Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-06-23
Frsa the N. y. Express.
OF EDWARDS.


gratified by the verdict of the Jury, pronoun- |
cling this stupendous forger GUILTY."
A somewhat suspicious composition of
the Jury rendered it doubtful during this |
whole trial, whether the law would reach !
this magnificent criminal. The long delay |
of the Jury in agreeing to verdict, added
to these suspicious and yesterday morning
there was but little hope out of doors that !
the IL men would agree to abide by the law
and the evidence, which were so clear, that
Judge Kent could not but charge directly
against the prisoner.
The power of money in this case was con-
sidered so strong, when so well supported,
by eloquence and great names, that the con-
test was long and doubtful, but it has happi-
ly resulted for the right No power of the
dollar now, we see, nor perversion of intel
lect can, even in New York, save such
criminal from the Justice due to his crime.
| The career Of Edwards has been long and
brilliant. He has figured in both the old
world and new. He is now to have the end
Of his rascality in the prison of the State.
COURT OF OYER AND TRIMMER, June IA.
| SENTENCE OF THOkIAS TOPPING.
The Court directed that Edwards be piil-
ced on one side, and the prisoner, Topping,
| be put to the bar.
| Mr. Whiting then stated to the Court, that
the prisoner had been .cted during the
present term of the Court, of the murder OF
his wife, and moved that judgement be pass
I'd -s,l.o.. h;1' ~ee~rdins IN law.
t. Mr.. Vandervoort asked the prisoner II he
had any thing to say why sentence Of death
should not be passed upon him.
Prisoner-There are more persons here
now than will be at my execution, suppose.
know no more about it than the Child un-
born, with the exception Of one thing, going
into the room and coming out OF it. lay
by her three hours and half, and she dead.
got up from my place, and said to her, "rise;
I there has been no victuals cooked for two
| days." and put my toe to her to wake her,
but there was no reply; rolled her over
on her breast and found she was cold-dead;
| lifted her in my arms, and took her TO the
! bed, and she appeared like child-she fell
out of my arms upon the bed The stream
was running warm from her heal then, and
thought she was not dead. and | covered
her so high (pointing to his chest) with the
clothes. l put my hand upon her bosom,
and my mouth to hers-but SO it was and
she was dead! When was arrested, said
we had lived together 81 years: and were
they to part that way, and if had done it, /
ought to remember something about it. |
don't even remember her features l only
recollect that there was such person. If
am to die, hope God will give me strength
to bear it.
Judge K-nt-Thomas Topping, you were
tried by fair and intelligent jury-you
were defended by able and faithful lawyers
and your case received every attention
which could be given to it; and it now be-
comes my duty to pass upon you the SEN
tence of the land which is the sentence of
death. You must prepare to dle
| Prisoner-I hope am prepared.
Judge Kent-The Court is glad to see the
state OF mind you appear TO be in, and hopes
you realize your dreadful situation. Among
the dreary list of crimes which it has been
my painful duty to try, yours was the worst,
it was cruel and lingering torture of a HUI
man being. and that being the wife Of your
bosom for 81 years and the mother OF III
children.
Prisoner, your end is rapidly approaching,
you will soon leave this world, and we have
done all that human law can do. You have
shed the blood of human being, and the
law pronounces that yours must pay the
forfeit. This world is receding from your
view, but there is another world and anOth-
er tribunal at which you must soon stand.
(The prisoner here made another remark
which we did not catch.)
We hope you speak with sincere regret,
for though mercy may be obtained at that
lilOulIdIs oLlll IL IL tAot iAA|itJ 40
not obtained by true repentance which alone
can avail you.
Prisoner-The Court will give me time, l
hope
Judge Kent-You will have all the time
the law allows, and you will be attended by
those better fitted than myself to counsel
and advise you, but even !, a frail erring be-
ing like yourself, must divert your attention
to Him from whom alone you can find mcr-
cy. Wrap not yourself up in imaginary
innocence, for y on arc very guilty mln in
dccd-you have committed dreadful mur-
der on your wife, the mother Of your child
rem. But do not wish to harrow your feel
ings, would only attempt to bring you to
proper sense of your situation, and urge
you by sincere prayer to obtain mercy from
the Almighty.
Thomas Topping, the judgment of the law
is that, on the 9Th of August next, you be
hung by the neck till you are dead, and may
God have mercy on your soul!
! The prisoner was then remanded appa-
rently little affected by the sentence. His
sister was in Court during the morning sit
ting by him-she wept bitterly. The scene
was truly distressing. ....
CONGRESSIONAL.
Correspondence ofthe N. Y. Tribune.
1 WASHINGTON, June IL.
| The Senate did not sit to day.
| In the House, message was received
! from the Senate, stating that they had pass