The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-10-30
Remarkable Case.

George Hammond portrait painter, was
placed 10 the bar of the Old Bailey, London,
TO be tried on an Indictment found against
himself BY the Grand Jury, Tor wilfu murder.
with malice aforethough ht, OF George Bald win
rope dancer and mountebaHk. The prison
was a man of medium hcighth but slender
form. His eyes Were blue and mild. His
whole bearing gave evidence of subdued sad
ness and resignation. He forty one
years ofage, has soft voice and his appear
ance and manner bore evidence of his bein y
a man Of distinguished education. in spite Of
the poverty of his dress.
On being called to plead the prisoner ad-
mitted that he did kill Baldwin, and he de-
plored the act, adding, however, that on his
soul and conscience he did not believe him
self guilty. Thereupon jury was empan-
nelled to try the prisoner. Ihe Indictment
was then read TO the jury and the act of kill
ing admitted, the Government rested their
case, and the prisoner was called upon for his
defence.
The prisoner then addressed himself to the
court and the jury:
my lord,' said lie, ''my justification is to
be found in 4 recital Of the fact. Three years
ago | lost daughter, then four years of age
the memory Of beloved wife, whom it had
plea sed God to recall to himself | lost her
but | did not see her die She disappeared
she was stolen from me She was charm
ing child, and beside her had nobody in the
world to love nc Gentlemen. what | have
suffered cannot be described; YOU cannot
comprehend it, | had expended in adver-
Using and fuitless searches everything pos
sesSed-furnture, pictures, even to my clothes.
All have been sold.
For three years, on foot had been seek
ing for my child in all the cities and all the
villages of The three Kingdoms As soon as
by painting portraits Ihad succeeded in gain
ing little money. returned to London to
recommence my advertisements in the news
papers. At length, on Friday the l4th of
April last, I crossed the Smithtield cattle
market. Ia the center of the market a
troup Of mountebanks were performing, their
fetes Among them was a child turning
its head, supported on halbrad A ray
from the soul of it's mother must have Jene-
trated my own, for me to have recognized nv
child in that condition / was my poor
child Her mother would perhaps have
precipated herself towards, aud locked her
self IN her arms. As FOR me, veil passed
over my eyes. | knew not how it waS--I,
! hahitualy gentle, even to weakness, seized
him by the clothes-I raised him in the air,
then dashed him to the ground, then again:
he was dead. At the moment, l regretted
that | was able to kill but one'
+ Lord Chief Justice Tindale 'These are
not Christian sentiments. How do you expect
the court and the jury to look with favor on
your defence, or God to pardon you if you
cannot forsivee"
. Prisoner I hue ...y Iuru, wusta WIN l,v
yous judgment and thatSf the Jury; but God
has already pardoued me; l feel it in my
heart. You know not, knew not then, the
whole extent of the evil that man had done
When some compassionate people brought me
my daughter in prison, she was no longer my
child; she was 40 longer pure and angelic as
formerly; she was corrupt body and soul; her
manner. her language, Infamous Ike those
with whom she had been living. l did not
recognise her myself. Do you comprehend
me now? That man robbed me Of the love
and soul OF my child And I--have killed
him out once"
Foreman My Lord we have agreed on
our verdict
Chief Justice. Il understand vou gentle
men, but the law must have It's course. [
must sum up the case and then you will rei
to deliberate
The Chief Justice having summed up the
case, aad the jury retired, and in instant
after, returned into court with a verdict of
Not Guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond the Sheriff
obliged to surround him with an escort.
The women were determined to carry him Oft
in triumph. The crowd folio we'd him all ihe
way to his lodginffs with deafening shouts
and nuzzaS.