The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-25
ONE OF GEN JAcKSON'S SOLDIERS
FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER.

An interesting murder trial took place in
Burlington, Iowa, in November last. The
accused was a man named John j. Jones,
seventy-three years Of age. He had been
a soldier under General Jackson, and was
with the old hero IN several of his campaigns
against the Indians.
Jones was charged with numbering Hora-
ito w. McCardle, a nGghbor, some fifteen
years ago. He made MS escape, and was
not heard of until short time before his
arrest. Capital punishment having been
abolished in Iowa, the prisoner was sentenc-
ed to hard labor in the penitentiary during
the remainder of his lie.
Jones, through his attorney, when asked
if he had anything to say why sentence
should not be pronounced, submitted the
following sentiments
May it please the Honorable Court:
Il am an old man, fast lettering to the
grave. The frosts of seventy three winters,
though they have not whtened my brow,
have wrinkled my face, and chilled my heart
with many sorrows. Mine has been a che
quered life, and now when about to he So
parated from my fellows, l may give truth
full version of the past.
Il had family and a home-a rude home,
it is true, and plain and humble family
but they were my all. The deceased robbed
me of the one, and invaded the sancity of
the other-two small sons, a lovely daugh-
ter, and a wife-a cherished wife.
''On returning to that home, the day of
the fatal deed, learned the certainty of
the maddening truth, and fastened to the
field, my rifle still m hand. knew not why
| went had no fixed design! He met
me with a club shot him; and though
sert that there was mutual combat. You
know the rest. bd-my family followed.
But for the fifteen years l have lived at
Lockland l made no secret of the deed
have done.
"Now time has done its work. The gov
eminent itself has changed. New laws are
passed and old ones repealed, and those
who then surrounded me have mostly passed
away. A different people are in the land
a different code of morals now prevails. I
drank liquor, it is said, and true it isl
drank it. Not to have done so then would
have been the objection. Men in high sta
ton leaned upon the dramshop for support
To treat ones fellow to the poisoning cup
was deemed proof positive of genteel train
ing.
81 may not be held responsible alone for
the vices of socicty-it is enough that
have been their victim. Those days are
past, and that loved one is gone-borne
down with trouble, she sank into an early
grave. That lovely daughter is now hope
less cripple, wearing haggard face. Of
those 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 peace; the other
and my heart sinks within me when l 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, l return
my humble thanks for their impartial hear
ing.
Il 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, answer
ed them. and so | did mine honor. With
General jackson in all his Greek campaigns
l Eattled for my country and its laws. At
the FAST in the WILDERNESS was there; at
the fast on acorns I was there; at Enmefa
and Taladega was there; and when the
shouts of victory drowned the cries of the
dying at the battle of Horse Shoe, in the
front ranks of my country, | was there;
and the name of him whom we now cali John
j. Jones was another word for deeds of
daring.
These are the past. A long life is near
ly spent-the scene has changed; but He
above, who reads the human heart, is, fur
Their than the formal sentence of the law,
competent to judge me-"