New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-07
CANADA.
n Corrsspondent-
TORONTO, Monday, Nov. 8, 1886

v.,y, On, O On Corrsspondent.
TORONTO, Monday Nov. 3, 1856.
The trial Of George Brogden ior the murder Of
Thomas Henderson, which came of at Cob0nrg las;
Friday, excited universal interest throughou, the
Province. Henderson, il Will be remembered. had
seduced the wife o. Brogden and then eoped with
Der; and the outraged husband shot the seducer six
weeks after the occurrence. They were both law
yers; both were born at Port Hope; both studied
m the Office of Mr.. KirchOfer az the same time,
and generally they terms of great intimacy
Henderson went 20 California, and ai'er he had
made good deal Of money returned to Port Hope.
Brogden after his marriage invited him 20 h.S house.
and an illicit intimacy sprung up between hendef.
son and Mrs Broeden, young woman VIM LA. .au
been married but two years. At the tlme % tho
elopement, BroedeD pursued the guilty par 70 !he
Uoited State. With The ayOwed intention OF taxing
the life Of Henderson For that purpose ne ndd
provided himself with revolver Ho"0'oi;
he did not succeed in finding lhem' anu
returned TO Port Hope where Tor SIX wees
or up TO the time Of the murder ne constantly
ppacticed shooting VIII re'orgi' o"u ~ - '' az.
became very expert in the use OF lhdt "efpoh' A1
The time of The Provincial Fair at Kingston, Hen
der.on uas going down; and II seems he had ar
ranged 10 meet his sisters at Port Hope ana take
them with him. When the ste amer touched az the
wharf Henderson was in the bar OF the boat; and
Broedep, seeing him, went up to the ~lndo" and
shot him through the body. Henderson merely
exclaimed my GOd / am shot" aud expired IN
about two minutes. The public feeling was al on
the eide Of Brogden and the Coroner jury JUST
fed the hOrrid deed. On opening the case, on
Friday the Solicitor General, who appeared for the
Crown declared that he had never known acase Of
more deliberate and malicious murder But his
words fell on unwilling ears. The courthouse was
crowded with persons who sympaihsed with the
prisoner; and there were hundreds outside
who could not obtain admittance, holly discussing
the question Of Brogdens guilt or innocence. The
counsel for the prisoner set up plea OF temporary
insanity, and promised to prove 1t; but all hs evil
dence went to show that BrOgden WAS not even eX-
cited at the time Of the murder. The Chief JUS
tce charged dead against the prisoner; but II was
to no purpose. The jury, apparently pariaBlng the
general local feeling IN favor OF the prisoner, dc-
quilted hm-the verdict being received by burst
Of cheering in the Court House. The result was
not altogether unlocked for by those who knew the
strength of the local feeling on the subject. The
Crown challenged eleven jurors and the defense
seven. The question of the prisoner guilt or IN
nOcence had been openly discussed in the press
ever since the murder, and the public mind thor
ougl ly biased. The jury gave the verdict against all
the evidence and the law as lad down by the Chief
u
the defective state Of the law the subject Of
ducton and adultery. BrOgden could "uly have
sued Henderson for damages. The latter had com
mitted DO criminal Ofiense known to our laws, and
could not be punished crimlnally. He might have
gone back 10 live in Port Hope under the eye Of the
man be had injured, and had, believe, threatened
t. do So Thus the result OF the defective SCate OF
our law in regard to criminal conversation has led
10 tie judicial justification Of all open and filgrant
urda ftad m M
taliaiOn. What seems 10 me very alarming so
cal symptom growing out of the case is the almost
universal justification of the murder by the Press.
There are exceptions, il is true; but they are lew
and far between.
The subject of crimping at Quebec has at length
attracted the attention OF the Provincial Govern
ment, and the Police Magistrate and Mayor of the
city have been ordered to make inquiry into the
subject Owing to the large number of vesscls
built at Quebc. scarcity Of seaInen is always one
nj ihe evils of the port. The demand being greater
than the supply, scamens wages become high The
scaIcity OF men, and the exgcnccs OF vessels desr-
ing 10 sail at appointed time, cause eNtra0rdl-
nary methods to be taken to obtain hands species
of piracy exists, and has long existed, at Quebec as
the consequence OF this state of things. Vessels are
boarded by men who are called crimps, and men
are stolen that they may be hired out to some other
ship in great straits for want OF hands, and Obliged
t. submit to any demand that cupldity and avarlce
NAV make The men are often chtced or DOrne
forcibly away by the Dau-stealers TO some low place
in Champlan street, at the base of the mountain,
and there KEEP drunk till their services can be DIS
posed of to the best advantage 1.-THE Quebec iourn-
ais are to be credited justice is seldom executed ON
the crimps; and police magistrates, mayors, and
Members of Parliament are all IN some way IN
volved in the crime. The loss to the shipping OF
the port is boldly set down at tiOO,OO0 year.
The strangest part of this Infamous business mat
the practice has existed long and excited 80 little
notice out Of Quebec, where the public Journals
are limited in circulation and feeble in Influence
Recently several communications have been nd,
dressed to the London Journals on the SUBJECT; and
the influential portion of the Press at the seat OF
Government here has demanded a full and rlgd
inquiry to the abuse with a view OF ITS removal.
The Legislative Council elections, 80 far as
known, have resulted in the return OF the following
members
u...........................P. VI. Vsncoushnet
v.
IauIon. "'e"Ny
DessAules
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