Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-06-21

convicted Of the murder Of bis wife before
the Supreme Court at Lowell. received sen.
tence Of death on Friday last Judge Shaw
addressed the Prisoner as follows -
Nathan Smiih-having offered no legal
or sufficient cause TO show why the sentence
Of the law should not now be pronounced up
on YOU il has become the painful, but imper-
alive duty Of the court 10 award the awfu
punishment which the law Of this Common
wealth aflixes TO the crime OF which you
stand convicted. Preparatory TO the perfor-
nance Of this last act Of duty, BY which we
take our leave Of you forever wish, in be-
half Of the court, in spirit OF the most entire
kindness and sympathy, to make few re-
marks, whch,Ii f they cannot afford you hope
and consolation in this life, may at least
awaken your sepsibility to the importance
and necessity Of preparation for the great
change that awaits you.
You have been indicted for the crime Of
wiful murder of Anna Smith, Your wife
Upon this charge you have been tried by a
jury selected almost by yourself You have
had the advice and assistance Of able, learn
ed and eminent counsel to conduct your de-
fence, with means placed al your and their
disposal, TO obtain all the evidence which
might tend TO establish your innocence
After full. patient. and as we trust and
believe, an impartial trial, a jury Of your
country, upon their solemn responsibility.
have declared you guilty Of the offence
charged. To this verdict no legal objection,
after time allowed for that purpose. has been
made, and the court are aware of no such
objection. And now. by the sentence Of the
law. your days on earth are shortly TO be
numbered and finished and what remains
for you but to seek for that true, hearty and
sincere repentance, which may afford you
hope ofnardon and forgiveness, in future
state Of exsfcnce.
In abiding lolhe atrociiy and magnitude
Of the crime for which you are now TO suffer
tho penalty OF human Law, we have no pur.
pose TO harrow up feelings, already deeply.
wounded the sole object is TO lead your
thoughts into that penitential course. which
is now most be6ting your awful situation
and by aiding your thoughts in reviewing
your criminal and guilty conduct. lead you
to that sincere repentance upon which alone
you can now place any reliance
And let me pause and ask YOU 10 reflect.
and consider hat is the crime OF willuI muir
der , Nothing less than the bold and will
FOL destruction ofIhe life ola rational being.
under the influence premediated malice
that llfe, the source Of every JOY, and OF eve
~ hope. which none but benefcent and om-
nipoien, Creator can give. II there be any
crime. at which humanity shudders and
starts back with alright, it is murder
And who was the victim of your mali
cious yiolcnce2 A stranger. an enemy or
even iellow-ciiizen entitled 10 the pro,ec-
ton OF the same laws as yourself, aud TO
whom life was as dear as 10 yourselfl She
was indeed this aud much more. She was
the vile oil your youth, The companion Of
your youth, the companion Of your better
days, the mother OF your children no, only
one whose rights you were bound 10 respect,
but one whom you had solemnly pledged
yoursellto perfect, 10 cherish and 10 love-
She may have had taulls--she may have
done you wrong-you might have just cause
OF omplaint-wheiher YOU had or not, we
know no, and ask no, you had no right TO
take vengeance into your own hands; eve
ry consideration Of manly feeling. of social
duty. ofmoraland religious obligation. ought
10 have restrained your hand and your
heart, from the execution ofthe cruel deed.
stole upou her solitary dwelling, at the dead
of night, violenuy burst into her humble
room, her and your unhappy child sleeping
q, her side, and notwithstanding her agon.'
2ing cry to you 10 spare her life, you plung-
cd The knife into her throat, and violently
deprived her OF existence.
IL would be no extennalion, il is rather
an nggravaton OF this great crime, that you
afterwards made an attempt upon your own
life, and sough, to avoid the reiribution Of
this life, and TO rush TO your final account
with these crimes upon your head
This is u brief outline Of the great crime
for which sentence is 10 be passed on you. -
The only excuse which could be urged for
n deed of such atroci,y is, tina, the powers of
reason were oyerhrown. and by the vista
uon OF Providence, such alienation had Ia.
ken place, that you were no longer a ration
al, moral, or responsible man All the facts
which evidence could establish in support
OF this excuse, have been brought forward,
they have been examined under all the lights
which science and experience could afford, |
and this excuse has been urged with all the
force which reasoning and eoquence could
give, but il has been found wanting. The !
jury have found that you had the capacity
TO know the difference between right and |
wrong, that you acted under no insane dclu-
sion bu, under the influence of mnlienan.
passions and wicked motives, and therefore
you must stand accountable for this atrocious |
act
There is one circumstance which stands !
out conspicuously among the facts appear- |