New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-09-28
Sentence of wiley and Colt.


yours truly, WINFIELD SUI L.
Sentence of Wiley and Colt.
In the Court Of Oyer and Terminer yesterday
morning considerable interest was excited by the
fact the sentence Of the law was to be pronounced
upon WILLIAM WILEY, convicted of having re-
ceived 100000 stolen from Maryland Bank, and
JOHN c.. CoLr, convicted of the murder of Samuel
Adams.
In passing sentence upon Wiley, Judge KENT
remarked that his original intention of proaeuncing
the sererest sentence the law would allow had
been changed by the recommendation by the Jury
of the prisoner to mercy, by the consideration that
the offender had already suffered much in the
depth Of infamy to which his crime had sunk him,
and that his crime was the first of the kind ever
presented in the State. He then sentenced him to
Imprisonment in the County Jail for six months,
and to pay fine of $3.50. Mr. Blunt stated that
he had an order from Judge Cowen, of the SUI
preme Court, to stay execution of the sentence as
the case would be carried up.
Golf was then placed at the bar. MIR. SELDEN,
Counsel for the prisoner, asked leave to argue
technically in the decision of the Supreme Court
but it was refused. Colt then rose to receive his
sentence He was neatly dressed in black, and
though somewhat thinner and more pale his ap-
pearance had not greatly changed since his trial.
He exhibited the same cool Indifference and in
reply to the formal question, I" what have you to
say why judgement should not be pronounced
against you?" handed ts the Court the following
paper which was read by Judge Kent:
"rrbc ,osop now hold is 10 entent being the most
agonsng possible 1t is more painful than TIE struggle OF
death itself BIT il is a form OF procedure that am
obliged pass through before case reaches The last IT.
buna of tie State which il will he carried IN accordance
with that justice which cannc be denied To the meanes
mankind Most cheertuy will submit my case to inal
examination by the Court Errors fully believe II will
sci aside the judgement the jury who Sc led aside
by prejudice and error trumple on The eydence-to
lcanpic on the aw-lo rampe OH the Judges Charge
Amid the thousand false runiors IL circulation DIT tie tie
OF and before my trial. II may net ho"e'et oe consuesu
conclusion For it truth, that no man Can question,
the reputable characters have Often been pre-
indeed even without themselves being aware OF the TACT
How far tnaSe prejudices affected the jury, may he IN
TERED the fact that one OF them Mr. Husled rt'natke
before the trial, that Colt should tie hung first and tried
af,erward" which will be proved by tue afdaVi's oil sew
era respectable witnesses All that unfortunately situated
as am can pect is impartial trial by jury ms IS
ali oesire and this the NJ ,anest IN te seelS h'
right 10 demand. Misfortune not crime, has placed me
in tits position and although low down as possible with
out being annihate st rest assured have not SO lost
se;rcpect regard Tor the crcd OIL the species as
lbs hm
rot 70 he , end OF tbs business tha,
W IL spare me the pain all unnecessary powers OF SEN
fence especially tue accompanying comments
Judge KENT said that the Court had desire to make
comments The scene, said he painful 10
the Court distressing To you only now refuse
10 accede TO your request for the purpose OF making
few remarks the conduct or The jury. IL IS due 10
,ice and is due 10 one of the most intelligent Iures
That ever sat Court OF Justice, that SHOULD not allow
,hr il: this their appropriate ls@na 10 De auceI n,
must that eIpiessonl without entering my solemn
protest against IL hat jury was selected out OF three
hundred respectable citizens, taken lndscria
inatey city, selected under most vigorous eSer
else OF the perempory challenge by the prisoner ana IN
any case where objections we're raised and allowed II was
in favor tue prisoner nus seltcte, "! eeieano IN
Cour was such entile them 10 The highest conSdfra
tion OF The tribunal which they appeared Cut OIL from
with their families, separated from their business
and b, world enclosed here in scyt OF prison for eleven
DAYS never OF them exhibit the slightest imps-
,encc: on the contrary they bore with most exemplary
naiienc and dignity unnecessary delays IN the pro
1rrs OF the. ral calmly honestly, uuialterEg!y
only TO discover Tie truth iroRi The appalling evidence
spread before Had these men been followed TO their
roon should have seen I've same que' clh nohe ~
uniry attending ctaracer!ZDg their deiDeratos IN
81 far the eere this paper expresses dissatisfaction with
and contempt of The Court and Jury, 1t IS the conscientious
opison HIM who now addresses you maj II Is ehley
incorrect and unsupported 1t that Court erred al oil.
believe did in too enient construction oil ths crcui
of your offence and happy VIII &c or lnoeenee
10 hear as ready 10 believe, as humane 70 forgive go
moi wish 10 prolong distressing You man
of education-a OF talent Wehaye haa Inc most SITE
ing ard Impressive evidence that calmly contemplate
and coolly The alarming Crisis Ia human NE
will therefore address 10 yon any on INC
ordinary topics addressed 10 CRIMINALS on ne approach al
death leave thai your reflections, SIMPLY acaAg tnat
so far rs the Court they now about 10 APP
poi.t the ultimate hour existence and trust you
will ,rct that hour relying upon human means aud
that hen earth disappearing from your view not on
earthly ,hags will yonr thoughts DC paced. Is my uty
10 saw y, addition appears 10 lie that you eVlnce me
mos, total usensibty regarding The crime whose coni;i
SION i, ~ugh hi you that bar For be II remembered
houpr yyyrc, ureS debated what degree OF offence
i uz.4rt.fer II were technical DlErder, o. technical
r,ausao.-r no doubted that was crime OF
Inc, and enorEii,y, and whlcn cas- ie
tho deem stain blood outlines on your soui II i
crime too whose commission has sunk deep IN he con
r,nDity Leaving OF view ali ihose appalling clrcun
stances which followed the comnlsslos OF that noico
which Will distress you nor myself oy summing up
now-,-ayng out OF view all but those gaping wounds
themselves no doubt 81 that the deed was marker 0S
ierocious passion and sanguinary cruelty
Col, mere manifested wish 10 speak. and
Judge X. paused. In loud voice and with
greatly excited tone the prisoner said
He did mol want 10 convey The idea thai the Jury acted
yilfuy wrong but that they were misseG. The ynases
charge is the br, argument 10 prove thai 90 MOI us
the rloyes OF The JGry only speak OF them as having been
In error which Ii. believe, the opino oil nias 1e'it
~ ,h community So far as regards my orn conscience IL
nv. affair assure you sir, that would rdber uu't zoe
inI, ff,;r IN God himself than man. never costleu
~ in my life that would not have done again ohoeF ~
,,,.tarcas Depend gpon H. an not the man 'Sho
con{ receive an insult wout making some Feia.'oEt
IRE retaliation was made with aGy 'iea OF Atog !s
ma, but he mad. lhe assault and was rstOosioe 10.
.craurrS thinh, have hsso treDel4r eH' et1
H. s-,,c,aot nIennt 10 convey that U OF paper ali
rea,v Tor The, .ertsncr rs kaox II cannot be aHoiarG
Tndp- Kr-rue viii Row be promo y llE
an EXPRESSION OF the regret win winch ..e 80
,arkad suob morbid nsensbiy as you EXHIBIT 10 5oai
ns, snAecb and which conyiDces me maj any
n.L wonid he lost The sentence OF the court IS tbalEoas