The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-05-22
The Closing Scene-SPeeca Of the .Hurderer-
HIS Sentence

OF death Sh0ulu nOl 6p pronounced upon you.
Prisoner-Yrs sir Honorrd Judge, and all
of YOU gentlemen, an charged with a crime,
which, before my God, and before YOU all, | am
innocent am charged with the murder of
Samuel T. NorcroSs, by killing him with a club
and cutting his throat with a razor. Before ny
God, and before you all, anI innocent. ] got
of the cars fifteen or twenty miles west Of Al
toona, at stopping place, ] do not remember
the name, and man named Robinson, don't
know his FIRST name, | was Iniorducrd To him
on the cars, went on With Noreross. | am
charged with killing Samuel T. NnrcroSs with
a club, and cutting his throat with a razor,
which before vou, honored sir, and before all
you, gentlemen, turning around to the audi
rncr,) and before my God, ! am innocent
There has been here who swore false
against ne. There has been man here who
sit there (pointing to the witness Sandl who
said ! was there when Mr.. NorcrosS got his
money Honored sir, this is not 50 before my
God he was not there, it was another man.
There has been a man here who said | took
breakfast at Altoona and before my God ! did
not. was in oona. and saw NoTcroSs there.
He was my friend, and treated him as broth
er. ! have been charged with a crime for
which | am to suffer, which before my God,
and YOU, Honored sir, of which am no&gui'ty.
There has been a man here, who sit there, and
said that he saw me shave NorcroSs with ra-
zof. / never shaved NorcrosS, nor ever sha-
we'd myself since left home before my God
| did not. had 5lack-handIrd razor, bat
that one found beside NorcrnSS, which they
bused ne about, was not mine. He never saw
me shave Norcfoss nor myself, and hr swore to
what was not true Honored Judge, they say
that | killed N0rcrnSS by beating bis brains out
With club, and cutting his lhfoa, with a ra-
zor, when did not Honored Jndse, and all
vou here nov. | am to be huug for a crime
did not do. There has 0een men here, sitting
therr, who said ! had no money when J lent
that man thirtv-Gve dollars in gold and he nev
er paid me back 10 this day. They say | had
no money when tad, and witnesses have come
to this Court House 10 have me- hung for some
thing did not do. The crim+ | am charged
with, numbering Samuel r. NorcroSs, ! did not
do before my God did not do It, am inno-
cent man, vet know am about to suffer death
for it in few days. That's all | have 10 say
SIR
During the delivery Of this address the prs-
oner exhibited wonderful caImnrss and the
most intense energy Of manner marked every
idea he uttered His person vas erect, his head
thrown back, his eyes restless bat fall Of fire
He gesticuiatrd with poprirty and Effect
His voice full, clear, firm aad SonorouS, rang
,t,,l 49, (,,.~, r,., ,,.h;cI ,,.,. an as d.ath
His tone and manner were terribly coucrntra-
ted and impressive HIS very soul sermed strug-
Cling to impress IFS vivid emotions on the audi
pncr No man who wtnrsse!this awful scene
can ever forget it.
THE SENTENCE.
Judge Taylor then proceeded to sentence the
prisoner, preiaclng II with the following re-
marks:
jury chosen by yourself, alter 1uIi ana
patient hearIng ot yonr case, and all that the
zeal and ingenuity ol your counsel urged IN
Your behalf, have t0nnd you guilty OF the viii
iuI deliberate and premtdlated nurdrr oi sam
u-i Townsend N"rcroSs. Ant although yon
S'I!i deny 1t, the dnding OF the jury hAsS y"nf
quit, and we are CONSTRAINED To say, no'Wiih-
standing Ynnr DENIAL, lHat thiS court entirety
approve OF that verdict.
Your crime, though perP"traied, and no
doubt supposed by YOU at the time to De hidden
ana covered up, IN GarkheSS' has been brought
by lhe evidence against you mo GEAR ana oh-
clouded light. Let your unhappy case serve as
Warnlng,that crime, and eSpeclaliY the crime
oi murder, though committed with the utmost
srcreSy, and when no human eye sees, no hn-
man ear hears, IS still not hIdden and past I'M
ing out
Your gnlI' has not only been made PLAINLY
manifest ""' II mas apPrarrd ID 'oe hi0FouS id't
OF me most or'oeFa,f' "7acnfr''S' cruz a."
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