Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-09
The Knickerbocker-At timely Bit Of sati,e.


The Knick" for August is rare number It's
litors table is tastefully and bountifully spread,
and contains many rich dishes We snatch the
following little knicknack" which hits off admir-
ably one of the prevailing weaknesses of the times
A man in the town of committed muir
der--a black, diaboical murder. There was not
a single feature in the case that mercy could rem
der available 1t was "red murder" in the truest
acceptation Of the term. A lawyer of consider
able enlipence was called on by the prisoner, but
after hearing his own statement, he would give
him no other advice than the following:
my friend, if you are not hanged, it will be be-
cause you have broken Jail, cut your throat or-or
SLAMMED mad.
The murderer took the hint He was not able
TO accomplish the first he was unwilling to do the
second, go he attempted the third.
He came into the court on the day Of his trial
with one glove and one boot on listened with ap-
parent delight to his arraigument and when asked
at the conclusion, if he was guilty or not guilty,
answered, with a horse-laugh, such as l never
heard before or since:
eyes, thank you, sir, and no mistake! !"
In this philanthropic age, this was quite sufi-
cient to arrest the torrent of indignation which
had been nghtfuly setting against the offender,
and to substitute in place thereof feeling Of
intense sympathy.
q He Is mad says one.
'Poor fellow, muttered another
what mercy we have discovered il before he
was tried!" calculated third
why don't they take him out Of the box ?" de-
nanded fourth.
BY this time, the prisoner in great glce, had put
his glove upon his foot, and thrust his hand into
his boot.
OF course this was too much for the feelings Of
the crowd. 1t was the last hair that broke the
camers back.
"Shame Shaue!" was muttered by a dozen
philanthropic souls
Take him out of the box |" uttered the mob in
general.
Certainly said the Judge, " take him out by
all means. Mr.. District Attorney, you can have
no objection"
mot the slightest may it please your honor,
provided you let two or three Of the baifs stand
behind him and me-"
The bystanders made rush TO execute the man
date of the Court, but the prisoner checked their
zeal though not their sympathy, by knocking
down halfdozen Of them with his boot
The Court briefly addressed the Jury:
ut was unnecessary to enter into the evidence.
The unhappy prisoner had certainly destroyed the
life Of MANA husband and father, leaving his
widow and helpless children TO misery and want
At the same time, II seemed evident that this was
the result rather OF misfortune than Of crime. We
have the evidence of our own sense that the
prisoner Is mdd-mad, gentlemen Of the jury, as a
March hare.
would any man, gentlemen, conduct himself
80 strangely in the court-room-wear his boots and
bis gloves in so eccentric a manner-if he were
not mad
"Gentlemen have studied the anatomy Of the
human mind with much industry and l think
may say, with considerable success and fatter
myself am particularly conyersant with the sub
iect Of insanity.
THE brain is delicate organ. Its membranes
are Of still more delicate organization. These are
the dard mater and the pid mater. These inter-
twning with, and intersecting Il were the po-
rous substance of the brain, contribute largely 70
the exercise Of its transcendent powers"
"0ur Judge knows something don't he :" said
one Of the sympathizers.
Know !. said his interlIcutor; "know2
should think be did! An I have got 70 say is that
never know'd man as knows as much as what he
knows.n.
But continued the Judge, "these membranes
become impaired, and even Reason, gentlemen,
Reason reels and totters on her thronel
"The most prevalent species Of intellectual
wandering, however, is denominated Homicidat
Insanity the prominent symptom of which Is de-
sire TO take away human life. Such, / doubt not,
Is the case with the prisoner
MAY 10 please your Honor" interposed the
District Attorney, " don't you think that the jury
might pronounce this case Of malicious prosecu.
tion p
Perhaps NOT, NJ. District Attorney respond
ed the Judge.
Il honor your humanity, sir; am rejoiced TO
that you can rise superior to the feeling which,
am compelled to say, too often prompt public
prosecutors. But sir, think, as man has really
been killed, II might be considered bad precedent
10 declare this prosecution n malicious ONE !"
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