Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-01-26
AMELIA NORMAN.

This young woman has been on trial.
before the New York Court of Sessions, tho
past week, for an assault on Henry S. Bal
lard, with intent to kill, by s,abbing him with
dirk knife, on the soop Of tho Astor
House. 1t seems that size came to New
York some two years since, an innocent,
arilcss, but respectable girl. She fell in
company with Ballard who won her airnc-
tons, and under promise of marriage be-
trayed and ruined her. He has supported
and Kept her along in the mean time, under
prctcnce of ultimately marrying her; but
finally cast her of rcnnyless, without a shell
ter, and told her "shc must &c, her living
as other prostitutes did" This was too
much for human nature to bear. Aiming
herself with dirk knife, she posted herself
at the door Of the Astor House, and watching
her opportunity, buried her weapon in tho
bosom Of her bctraycr, following it up with
a second and a third stroke-whcn she was
arrested and secured. Ballard recovered,
however, and Amelia was held to trial for
attempt TO kill.
THE trial was brough, 10 a close on Friday
evening and we learn from the New York
papers that " the whole day had been occu.
pied by the counsel in summing up. Tho
Recorder made his charge to the Jury at
abont nine o'cock-a fair Charge, though
. with a leaning against the prisoner on tho
technical grounds of law He instructed the
Jury not to regard what the counsel for tho
defence had said to them in palliation of tho
prisoners oilcncc-not 10 consider any of
the allegations made respecting the conduct
of Mr.. Ballard-hccausc it had been his
: duty to rule out all the evidence offered on
these points; bnt of course he could not
; make the jury forget all these things. He
instructed them tia, if they believed the act
f to have been done under sudden and strong
excitement, they might acqut; as this
would do away the averment of intent 10
D kill or mann. The jury took him at this
, word, and in ten minutes came back with
s verdict Of NOT GUILTY which was received
e by the auditors with hearty cheers and ex-
= tainted, and Mr.. Graham, her counsel had
7. to undergo trial of hand shaking as severe,
y though not so protractcd, as that which dis
v turbcd the cquanimlty Of Laiaye,tc when he
5, was in New York" This unfortunate fe-
&c male found friends in her misfortune and
d dcsiitution-and the public sympathes were
J.. strongly enlisted in her favor. She was
: attended in Court by a Mrs. Hopper, a
e Quaker lady of some distinction in New
s. York, and by Mrs. D. L. Child, literary
$, lady Of much cmincncc, both conspicuous
,e for chivanc humanity, and whose pres
,c encc in Court was no, without a profound
in effect upon the jury. Two other respectable
vc ladies' were present, to give her counlcnanco
@. and support. The New York Express. in
in its remarks on the result of the trial, says
sc 1t is the difficult and painful task Of the
a Press, if 1t makes any remarks upon such
90 cas-" nc 'hs. to cypress dissatisfaction will
these vcrdic!s against law. seemingly ius,i
Z, fed, however, upon the doubtful defence o.
ed insanity. To allow people 10 take the re.
as dress Of their wrongs into their own hands
nd and to use knives and dagycrs in rcdrcssine
he them, is to unhngc all society. Society
~ however. in such cases as these, as in the
,or case of Il.hcrton, shu.s its eyes, and closes
lat its ears, and listening only to the impulse
ic- of the heart, excuses FIRST, and alicrward
he usIlIes the guilty. And what a lesson doe
ng this whole case teach TO men trcading til,
cy dangerous pathways Of Illicit crime VIVA
oh a loss Of character is here What peril o
WI life How mcagre the pleasure thus cost
al purchased, and how terrific the punishment
RI The Tribune contains the following reflec
to tons upon Justice as melted out by men
en- Happy it is that there exists an eqnltabl,
he and just God, who will override the wronj
lie doings Of This world.
C. "a hard cdse.-A woman, who in a 4
- Of phrenzy, slabs the man who has RUNE
ed. her by the bascst treachcry, must answer 70
~, it to the law, though hers is only an attempt
'1r. but for the man, whose long career Of peri
~, dy and brutal lust has effected her ruin, an
uld whose cowardly selishncss has several time
m placed her life in extreme jeopardy, tho Law
va has no penalty Such is now the law O
of New York Such is Human Justice !"
his ----- ----
il o. The Patisburgh Wing places tn
q, name Of TnURLow WEED at the head Q
m. its columns, as Il candidate for Governor {
Il. Of "A or q