Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-04
RUTLAND COUNTY COURT.
SEPTEMBER TERN, 1899.

. ID.
the irial, brought together large number of
people from this and the neighboring towns
as IS common in such cases. The Court
rcesh. tbessh crowded almost 10 suifoca,ion.
was not Sufficient 10 furnish even a standing
place to many who anxiousy desired TO hear
Inc 1nai comma need on Tuesday morning
and lasted I'LL Wednesday noon, when the
case was committed 10 the Jury, who, after
snort delibeiation returned verdict OF GaiL
~, The testimony against the respondent
did not vary in the material points from that
given before the Court OF Inquiry, soon afer
the commission Of the murder. and was loo
clear to admit OF rational doubt OF the pria.
oners guilt. But an effort was made on the
part oil The defence TO prove that Daman was
subject ptemporary fits of insanity, aud that
i was Inherent in the family. Although
there was some testimony offered tending to
show thhi fact, yet it did not appear ON trial
that the prisoner was under any such mental
arrangement a, the time he committed the
horrid died. did appear. however that If
the prisoner was laboring under any unusu.
al excitement at thetime OF the murder; it
was malily, if not wholly produced by &C.
cess 10 tie Rum Bottle, a chorl time before.
as he has repeatedly declared. The defence
however. was conducted with SO much skill
and legal ingenuity that some OF the specta.
tors were almost induced TO believe that he
would be acquitted Some of the facts con.
|necas9- with this mos. foul murdeF, loo revolt
ting TO be repeated, we were glad were no,
detsied upon the trial. We have never
heard ola case in all its particulars, which
morc fully exhibits the deep degradation TO
which man may be reduced when he gives
himself up to Tie guidance of his depraved
and unreslrained passions
Through the kindness of Chief Justice
Williams who presided at the trial, I'VE are
able to furnish our readers with copy OF
the interesting Sentence pronounced upon
the priioner, Daman--w which gives such a
view oftbe cnse. though brief as will rem
der further detail unnecessary.
Messrs. Foot and Briggs on the part Of
the Government, and Messrs Tracy and
Hodges conducted the defence
"Ne understand an effort is TO be made
by petidoning the legislature to commute
lion foi the sentence Of Daman.-Rutland
W. Hsaald.
THE SENTENCE. -
Henry DamsK-Y GU have been indicted
by the Grand Jury for the crimezof MUIR.
DER. fou have been tried BY peth Jury,
and, upon evidence the most convincing, and
which leaves no doubt upon the mind you
have been found guilty OF the crime. Ii re-
mains for the Court, in the discharge of the
duty imposed upon them, TO pronounce the
sentence which the law awards TO con
victed murderer. The offence OF which you
have been convicted is numbered among the
highest md most atrocious known TO ouI
laws. and has been, both by human and Di
vine authority considered as deserving tn,
seyerest and last punishment which can b,
inflicted BY any earthly tribunal The fls
murderer was doomed 10 bo fugitive Sc vag
abond on the earth. and to wander. subject t
the agony of guilty conscience and fear O
the vengeance OF every one be should meet
And from that time it has been adiudged
that whoever sheddeth the blood of his fel
low man, in malice, shall forfeit his guilty
life. There is nothing. in my opinion. il
the present state of society, which require.
that this appropriate punishment should b,
changed or altered. But in Whatever view
this NAV be considered by others. the tribu
nal before which you now stand, can onl,
obey the imperative command oftho law ant
declare the sentence which consigns you tt
an ignominious DEATH
/. is subject OF deep regret to me that
am again called to this unpleasant, duty
that, for the third time since have occupied
judicial station. | am required to pronounc,
tho fatal sentence which is 10 terminate th,
earthly existence OF fellow mortal, an,
that the circumstances of the case are sucl
as to leave no reasonable hope that it will no
be carried into execution But however
painful anil unpleasant may be tho duty t.
doom fellow being to the ignominy of ,
public execution the law requires it and i
must be done. And when | reflect that thi.
penalty has been established by the law ts
which we all owe subsection, that il has beer
sanctioned by the practice of civilized, en-
| lghtened. and christian nation-that in YOU
case the crime was established by such sat
isfaciory proof us to leave not shade o
doubt, that this penalty will be inflicted OF
the guilty, yield to my duty as the minis
ter ofthe law, and feel that the voice of bloc,
cries from the ground that the senienc,
should be awarded You have, with de
gree ofcrnelty and maligniiy rarely 10 b,
met with, deprived a fellow being Of life
one to whom you was under obligation 10 b.
protector, and who, as a human being, hat
acclaim 10 be secured from lawless violence
She was your wife, and your lawful partner
for life; the connection may have been un
fortunate, and your lives may have been {
scene of wretchedness and crime<get Will,
there was life there was opportunity for ref
ormalion. You deprived her Of this oppor
tunity and killed herat a time when she
was unconscious Of danger, stupid from th'
| effecis of indnluence md with all her inner