The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-22
The Case of Amelia Norman-The Jury ant
the Lawyers-Popular Opinion.

The Case of Amelia Norman-The Jury and
the Lawyers-Popular Opinion.
This case has been from first to last one of very
painful interest II has been full of instruction
| and warning, not only to individuals but to the
community at a large. We have already endeavor-
ed-and we hope not altogether without success
| to educe from the case some profitable lessons.
And we deem the occasion and the opportunity TOO
valuable, important and impressive to permit them
TO pass without some additional effort to improve
them. The popular MIND, just like that of an indi-
vidual, is sometimes much more susceptible than
usual of good impressions. 1t occasionally gets a
revival lit of virtuous indignation, or reve
renee for moraity and on these occasionsi is very
apt, with characteristic haste and irrahonahty TO
exhibit conduct any thing but consistent with just,
sober or enlightened Judgment. Hence the increas-
ed and obvious necessity of at least attempting to
give to popular feeling proper and justifiabe di-
rection
In this case of Amelia Norman, the decision of
the jury has been such as must excite in the mind
of every sober and calm observer a very great
deal Of alarm. We need hardly say, after so full
an expression of our sentiments with respect to the
strong reasons for entertaining the deepest sympa
thy for the poor girl as that given in our article
last week, that can entertain more char
liable regard for her, or more indignant hatred of
the conduct of her destroyer than do. But, not
wlthstandlng this earnest sympathy and that vche-
ment adherence, we would be the last to justify
or excuse the conduct Of the jury. There could
be- doub; in their minds as to the Preparation
by the prisoner Of crime of very dark and hle-
nous character. And whatever righteous sympa-
thy they might have entertained, and which every
one but villain must have entertained for the
offender, it is clear that their oath, a regard to
solemn duty, justice-every consideration which
should press on the MUD OF juror-required them
to render verdict in strict accordance with the
law and the facts. But this they did not do In
open defiance Of the facts, as given in evidence,
they acquitted the prisoner. W. thus plainly and
decidedly pronounce our disapprobatlon Of the
conduct Of the jury in this Case, just we did with
equal frankness and decision in the case
Of the jury at whose hands Singleton Mer-
Ger received similar verdict. 1t is i'm
possible to exaggerate the frighuul consequences
which must inevitably follow such contempt of
duty and justice The solemn ceremonial of
trial by jury thus degenerates into perfect farce.
When reason and justice are driven from the trl-
bunal, and their place usurped by excited feeling,
who is there that can place confidence in i-who
is there that would not shrink with just dread from
such judges!
The lawyers in this case come in, most
doubtedy, for a share of meried castgation.-
They conducted it, all round, in the most bnnglng
manner These lawyers, with the greatest possible
afectation of superior tact, are. after ALL in many
respects, the most inveterate blockheads you
pick out of the whole realms of thick-skulldom.
They know nothing Whatever generally speaking,
of the management or direction of public opinion
in such cases as that which now occupies at
tention. Whatever there Vas effective in the
speech Of the counsel for the defence obtain
ed from the article on the subject in the Herald.
Indeed we have heard it stated that represe nta-
ton has been made in sundry quarters in this city
that that article was written by Mr.. John A. Nor
rill. This is the most laughable falsehood we have
heard of in an age. It's absurdlty is equaled only
by its impudence There is not lawyer at the
New York bar capable of writing article
for the Herald, without being instructed how
to begin, and how to continue, and how
to end it. Every editorial article which appears in
the Herald, is written in this ofiice-by whom it
matters not; but all written there under the con-
troll and superintendent OF one mind. Lawyers,
indeed, write editorial articles for this journal!
We perceive that Amelia Norman-the exposition
of whose grevous wrongs will, trust, attract the
public sympathy to that miserable sisterhood of the
lost and ruined from which she has been so singu-
Iarly redeemed--has been taken into the family of
Mrs. Chids, distinguished literary lady of this
city. We know something of this Mrs. Chds
She is.a lady of great literary attainments, good
deal of ranscendentalist-still more, to her Gre
dit be it said, .of neutrality-suspicious. has written
some very curious things in the Boston papers, es
pecially her description of Ole Bull, which had
more life, spirit, and genius about it than any other
pen-and-ink sketches of that remarkable man
which we have seen. We should not at all be sur
prised if Mrs. Childs' new protegs were now to
| become one of the most remarkable women
of the age in this country. She will enter
into fashionable society, and be taken by the
hand by hundreds of pulling sentimentalists of
her sex, who would not have allowed her
to touch the hem of their garment before the re-
markable incidents of her attempt on the life OF her
seducer and her trial had given romantic interest
| 10 her name Next season, then, Amelia may be
| the regning belle of Rockaway and Saratoga. Maj
Willis may be writing paragraphs about her In the
| Intetiigcacer, coming dozen new outiandish cpl
| thets to describe her beauty and strongly marked
character. And, before the season be over, Major
| Jack Downing may have written fifty or sixty
stanzas on her eventful history. Do you srare
readerl Spare your admiration till you know
something more of that luctuating paradox, New
York fashionable society-ever varying its mystic
rous phases and never TO be perfectly unriddled
analyzed and understood tiil--the millennium.
Now the sum of the whole matter is this: Pub
lie sentiment is in a sadly diseased state. 1t re-
quires education, the sober restraints Of Judgment
and genuine morality. With respect to this part
cuar crime of seduction, in particular, great dea
Of laxity Of opinion prevails. Let not the popular
Indignation res, satisfied with an occasional victim
like Ballard, to the enormty Of whose offences
J accidental circumstances have directed its over.
whelmlng vengeance. Let the whole class, OF