Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-08-11
COMPUTATION OF SENTENCE.

BRAN Wilcox; who was TO have been exc
cuted on Tuesday mex; for the murder Of
Samuel Mcklnster, in December last, has
had his sentence commu:cd by Governor
Wright TO imprisonment for life, and that
he started on Thursday in the custody 0:
the Sheriff, for the Clinton prison.
The prisoner, without apparent provo
cation, had publicly, but without word of
alteration or any sign of passion, stabbed
the deceased, inficting silently and. rapid
ly nineteen wounds, many of them mortal
n the presence OF a number of Witnesses,
not one of whom supposed he was using u
deadly weapon. After this, he disappear
ed, aad wos found in the barn hanging by
the neck insensibe,ahd was with difficulty
restored 10 lii'e 10 the communication of
Gov. Wright TO the Sheriff OF Saratoga,
he refers TO these characteristics of the Of
fence, and TO testimony adduced on the trial
showing apparent dclus;on of mind on the
port of the accused; and though admitting
that if a juror on The case, he would have
been compelled to find the same verdict
that was rendered on the trial-g;ves the
benefit of possible doubt TO the prisoner,
prsonment for life In this he is SUSTAIN
ed by the opinion of the Chancellor who,
on review Of the evidence, is convinced
that the testimony of the INSANITY Of the
accused was complete, and who advised
his detention in Lunatic. Asylum, instead
OF in The State Prison. The opinion of
the three Supreme Court Judges was ad
verse 10 this, and the engagements of the
Attorney General prevented his advice
being obtained; but with this evidence that
the case admitted Of SO wide difference Of
construction, The Executive felt conslrain
ed to lean to the side Of mercy, SO far as to
commute 10 Imprisonment for life the verde
the Court had awarded 10 the prisoner.
When the prisoner was informed OF the
charge says he Ballsfon Democruct, he
exhibited no emotion of JOY, but cody re
parked in substance, that il was matter
OF very little importance TO himself Wha
was done with him, but that on acc cunt OF
his friends it would perhaps be better to
die a natural death than upon the scaliold
We copy tie above, not to furnish on
readers with an item Of news, but as the La
sis ola few general remarks. Il is pass
ing strange TO us, that intelligent men, in
considering cases of this kind, cannot take
such view Of them as the pllines'
principles OF well demonstrated tab;s, poin
out. There seems TO be a determination
on the part of Judges, jurors, and all off
GERS OF law, 10 carefully close their minds
against any of those Considerations, which
the we'll demonstrated science of the hi,
man mind furnishes, to elUcida;e tho caus,
OF the commission of such crime. a is de-
Ia led above, and to establish the exicn OF
guilt Of the offender. Here it appears IS !;
man, that W thout any proVocatipn, without 4
word OF alteration, OF 81 gn of passion, ia
ilicts silently and rapidly nineteen deadly
wounds upon another. He probably ox
hibtcd none of the signs OF a maniac; he
did not rave mady perhaps, nor Iali inco-
| herently, but are judges, nor uGors u4v4t
10 Learn, that such manifestations do not OF
necessity accompany such degree of IN
sanity, as properly should remove The cal
prit from physical torture or punishment,
and make him either a moral pllieA! or al
worst only to be confined beyond the power
of harm to others. We have ai. %. nearly all
in the course Of cur lives, seen cases o.
monomaLia, where patient was insane OH
one topic, aud sound on all others When
this m0nomana is hlrmless, we arc all
Ing enough 10 consider il in iustiica-
J NJ Lp II 10
unfortunate subjecl, but the mo n nj there
occurs case OF more savage kind and re-
suit, the cnlprit is denied any plea or iusti-
fica'on Of this kind and tried by the same
rules prescribed for lhJsc who by deliber-
ate exercise ofihe in.ellect and will, commit
murder. Is this right? In the case in
question, the press are at loss for any pos
sble motive which could have influenced
the prisoner; he had no motive Whatever,
but WAS The victim Of bad and diseased
mental organic alton. He had power
within rrcsIsiably impcliny him to The com
mission Of crime OF that kjnd. lie could
not himself give any reason for his conduct
nor furnish any motive; if he We're unac.
qnalnlcd with the mental organ cation OF
mankind, and with own he would plooably
say the Devil whispered in his ear; or refer
it to something ofthc kind. To Prove this,
III is not necessary,'h that the individual should
have manifested al! his life, marScd indjca-
tion Of bloody disposition. True, no in
dlvi'!ual, probably, who commits such
crime in such way, but has during life,
felt in some degree, these bloody hirstings
and unholy proinptings, but they may have
been subject to and under the control of
his will. Nevertheless in such cases, there
is no doubt but the faculty which originates
such feeling IS unnaturally developed, it is
strong and active, and finally aitans by its
natural growth ponderating influence
over the man, or by disease, or some acct
dental cause, is reused into fenzied action
which results in the commission of murder.
Such II appears 20 have been in this case.
1t maitered not to the criminal who his VIC
tim was; he hid no spite against the unlor-
tunate subject Of his frenzy, but be felt an
irresistible desire TO Stay, there was ihiIsi
for blood which all his intellect and MS bet
Ter feeling could not allay, and he d5iabt-
less felt savage delight as the murderous