Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-08
AN Ex.cLERGYMAy ARRAIGNED FOR

AN EX-CLERGYMAN ARRAIGNED FOR
MURDER.-HE PLEADS GunrY.-A few days ~"
George w. Stova!. formerly c!ergymsu, wa, ~.
raigned at New Orleans for IN murder of Mary Hay
Durand. The Pcayune says
He waa greatly agitsted and nervous having the
appearance. oi amsn who had not Yet recovered from
a tt of ,elirum tremeGs There was nothing Ot The
murderer in his countenance and IN fact W. never
saw head or physognomy in which benevol-rce
WA more strongly marked. HE age must be sbou;
fprty.tive-his face s considerably wrnkled, ana
what few locks are still left upon his head have
ed tn gray.
When The clerk finished reading the indictment.
and ark.d him. DO you plead guilty or not gu'if'
hr replied in voice slightly tremulous: 81 sn Ru
ty; but would request the court to grant me shpft
fine before passing sentence 10 arrange my bus
mesa and settle my worldly affairs
The court replied that he should have what time he
rauured and then ordered the plea to he recorded,
and the prisoner 10 be remanded for sentence.
This plea caused the greatest astOnishment Alike
on the part OF the court the counsel and the aud-uc
and indesd il rather singular that man should
condemn himself TO an ignoninious death There
n paus. in court. S:ovall had returned TO ths dock
and taken hi- seat. He now appeared calm and
composed: like man who has relieved his mind ~
-omc weighty and important matter. He had resign
ed himself 10 his doom. Tn. court, thinking very
strangely Of his conduct asked him: MIR. S;ovali era
Won awar. of the full consequences OF your P!eai-
That il condemns you TO denfhi'
"Yes. air believe | am,' be replied. There was
brief consultation among the lawyers. Some sug.
,,ested that he could not he IN his right mind. srC
that his plea ought not to be taken. Alter consult
alton with the Attorney General and Rande hGn',
:te Judge stated he would call hun up again and give
him another opportunity to change his plea before
should be recorded. He called to the bar again,
when the Judge said
"Mr. Stovsl, | knew you years ago, and alwnya
knew YOU TO be man Of very firm mind. have
never before known extraordinary plea 10 be- et
tered in court and ] should like that you wout re.
fleet fully upon the consequences of your course. II
YOU desire il, the court will not enter ia" plea yet
and will assign you able counsel with whom you inhy
consult
Stovall replied that he thanked the court for lts
kindness, aud would accept the offer of counsel for
consultation. The court then ordered continuance
of the case ordered clerk not to enter the plea o
guilty. and assigned to Christian Rosellus the duty OF
consulting with the accused.
The circumstances of this murder are sii iF"st n
the recollection of readers as IT occurred only two
weeks since. Stova. according 10 his own coH''a =
SION killed poor. fral woman, with whom h" had
b.en living, in mos; inhunan nanuer by cutting
her throat with and afterwards cbopPlhg ber
head almost off with an exc, and managing her D"Gy
in other ways. He then attempted 10 drown himself
nv ;umpug haadiorcmost into a WELL Hi. only *.
cuse was that he had for months been aborIng usd-r
the Influence of liquor He was formerly preacher
we believe but Of late years has led very dl-speted
and dssoute life. Previous TO this he had been gull
~ of q number Of smaller offences.