The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-09-03


al al the Old Bailey, in London, Lord Chic
Justice Tindal, presiding.
George Hammond, portrait paiu.er, was
placed al The bar, TO be tried on an indic,.
'neni found agalnsi him by the grand jury for
"ilful murder, with nal ce afore. housbi, oil
George Baldwin, rope dancer and mounle.
bank. The prisoner was a man of middle
height, but slender form. His eyes were
blue and mild. His whole bearing gave eyi.
dence Of subdued sadness aud melancholy re.
signaiion. He was forty one years Of eye,
had soft voice, and his appearance aud man.
ner bore testimony 10 his being man of dis.
iinguished education, in spite Of the poverty
Of his dress.
Ga being called On TO plead, the pfisone
admitted that he did kill Baldwin, and he de.
plored the act, adding, bon ever, hat on his
soni and con@itnec, he did not believe him.
sell guilty. Thereupon, jury was empan.
ne!'ed 10 Try The prisoner. The indictment
was then read 10 The jury, and the nc, of Kill
ing admitted, the government rested their
case, aud tho prisoner was called upon FOR
his defence.
The prisoner thea addressed b,tnself to the
court and jnry;
Ny lord ; said he, my Justification is
TO be found IN recital of the laeis. Three
years ago, lost daughter, then four wears
OF ese, the sole memorial left Of my beloved
wife, whom ii had pleased God to recall to
Himself. lost her but | did not see her
due, as had seen her mother die She dis.
appeared-she was stolen from ne. She was
charming child, and bu, for her had nobo
dy in the world to love me. GeLtlemen hat
! have suffered cannot be described you can.
aoi comprehend il. have expended in ad
vefiising and f,unless searches everything
possessed furniture, pictures, even 10 my
clothes. All have been sold. For three
years, AID on foot, have sought for my child
IN all the citles aud ell the villages IN .hree
kingdoms As soon as by paiatng portraits
succeeded 10 gaining lIlile money, re.
turned to London 10 fecommence my adyer.
llsetnen's ia the newspapers. At length on
Friday, the liih Of April last, crossed the
Snihfieid cattle market, In the cea;se Of
the market troupe of mountebank. were
performing their feats. Among them child
vas turning on lis head. its legs in the air and
1t, head supported by hnlberd. A raw from
the soul Of its mother must a, that moment
have penetrated my own, for me to have re.
coen zsd my child in that condition 1t wa.
my poor child. Her mother would perhaps
have precipltated herself towards her, and
ockcd herself in her arms. A for me, a
veil passed over my eyes. threw myself
upon The chief of the rope dancers. know
rot how II vas; habltualy gentle, even to .
weakness, seized him BY his clolhes-I rails
ID him in the air, then dashed him TO The .
,found-ihen agsin. He VAS dead. After.
wards | repeated what had done. At the .
moment | regretted that | was only able 10
sill but one"
Lord Chief Justice TlndeI.-The.e are
lot Christian sentiments. How can YOU ex.
'ecl the court and jury to lock with favor on
'our defence, or q I'd to pardon you, If you
.annoi forgive
Prisoner" know, nv lord, wha will be
Iour Judgment, and tina, Of the jury, but God
,ss already pardoned me feel it in my
lesft. You know not Il knew not then
ho whole extent Of the evil that man had
one me. When some compassionate people
rought me my daughter in my prison, she
vas no longer my child she was no longer
are and angelic as formerly she was cor.
upted, body and saul-her manner; her Ian.
usge. infamous, like those of the people
nth whom she had been living. She did not
ecognise me, and no longer recognised her
iyself Do you comprehend now That {
ran had robbed me of the love aud soul of G
~ child. And IL have killed him but
nce."
Foreman" My lord, VIC have sgreed in
ur verdict" {
Chief Justice" understand you gentle. i
Zen, but the law must take its course. !,
iusi sum up the case aDd then you will re
10 TO deliberate
The Chief Justice having summed up tho b
Use, the jury retired, and 10 an instant after, Il
;lurned into the court with the verdict Not +,
ii.y."
Ga the discharge Of Hammond, the sher.
wa. obliged to surround him with an es,
,rt. The women were determined to car. c
; him off in triumph. The crowd follow h
him oil the way to his lodgings with deaf 2
ing shouts and huzzas. ;,