The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-05-02
TRIAL FOR MURDER.

TRIAL FOh MURDER.
Eugene Clifford was tried for the murder of his
,vfe at st. Albnns on the 18th of Aprl-Judgc Red
fsII presiding, assisted by the county Judges. The
srb,,nce Of the Indictment follows:
oTbe Indictment charged the prisoner with having
~ he 9Th day of October 1912, at Fairfield, IN
r,mkin County, killed Elizabeth Clifford, BY throw
ina the said Elizabeth into Fairfield Pond ESQ caled)
,vbereby she was choted and suIocated that she
died"
The franklin Messenger, April &c, contains re-
mort Of the trial. The testimony in the convinc-
ed the Jury OF his guilt, and they rendered verdict
accordingly, The prisoner was brought into Court 10
receive sentence. We copy the following from the
Messenger;
"On Thursday morning about o'clock the Pris-
oner was brought into court to receive his sentence
Tpon being ask d, in the customary way what obee
zion. he had to offer why sentence should not he pro-
nopnced against him Clifford arose and said ''I don't
see there's any use in my speaking any thing here
~ this court declare that am innocent of this Of
fence and the witnesses who have been testfyng
hero have sworn falsely and all to gain little blood
money I say before God, l am not guilty.
The Chief Judge, before pronouncng sentence,
made some remais upon the argument o. Nr Beard
slew on behalf of the Prisoner, which was delivered
he night before. 1t contended by Mr. Beardsey
chat the peculiar phraseology ofthe Act Of 1912 was
Inconsistent and irreconceabIe with the old law and
therefore, the repeal of the furnishing those gull
y Of murder with death-that it was the intention of
the legislature to abolish capital punishment, Sc
The Judge said, although the argument was well tim
ed and very ingenious, he felt it incumbent on him
70 differ and TO point out the He did so,
aud afterwards pronounced sentence upon the Prison
er, in the words following, to wit:
at i the Judgment Of this Court that for this Of
fence YOU suffer death by hanging to be executed up
on yon soon may be in due Of law, after
the expiration Of one year from this wenty first day
Of ApI, thousand eight hundred and forty three;
and in the time, and until the punishment Of
death can he inflicted upon you, you be 70 thwith
committed to solitary confinement in the State prison
in Windsor in the county Of Windsor.
In his address to the Prisoner, the Judge explained
him his position, and the reason Why year of
IMPRISONMENT was allowed before the highest punish
meut of the law was inflicted. It was that if any
new facts brought to light proving the imo
conce of the convicted man, that he might have the
benefit Of them,-and also allow time for The per-
son condemned To prepare for death.
The sentence and the address wrought n great Ell
feet upon the Prisoner. The blood forsoo his cheeks
which nuch banch ed by his confinement his
knees irenbed-and he seemed if the dreadful
oFhis position had just flashed before his sight,
and, in broken manner begged of the Court not to
impris0n him but hang him early day, for he
might get distracted in his cell and take his life.
We was then remanded to prison and being exhaus
Hae was supported on the way by deputy shcrias
nn-ue and Scott. The poor murderer lies now in
he dungeon of the gaol heavy ironed that he may
.ommit violence upon himself or his keeper and
hat escnpe may be impossible.
Eugene Clifford is II man about % years OF age,
native of ireland, of the medium height and with
countonance by means savage or unpreposscssing.
His corrnge is very soldier like and he has not got
rid Of carrying his head very erect as he was accus-
toned wll4n in Her Majesty's 9th Regiment. This
Appearance was not in his favor and seemed to show
that he was bidding hnughty defiance TO the Court
and jury and that he entertained overegn contempt
FOR all around him. And whether this fact had any
weight with the jury, we will not undertake to deter-
mine.