Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-14
'rrial for Murder.

A trial of considerable interest has recently taken
place in Orleans county-that of mother for the al
legged murder of her child by drowning in Black River
The Irasburgh Record contains brief report of the
trial, by member of the bar, from which give the
following:
at is confessed, the evidence disclosed dcts calcu-
lated to create sympathy, and excite commiSeralion
That she the of the child's death, did not
seem to be seriously dened--but the main defence
was that the wrong and outrage upon her property and
person. her own personal sufferngs end restitution.
had produced i'll her mind, -naturoily weak and imbe-
clle-such temporary desperation and mania that she
not morally nor legally responsible for her acts
1t was in evidence, that she Lad ever been apparent
y fond Of the child; that she mad nurtured it with great
and soicude that size had even the winter pre-
vlous, Travelled on foot two miles and half twice
week, and brought potatoes in her apron 10 sustain the
chIl1 ana TINS somet4m with the to her knees;
that she was driven by cold from the howell where she
was shelterng herself that the winds might not visit
her too roughly she bore this child in her arms with its
tcct even Ifo2en, TO her 0rothern-aws and was re-
pulsed; she Travelled on and taken in by an old 81,
marian, ny the name of Bean; he kept her and the
child til June, and then set her across the AXE IN his
boat, for the purpose Of procuring aid from the author
ties OF Derby. Brit she obtained no relit.f-thenct
Lransprcd the act for which she is arraigred."
The Jury were unable to agree, and were discborg
cd The defence is said to have. been conducted witt
much ability by James Bell ard L. P. Poland, Esqrs.
The following is sketch of the opening remarks 0
the venerable James Be- in defence of the prisoner
The time occupied IL, delivering this part was near
an hour from when fact the reader will infer that thi
is but mere So etch.l
"May please your honor, and gentlemen of the Ju
ry; stooo among giants tho not Of them. My com
r3des at the bar have fallen; Fletcher, the inelaga
pie, P firing advocate, where is he? Eternity echoe
The IS mere" -Cushman, the County, and the eloqucn
lawyer; the kind and feeling man, the poshe and SC
cal companion aud friend, is where? The unsee
, world answers "Here.' Mattocks lives, thank Goo
n but is withdrawn from the clash of mind with mind tn
combas of intellect and wit, the flashing humor an
grave debate ofthe bar to the retremens ofhis family
am alone; old tree, stript of its foliage and tat
= tered beneath the rude storms of seventy winters; bu
o lately PROSTATE at the verge Of the grave, suppose
4 my race was run, expected never again to be hear
in the defence ofthe unfortunate accused
But heaven has spared me, another monument of il
mercy, and rejoice in the opportunity of uterin&
perhaps my last public breath in defence of tho poo
- weak, imbecile prisoner at the bar.
Gentlemen, she is a mother; she is charged wit
" MURDER with the murder of her own child She is al
ragned here frendless Stranger she is without tn
3 means to reward COUNSEL and has not the intelligence
as have had sorry occasion to know, to dictate to he
r. counsel a single fact relating to her case.
" have come to her defence, without the slightes
hope Of reward she has nothing to give bu; thick dar
Z, poverty, and of that, too, have already more tina
Is enough.
But am happy to say that the hardships Of her cas-
= has made friends among strangers. And the war;
II sympathes which have been extended to her. and tn
er aid have received from all the members of the ba
during this trial. strongly indicate thatthe great heart
and good minds of many departed brothers. have lie
s. their impress on these tnelr SUCCESSORS"