Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-10-13
From the Western Messenger
Sentence Of John McNIahan.

On Tuesday last, i. being las. day Of
Court. John McMahan whose recen, trial
we notice in another column, wns brought
into court for final sentence and on being
asked if he had anything TO say why sen.
,ence should moi be passed upon him. we
understood him TO say, " Nothing, only |
wish to live as long as prssible.' While
the Judge was addressing him on the enor-
nifty Of the crime, and reviewing all The
circumstances connected with The commits
sion Of the act, for the purpose Of inducing
him to reflect upon his awful condition, he
stood up with perlecl nonchalenct. appar-
en,ly as unconcerned as il he were only
careless spectator Of wha, was going on,
gazing about The courtroom and looking al
ihe differen, objects around him. with a
devil. may care sou of look, while The Judge
and spectators were deeply affected BY the
solemnily of The scene. Indeed Judge Ed.
mis.on was SO deeply affected by the painful
dutv which devoIved upon him, lha. we
doubt very much whether no would have
been able 10 have passed the sentence upon
him a, all, rad it mol been for the brazen
defiant, and careless manner in which the
prisoner conducted himself; as it was he
frequently shed tears during It's delivery.
The following is the address 10 The crml'
nal, and the sentence pronounced upon him
by Judge Edmslon:
John McMahan: you have been charged
with, and tred for lhe murder of Charles B
w uggoner, aud found guilty by verdict o
iury. You therefore stand guilty of the
commission OF an offence, the most afro
cious in the whole catalogue Of crime. !
is a crime. a, The commission Of which hu
mani,y revolls; and one which no person
could comm, but he who is wholly regard
less of every righ. 10 iellow'being. The
verdic. Of jury no. only affirms that yol
have taken the life Of human being, with
ou, provoca,ion, bu. that you did i. felone
ously, maliciously, wiIlfully, deliberately
premedilaledly, and with malice afore
thought. The law has, with great parlicu
lari,y defined wha, shall be murder in lh
frs. degree, and hath required that no persol
shall suffer The penalty prescribed therefor
unless jury Of his country shall find b.
their verdict, that he has committed hom
icide in the manner, in The intention, an
under the circumstances specified BY law
, This The jury has done, and nothing remain
TO make your conviction complete, than 70
me TO perform the solemn duty devolve
upon me by provisions Of law. To me lhi
4 is the most painful duty Of my life, an
: is only ,olerable because, the rights of q
outraged community, law and justice re luir
il. In the performance Of This painful duty
| feel 10 some extent sustained and relieved
e from tho fact, that have witnessed yol
). Trial. heard all The evidence and all Ihl
could be said in your behslf, and am full
satisfied in my mind that you have bee
= proven beyond all reasonable doubI" guilt
OF having on the 26,h day Of May los
!. feloneously, maliciously. deliberately, ar
is premedi,atedly sho, The deceased, who fro
10 ,he wound so inflicted, died 10 few hou
l. thereafter The witnesses who iesiifi'
J.. upains, you were your own former neighbol
whose credibili,y you did not Offer to que
10 lion; the jurv ,ha, was sworn TO iry and VI
U. deliverance make between you and q
s, Commonwealth, was composed Of gen.lem
OF free from vice or prejudice, aud OF proPer'
ar character, and intelligence. They hea
rs with great patience oil The evidence that y
could or did produce, and oil that yo