill LIZ Ea her