The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-01-20
From the Wayne County (PaJ HeraM.
chronological Portrait.

Number XXX.

specimen oI tue genus hORO designated Oy
the appelalon of hARRw BELL was charged
with the murder Of Mrs Williams, the wife OF
the Rev Gershom Williams of Scott township,
Wayne Co. Pa and being indicted by gcaud
jury and put upon trial before Court Of Oyer
and Terminer Of that county, he was convicted
of Inc homicide charged aud sentenced to be
hung on the 29th day Of September, lsls; which
sentence was on the appointed day carried into
effect and the miserable culprt closed his career
of life on gaIows. While in prison at Homes.
dale, awaiting the sentence OF the law, he was
subjected to an examination by the writer, OF
which tho following is briet:
In the structure of body the convict Bell was
ayeragely well formed but modcratr,sze and
rather coarse quality ofparts. HeSa large with
thick bushy hair, which evidenced very thick
scull bone and consequent dlminutlon o! the
size Of the brain comparative with the slZe Of the
head and upon this it is assumed that the brain
was small and Of coarse texture. There appear.
ed also some considerable extent of muscle and
adipous between the integumenl and the Cranium
in the lateral region which was also to be taken
as subtraction from the size of the brain in those
directions In the general structure Of the Whole
physical system there was an evidence of an aver
age activity of body and brain: but no predomi
nancy of either temperament was shown
The portion of the brain under the corOnal re-
gion of the Uranium or scull bone, where are 10.
ca ted the Sentiments, was depressed, 50 that the
head showed but very moderate heighth above
the line Of the orifces Of the ears In the lateral
regions, where are located the Selfish PropenSt-
ties, the brain appeared be full and comPara
lively extended in the region Of the middle aud
anterior lobes; but in the posterior extremity
the breadth of the head was very much cOnrac
ted In the pOsterior region where are located
the bIindest OF the inpulses,i denomnated the
Instructive Feelings, the brain appeared to be
very small, except in the lower range.
The brain in the frontal region, where are To-
Gated the intellectual Faculties, or where is es-
tablished the habitation of those principles of the
mind which are voluntary in action, (he soul, in
common parlance,) was predominant in size, but
so irregular in construction as to have no ability
to control the defects of the structure of the SEN
timents, Selfish PrOpensiieS, and the MstinctDe
Feeaags, which together constitute that part Of
the human mind called the FeHings or those
principles Of the mind which are involuntary in
action, Uhe heart in common parlance.)
From the orifces of the ears 1oCwayd, the eX.
tent of brain was ample, marking considerable
grasp of intellect; but from the tyOni0i sinus up
to the verge of the coronal region Of the scull
bone, the extent was very contracted, aud too
small to allow Of strength corresponding wi
the grasp; or for an ability to hold the impress.
ions which the cate ring faculties would take
up.
The only parts Of the brain in the corOnal re-
gion which appeared FUN in their developments,
were those joining the lateral portions forward OF
the oEfces Of the ears: the localities of Mirth.
fulness, Tdeaity and Sublmity, and these were
so large as to produce natural intoxicaion Of
the mind and with the defect of the depth Of
brain in the frontal region, the rreguisrity was
such as to defeat the Judgment Self Esteem and
Adhesiveness being also materially deficient, the
man was thereby rendered noE cOmpOS meIdiS,
and was entitled to be classed only with the high
er Crude of idiots.
independently regarded, the S6mi intellectual
Faculties Calculation, Tune and Constructive.
ness,) were sufficiently large but from the irreg
uarities in the structure of the other portions Of
the brain, these could not he we'll brought into
action. The Reflective Faculties, (Causality
and Comparison,) had very considerable prepon
derance over the RetcRtiUe FarWheS, eventual.
ty, Locality and Tune,) and the Perccptirc Far- |
miies, Individuality, Form, Size, Weight, Color
and Order,) were barely average in their develop.
ments with the RetentiUe Faculties, but render. !
ed much more active by the general extent OF the
fore brain; but the lack of corresponding depth
of the fore brain rendered positive and irretriega-
BILE the defect of the mini
While the brain in the coronal region was gem
orally depressed, Benevoence was full and Ven
Grafton moderate and Imitation, Wonder, Mar.
a considerable influence in the mind-and spch
as would have constituted Rell in olden times a
very respectable Kings Fool. Conscientousness
was sufficiently fuR in its development TO create
in a mind thus effectively constructed a very
considerable amount of cOncet; and Approba
tiveness was 50 developed as to indicate the rx-
istence in the mind Of an overwhelming quantity
of petty panity and Firmness was sufficiently
large in its deveIopement to give much stamina
of feeling but this was unshippod and the feel
ings rendered visciIlating by deficiency in the or
gan of Adhesveness.
The ccrcbeiium, (Amativeness,) hal full av.
erage developement, but 10 mote nor is it nee
esSary that,the cerebeiiwm should have been large
in order TO consider the crimes of which Bell was
charged reconcilabe with the order of his feel.
ings,' when it is reflected that his character of
partial dotcy fixed upon him the condition of an
out.cast in which he vas barred from intercourse