The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-04-10

this world.
From the st. Louis Reveil'e.
"NIako room, for John Porierneid 10 Xii
JudsODr
We have already mentioned the
recent killing of one Porterheld by
Judson in Nashville, but further par
ticulars display the matter as one OF
the most extraordinary occurrences
of the kind that has occurred in the
west-truitful as it is in such hor-
rors. A criminal intercourse had
existed between Judson and Porter
fields wife, who must have been
one of the most depraved of her sex,
dishonoring as she did, with truly
worthless fellow, a most confding
and estimable husband. The hus-
band and his brother meeting Jud-
son after the discovery, the brother,
John Porterfeld, fired three shots at
him, when Judson, still endeavoring
to retreat, returned shot and kill
ed the husband. During his subse-
quent examination, an the c0url
room, voice cried out-"Make
,r2om for John Porterfeld to kill
J,ue"on - and instantly the crowd
uiu n.Nkc room, overcoming the
Sherlil, WAC sought to protect the
prisoner, ana John Porterfield fired
eight or nine more shots at Judson,
as he fled from the room in the con-
fusion. Betwecn the court and the
hotel opposite, the fugitive was,
further, knocked down by stone,
and other shots were fired at him ;
and then, pursued into the third sto-
ny OF the house, he still escaped in
slant deah by Jumping 10 The
ground, when he was taken up in
sensible. Conveyed now to Jail,
a meeting was held, and at night a
moo' including, of course, "some of
h tne most "na, ,hhsspectable citizens"
oroNe open the iail, took Judson to
the pno,ic Squar. and hung him
as the account read the rope had
been partially sevIed. nrevi-
ously! After this serie, If n r
alleled perils, Judson VS. taLcn
back to the Jail, where he t;II re-
mains-if "some of the most sroc
table citizens" have not chiiGod
their minds; and now, as a fiRna
climax to the horrible story of adj
terry, bloodshed, and outraged law
read the following no less extraor
binary comment of the Nashville edi
tor, who details the circumstances !:
"ln this country as far as oul
knowledge goes, public opinion MOI
only excuses, but justifes the sum.
mary and unceremonious killing b,
the husband, Of the man who dis.
honored his wife. Before God, We
could stand by and see such an of.
fender shot down by the injured
husband, with as little regret as W,
could see sheep-killing dog shot
Had Robert Porteriield armed him.
self with a musket, and shot dowr
Judson as he walked the streets, he
would have stood excused and jus.
tilted before this community. Hat
John Porterfeld succeeded in hi.
attempt to kill him, he, too, woult
have been excused by public opin.
ion. He was acting under the inhu.
ence of sush maddning provocations
as every one who knows him know.
he would not have acted, had time
been given him for cool reflection
We make no remarks upon the
sanguinary spirit of this extract,
further than to point out the self
condemning argument which is used
4 infayor of the atrocious doctrine
contained in it. John Porteriild is to
be excused for first attempting the
life of Judson, because he was act.
ing under maddening influence, in
way he would not have acted
"had lime been giren him for COO,
! rclecfion." John Porterfeld, then
) owes much to that public opinion
which, trampling upon the law, and
offering, in fact, civic wreath to
phrenzy, has cost him brothers
life, and that further peace which
"cool reflection" never more can
bring him. No more of blind i'm
partial justice, but give her scales
to blood shot passion. Instead OIL
Fiat JSiaid, let there be inscribed
within our court rooms - N'#
"Mahe ray for lain Porierfela
to kiN JudSon !"
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