True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-08-27
An Account of a Recent Trial at the Old
Baily in London, Lord Chief Justice
Tindale Presiding.

Bally IN London, Lord Chlet justice
.Tindale Presiding.
George Hammond, portrait painter,
was placed at the bar, TO be tried on an
indictment found against himself BY the
Grand Jury, for tie vilfnl murder, with
malice afore,hought, Of George Baldwin,
a rope dancer and mountebank. The
prisoner was a man of medium height,
but slender form. His eyes were blue
and mild. His whole bearing gave evil
dence of subdued sadness and melancholy
resignation. He was for.y.one years of
age had soft voice, and his appearance
and manner bore evidence to his being
man of distinguished education, in spite
of the poverty of his dress.
On being callen out to plead, the priso-
ner admitted that he did kill Baldwin,
and he deplored the act, adding, however,
that on his soul and conscience he did not
believe himself guilty. Thereupon a
jury was empanneled TO try the prisoner.
The indictmen, was then read 10 The Jury,
and the act Of killing being admitted, lhe
government rested their case, and the
prisoner was called upon for his defence
The prisoner then addressed himself to
the court and jury:
"My Lord, said he, "my justification
is 10 be found in recital of the facts. -
Three years ago lost daughter, then
four years of age. the sole memorial Of a
beloved wife, whom it had pleased God
to recall 10 himself. lost her, but | did
not see her die. She disappeared-she
was stolen from me. She was charm
ing child, and but her | had nobody in
the world to love me. Gentlemen, what
have suffered cannot be described you
cannot comprehnd it. bad expended in
advertising and fruitless searches every.
thing l possessed-furniture, pictures,
even 10 my clothes. All have been sold
For three years on foot. had been
seeking for my child in all the cities and
all the villages in the three kingdoms -
AS soon as by painting portraits | had
succeeded in gaining little money. l re-
turned 20 London to commence my ad'
vertisements in the newspapers. Al
length, on Friday, the l4lh of April last
| crossed the Smilhfeld cattle Market
lii the centre of The morket troupe o.
mountebanks were performing their feats
Among them child was turning on its
head supported on a halberd. A ray
from the soul VI its mother must have
penetrated my own, for me to have recog
nized my child. Her mother would per
haps have precipilated herself towards
her, and locked herself in her arms. A.
for me veil passed over my eyes.
knew not how it was-I. habitually gen
lie even to weakness, seized him by tn
clothes-I raised him in the air, ther
dashed him to the ground-then again
: he was dead. Afterwards | repente,
what had done. AT the moment | re
GREETED that was able TO kill but one.
Lord Chief Justice Tindale.--'' Thes
are not Christian sentiments. How ca
you expect the court and jury to loo
5 with favor on your defence, or God I
: pardon you, you cannot forgive"
Prisoner.--'I know, my lord, wht
will be your judgment, and that Of tll
jury; but God has already pardoned me
| feel it in my heart. You know not,
y, know not then-the whole ex ent of tn
i evil tba. man had done. When som
II compassionate people brought me m
If daughter in prison, she was no longer IN
child; she was nolongef pure and angel
as formerly she was corrupt, body an
soul--her manner her language, infamol
! like those with whom she had been Ii
ing. / did not recognize her myself
e Do you comprehend me now? That ms
had robbed me Of the love and soul Of n
child. And IL have killed him b
once"
Forman.--"My Irrd, we have agree
on our verdict"
Chief Justice understand yo
gentlemen, but the law must take
course. l must sum up the case, al
then you will retire to deliberate.
The CHEF Justice having summed U
the case ihe jury retired, and in an insta
IS after returned into court with a verdi
,r Mot Guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond, !:
sheriff was obliged to surround him wi
y an escort. The women were. dptermin
to carry him Of in triumph, The csov
followed him all the way to his lodgin
with deafeniug shouts Of hussas.