Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-04-22

ing Ol liz DcT1On ny tne, nanu Oi Mercer, must
have been proved TO the satisfaction Of your
minds beyond reasonable doubt. You will
take the facts on this pon, as they are, und de-
eide according to your conscicnccs.
If you bring home the killing to this defend
ant, another important question arises. Was
the killing murder, shall place this now
before YOU as murder in the first degree, ifany
crime a, all. You will therefore have no diff
Guilty in deciding the different grades.
The law of this cuse has been fully explained
in the very eloquent opening Of my colleague
from Philadelphia. which will stand as monu-
ment of bis professional ability so long as the
history Of this case shall continue. And ]
must also be permitted to express my adrnira-
tion Of the manner in which the prosecuting
Attorney has discharged his duty OH this occa.
| sion.
| Did the defendant, when he killed Hrbcr.
ton know that he WAS committing an offence
against the laws Of God and nature' shall
show from the evidence that he had not that
| knowledge.
| In the frs, place, was il an offence! This
isa necessary preliminary question, for if the
provocntio,r justified the net, then he has been
guilty Of no crime whatever.
| Could YOU have visited The fircsidc, and heard
the tale OF that gray-harcd father but one short
month before this unfortunate occurrence, you
would have heard that he abandoned the home
Of his fathers, the land where the heel Of dcs.
potsm treads down the rights y: man, but
where generosity and the social affections are
The bir,hrght Of all he would have told you
that he came to this country-that when the
American flag was nnfurlcd during the last
war with Great Britain, he fought with Dcca-
,ur, and your own Lawrence, and Somcrs, un-
der that flag. He would have told you how he
went on by honest industry, for he was but a
common sailor under Decatur, from poverty to
competence. You would have seen at this
fresde this young man there you would have
seen this vnnng Girl innnrpnt and nns""r""'
ing. She knew not then the doctrine ofill, nor
knew that others did If the heart Of this old
man then swelled with gratitude to Heaven,
he had reason for the feeling. He could say.
"my sons are all brave, and my daughters all
virtuous." The alter on which the sacred feel
ings burn brightest is the family hearth.
The evidence shows you how, in one short
month, withnu, any one act on the polt OF that
circle. the evidence shows you what change
, has been effected. The evening Of the Ctr o
! February the ather received caution 70 It
, on his guard aCains, the lber'inc Of whom th'
r Attorney General has become tho apo'og ST nnl
r champion. He merely sent message for he
TO return homc-Parcna solitude was awak
! cned. The servant did not tell her that he
4 father "had found out the conn"xion betwee'
2 her and Hsberton on that subject" but smpl
that she had been seen walking with iiehcrto
{ and hope the Reporters will mark this OF
4, yious distinction Her eyes were opened, an
. she saw the infatuation OF her conduct. Fo
r YOU will recollcct that she said, "Shc love
|, him; :" that he had promised to make her h
!, wife. Then it was that she fed to those den
/, of prostitution which her feet had never tro'
r which her heart had never visited. Then
. was that at that freside was heard the sound q
!, lamenta,ion and woe. Then il was that sic
n mother left her house at night, and went to IN
n mother of Ilebertnn, for she felt that If liebe
I ton could not give back her daughter a M
J. theirs heart could feel a mothers woe.
l. She was the younger sister-all brother
p affections were ga-nered up in that young s
J, ter. He was her natural protector.