Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-12-29
One of General Jackson's Soldiers Con-
demned for Murder.-His Speech before
SeMtence.

One of General Jackson's Soldiers Con-
demned for Murder--His Speech before
Sentence.
An interesting murder trial took place in
Birmingham, Iowa,in November last. The &C.
cused was man named John ]. Jones, seven
ty three years of age. lie had been soldier
under General Jackson and was with the old
hero in several Of his campaigns against tho
Indiana.
Jones was charged with numbering Horatio
w. McCardle, neighbor, some fifteen years
ago. He made his escape, and was not heard
Of until short time before his arrest. Capital
punishment having been abolished in Iowa,
the prisoner was sentenced to hard labor in the
penitenliary during the remainder of his life.
Jones. through his attorney, when asked If
he had anything to say why sentence should
not be pronounced, submitted the following
statement:
"May it please the Honorable Court:
81 am an old man, fast tottering to the grave.
The frosts of seventy three " winters-though
they have not whitened my brow, have wrnk-
led my face and chilled my heart with many
sorrows. Mine has been chequered life.
And now, when about to be separated from
my fellows, may give truthful version Of
the past.
II had family and home--a rude home.
it is true, and plain and humble famiy-but
they were my all. The deceased robbed me OF
the one and invaded the sanctity of the other.
Two small sons, lovely daughter and wife
cherished wife.
ION returning to that home, the day of the
fatal deed, learned the certainty Of the mad
dening truth, and FASTENED to the field, my rife
still in hand. | know not why went. had
90 fixed design. He met me with club
shot him. And though ! claim not to have
acted in defence, do assert that there was
mutual combat. You know the rest. fed
my family followed. But for the fifteen years
l have lived at Lockport made no secret OF
the deed had done.
"Now time has done its work. The govern.
ment itself has changed. New laws are pass
ed and old ones repealed-apd those who then
surrounded me have mostly passed away. A
different people are in the Iard-a different
code of morals now prevails. drank liquor,
it is said, and true it is drank it. Not to have
done SO then would have been the objection.
Men in high station leaned upon the dram shop
for support. To treat ones fellow to the
poisoning cup was deemed proof positive of
genteel training.
Imay not be held responsible alone for the
vices of society-it is enough that have been
their victim. Those days are past, and that
loved one is gone-borneldow with trouble,
she sank into an early grave. That lovely
daughter is now hopeless cripple, wearing
haggard face. Ofthose two boys-who should
have been the prop Of my old age-the one is
gone to join his injured mother, as witnesses
against the dead destroyer of their pence-the
other-and my heart sinks within me when ]
say it-lires-but not to me--with an ear deaf
to my calamity, he comes not near me! But
forgive.
ITO this honorable court, the jury, and to
the attorneys and officers thereof, and to the
people Of this community, return my humble
thanks for their impartial hearing.
81 have never been criminal Of choice. but
rather the creature Of circumstances, beneath
the weight of which far better men than me
have sunk. ! may have been too jealous Of
mine honor, but never have but once proved
faithless to my trust. When my country's
rights were invaded, ! answered them, and 90
did mine honor. With General Jackson in
all his Creek campaigns I'battled for my couu-
try and its laws. At the Fast in the Wilder
nessI was there; at the fast Of acorns I was
there; at Enmefa and Taledega was there;
and when the shouts of victory drowned the
cries Of the dying At the battle Of Horse Shoe,
n the front ranks Of my country, was there;
and the name Of him whom We now call John
]. Jones was another word for deeds Of daring.
.These are Of the past. A long life is nsar.
y spent-the scene has changed; but He
ahaye. who reads the human heart. is, further
han the formal sentapce Of TIE Law, competens
. judge me-"
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