Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-06-28
Trial, Conviction and Sentence
Of the Hodges.

Il - ss0S
The trial Of William and Stephen
Hodges, arraigned for the murder Of John
Miller, in Lee county, on the 10th Of last
month, resulted in . verdict ofguilty against
both. The trial occupied the whole week,
the case not being submitted to the jury
till about nine o'clock on Saturday night.
The testimony, even in an abridged shape,
is too voluminous for our columns, and we
shall not therefore attempt to publish it.
The fact that a very large number Of our
readers were present at the trial and heard
the evidence detailed renders such pub
lication less necessary. It is conceded on
all hands that the proof against the prison
ers was such as to justify the verdict. II
not positive it was as nearly SO as can well
be imagined. Not doubt is entertained
by any Of the business of the verdict, or
the guilt Of the wretched men now under
sentence Of death.
The department Of the Hodges through
out the trial, was marked by singular
manifestation Of apparent indifference as to
the result. A stranger, unacquainted with
the circumstances, never would have
dreamt, Judging from their looks and con-
J duct, that they were on their trial for life
and death. Indeed, when the verdict Of
"guilty" was rendered by the jury, they
received it without the slightest percepti-
BILE change Of countenance, and as though
they would have been disappointed at any
other result. And even while listening to
the touching and melting sentence of the
Judge, booming them to the felon's death,
they manifested but little sensibility. Both
avowed their innocence, and expressed a
readiness to meet their fate. The younger
brother, Stephen, it is apparent, however,
is the master spirit in daring and crime,
and the foregoing remarks relative to the
bearing Of both throughout the trial will
apply with more force to him than 10 Will
liam.
/ The jury, we understand, had but little
difficulty in agreeing upon their verdict.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday
morning, in the presence Of an immense
concourse Of spectators. Great interest
was unaffected in the trial during its pro-
gress, and the rush was general to learn
the result.
| The prosecution was conducted by Mr..
Stockton, Prosecuting Attorney, and Mr..
Reid, Of Fort Madison. Messrs. Hall
and Mills conducted the defence.
The execution, it viii be seen, is to take
place on Tuesday, the 18th Of July-twe
weeks frcm next Tuesday.
J The following is copy Of the sentence
pronounced BY Judge Mason. 1t is ap
|rropriate and very beautiful, and was de
livered with much feeling and embarrass
Iment.
SENTENCE OF THE COURT.
The trial on which your lives depende,
has now terminated, and to you that ter
, mination is fatal. After full and fair in
vestigation, that Jury to which you had en-
! trusted your fate, and which from the priv
ileges extended to you, may almost be sal,
\ to have been Of your own selection, hav,
declared you guilty Of murder--a murde
too which in point Of atrocity, may almos
be said to be unparalleled in the annals Q
crime. With scarcely an apparent induce
ment for the commission of the most trivia
of offences, you have been guilty of tn
greatest. You have not only with sacri
ligious hand invaded the sacred fountain
!, of life, but with an apparently deliberat
. purpose, nearly akin in malice to that 0
the arch fiend, you have entered the it'll
: Eden Of love and contcntment, with whicl
, ; quiet and unoffending family were sur
rounding themsels es-cut off in the bloom
. and maturity Of manhood two Of their chic
supports; drenching their very heartl
stones with their liie's blood, and broueh
desolatlon and unutterable woe into tha
house which but for you would have bee
the abode Of all the sacred charities and in
nocent pleasures Of domestic life.
Nor are the consequences Of your Grim
5 confined to the immediate sufferers
| Though lessened in intensity, they hav
, extended to the whole community.
feeling Of apprehension and insecurity ha
been communicated to every cottag
throughout the country. When blame
, lcssness Of life which creates no enmitie
"a mediocrity Of condition which excite
no envy-when an almost entire absenc
Of that motive which addresses itself to tn
sordid love Of gain, cannot secure the slum
berer from the assaults of the midnight as
sassin, well may the indweller of ever
cabin feel tha. anxiety and wide sprea
: CONSERVATION which must so greatly aug
ment the aggregate evils Of human exist
6 ence. M
For all these evils, immediate and re
mote, the law holds you responsible, an
is now about to apply ali that there is Z
: remedy within its reach. Blood for bloc
J rs its stern demand, and never was that san
, culinary requisiton more righteous. Tn
able to restore the dead, it accords thu
much Of vengeance to the living. You
lives too, are regarded as incompatible wifi