Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-08-22

An account Of recent trial al the Old Bailey an Lon
don. Lord Chief Justice Tfndnl nrcsiding.

IN account Of recent trial at the Old Baiiei an Lon
don, Lord Chief Justice Tf,,dal presiding.
George Hammond. portrait painter, was placed
at the bar to be tried Indictment found against
him by the grand jury for wilful murder, with NAL.
ice aforethought of George Baldwin, rope dancer
and mountebank. The prisoner was man of
middle height. but slender FORM His eyes were
blue and mild. His whole bearing gave evidence of
subdued sadness and melancholy resignation. He
was forty-one years of age had soft voice and his
appearance and manner bore testimony to his being
man of distinguished education, in spite of the
poverty of his dress. .a
On being called on to plead, the prisoner admitted
that he did kill Baldwin, and he deplored the act
adding, however, that has soul and conscience he
did not believe himself guilty. Thereupon, jury
ment then read to the jury. and the act of kill
ing being admitted, the government rested their
case, and the prisoner was called upon for his de-
fence.
The prisoner then addressed himself to the court
and jury
MY Lord,' said he, ''my justification is to be
found in a recital of the facts. Three years ago
lost daughter, then four years of age, the sole
mortal left of my beloved wife, whom it had pleased
God to recall to himself. lost her; but did not
see her die as had seen her mother die She dis
appeared-s stolen from me. She was a
charming child, and but for her had nobody in the
world to love me. Gentlemen what have suffered
cannot be descrbed-you cannot comprehend it. l
have expended in advertising and frutess searches
everything furniture, pictures, to
my clothes. All have been sold. For three years,
and foot, have sought for my child, in all the
cities and all the villages in the three kingdoms
AS as by painting portraits had succeeded IN
gaining little money, returned to London to re-
commence my advertisements in the newspapers u
At length. on the 18th of April last, crossed the
Smithfeld cattle market. In the centre of the mar
ket troupe of mountebanks were performing their
feats Among them a child was turning on its head,
it's legs in the air. and its head supported by hal
berd A ray from the soul of its mother must at
that moment have penetrated my own, for to
have recognized my child in that condition 1t was
my poor child. Her mother would perhaps have
precipitated herself towards her. and locked herself
in her arms. AS for me, veil passed over my
eyes. threw myself upon the chief of the rope
dancers. know not how 1T was; |, habltually gen.
tie, to weakness, seized him by his clothes-l
raised him in the air then dashed him to the ground
then again. He was dead Afterwards repent
ed what had done. At the moment I regretted
that was only able to kill but one.'
Lord Chief Justice Tindal.-These not Chris
tan sentiments How can you expect the court and
jury to look with favor your defence, God to
pardon you, if you cannot forgive!
Prisoner-''I know, my lord what will be your
Judgment and that of the jury. but God has already
pardoned me feel it in my heart. You know
mott knew not then--the whole extent of the evil
that man had done me- When some compassionate
people brought me my daughter in my prison she
was no longer my child; she no longer pure
and angelic as formerly; she was corrupted, body
and soul-her manner, her language, infamous, like
those of the people with whom she had been living
She did not recognize me, and no longer recognized
her myself. Do you comprehend now? That man
had robbed me of the love and soul of my child
And II have killed him but once.'
Foreman" My lord, we have agreed in our YER
dict"
Chief Justce.-"I understand you, gentlemen,
but the law must take its I must sum up
the case, and then you will retire to deliberate.'
The chief justice having summed up the case the
jury retired. and in instant after returned into
the court with the verdict, " N OF guilty.
On the discharge of Hammond, the sheriff was
obliged to surround him with an escort. The crowd
of women and men immense. The women were
determined to carry him off in triumph. The crowd
followed him all the way to his lodgings with deaf
enipg shouts and huzzas