Litchfield enquirer., 1851-07-17
A Painful Case.

Bailey, in London-Lord Chlef Justlce
Tindal, presiding:
"George Hammond, a portrait paint
er, was placed at the bar, to be tried on
an indictment found against him by the
grand jury for Wilful murder with malice
aforethought, of George Baldwin, a rope
dancer and mountebank. The prisoner
was man of middle height, but slender
form. His eyes we've blue and mild. His
whole being 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 dis
education in spite of the po-
verify of his dress.
On being called on to plead, the pri-
soner admitted he did kill Baldwin, and
he deplored the act; adding, however,
that on his soul and conscience, heidi not
believe himself guilty. Thereupon ju-
ry was empannelled to try the prisoner.
The indictment was then read to the ju-
ry, and the act Of killing being admitted,
the government rested their case and the
prisoner was called upon for his defence.
The prisoner then addressed himself
to the court and jury.
MY lord said he, my justification
is to be found in the recital of the facts.
Three years ago, lost daughter, then
four years of age, the sole memorial left
of my beloved whom it had pleased God
to recall TO himself. I lost her but I
did not see her die, as I had seen her
mother die. She disappeared--she was
stolen from me. She was a charming
child, and but for her, I had nobody in
the world to love me. Gentlemen, what
have suffered cannot be described-you
cannot comprehend it. I have expend-
ed in advertising and fruitless searches,
everything 1 possessed-furniture, pic
lures, even to my clothes. All have
been sold. For three years and on foot,
l have sought for my child in all the CT
ties. and all the villages in the three
kingdoms. AS soon as by painting por-
traits, I had succeeded in gaining little
money, 1 returned to London, to re.
commence my advertisements in the
newspapers. At length, on Friday the
18th of April last, crossed the Smith.
field Cattle Market. In the centre of the
market a troop of mountebanks were
performing their teats. Among them a
child was turning on its head its legs in
the air, and its head supported by hall
berd. A ray from the soul of its mother
must at that moment have penetrated
my own, for me to have recognized my
child in that condition. 1t was nay poor
child. Her mother would, perhaps have
precipitated herself towards her, and
locked herself in her arms. AS for me,
a veil passed over my eyes. threw
myself upon the chief of the rope dam
GERS. I knew not how it was, l, habitu-
ally gentle, even to weakness, seized him
by his clothes-I raised him in the air,
then dashed him to the ground--then
again: He was dead. Afterwards l re.
peated what l had done. At the mo.
ment regretted that was only able to
kill but one
Lord Chief Justice Tindal.--Those
are not christian sentiments. How can
you expect the court and jury to look
with favor on your defence. or 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 pgdoned me. l
feel it in my heart. You know not, l
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 long
err my child. She was no longer pure
and angelic as formerly-she was cor.
rupt body and soul. Her manner, her
language, Infamous, like those of the peo-
pie with whom she had been living. She
did not recognize me, and l recognized
her no longer myself Do you compre-
bend now? That man had robbed me
of the love and soul of my child. And
II have killed him but once.
Forensan.--My lord, we have agreed
in our verdict.
Chief Justice.-I understand you, gen.
tlemen, but law must take its course. l
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 an in>
slant after returned into court with a
verdict, not guilty.
On the discharge of Hammond, the
sheriff was obliged to surround him with
an escort. The crowd of men and wo>
men was immense. The women were
determined to carry him off in triumph.
The crowd followed him all the way to
his lodgings with dcafening shouts and
huzzas.
ANOTHER VIcTIM.-In February last
q poor degraded man named Maynard