The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-23
Decision on Exception, in the Knight
b Case. 81 b NJ

an adjourned session OF the Supreme Judi.
cial Court. held at Auburn Sept. Odd. Eve Of
the judges being present, when the exceptions
in the knight case where oil overruled, and
the sentence which tho law afi1es to the
crime Of murder was passed upon the pris.
oner. The sentence was announced by
Chief Justice TASSEr, in the following
form:
George Knight: Tho Attorney General has
moved the court that sentence be pronounc.
I'd upon you. Upon your plea, that you were
not guilty Of the offence alleged in the in.
dictment, you have been tried bya jury Of
your country, duly proved to DO impartial.
and without disqualiiying bias. You have
properly availed yourself of the humane
provisions Of the law, in making selection
70 some extent of those who should decide
upon your guilt or innocence. You have
rightly commanded tho process Of the State
with its pecuniary means and the services OF
its officers, to obtain all the testimony which
was supposed useful in your defence; and
the trial was 30 protracted, that every OPP
portunity w,s within your reach to prevent
injustice, by countervailing the effects Of ev.
idence which might have been surprise to
you. The counsel Of your own choice, sane.
toned by the court, rs ablo and as faithful
as any Of those who are most distinguished
for their ability and fidelity, have done oil
which could possibly have been anticipated
from untiring diligence and perseverance,,
tho most patient investigation Of facts, and
the power to arrange and present them IN
the most favorable light. All principles Of
law, which wero invoked IN your behalf,
consistent with its rules, and an impartial
arrangement Of the facts, wers laid before
the jury by the court which presided, 80
clearly that they could not DO misunder-
stood. You have been found guilty by the
jury, who must have given to the evidences
tho most deliberate consideration. Nothing
is seen in this evidence, rs reported, which
allows tho court TO doubt the Justice of the
verdict. ''r.....
At tho hour appropriated 10 rest, when
security is generally found In the protection
of Heaven, the laws, and the good order Of
q peaceful community, you sought your
victim, unconscious OF the approach of any
hostile foot, having provoked no feelings Of
revenge. BY your hand she died, and hel
spirit returned to God who gave it. No eye
saw the deed save that Of tho great Omnis'
cient, beforc whom you recorded your VOWS
OF fidelity, of protection, Of love to that dc.
pendent being with whose blood your
hands were reeking. That God witnessed
your net, and knew the motives which
prompted it. Too late for her, too late fol
you, you found his ways inscrutIhle shat
vengeance 70 his that no will repay it,
The fell spirit which maddcned your own
counsels, still led and controlled you by its
whitening power, after the great purpose Of
your malice was accomplished. Regardless
Of the authority of Heaven and the voice OF
conscience, you felt the impression Of the
brand which was upon TIA. f;atrlcide, the
first born Of our raOe, and must have felt.
like him, that you were driven out from the
face Of the earth. Your guilt was uttering
its thunder tones, continually exciting your
fears and tho apprehension that you were
suspected, was IN Imagined response Of those
tones from every human being whom you
met. Fain would you cG,co tho deep stain
Of murder which was upon you; and you
sought to do this by acts Of deception and
lalsehoOd, which Became lights which re-
vealed your crime. Your conduct, inauenc.
ed thereby, WIS not tho aots which are tho
offspring OF upright motives, but were the
unnatural attemps to conceal the traces Of
iniquity. These induced suspicion, suspic-
ion was followed by revelation Of facts. BY
facts individually. and combined with each
other, you were involved, beyond all human
power of c1trication, and conviction was tho
result.
Your own life. for few Of the last months,
must have satisfied you that the way Of tho
transgressor Il hard and dreadful IS the
situation of him who bushes the voice Of
conscience, and blots from the tablet Of hIs
memory the rules OF heavenly wisdom given
in the word of inspiration, and suffers him.
self II be directed and controlled by inau.
ences ut war with these rules.
Your offence is one Of great atrooity. un-
mingled with circumstances Of mitigation.
Platter not yourself that your help is in
man. BY the laws Of your country, your
life is forfeited. Il Is truc that in this
State the clcmency of the Executive has, in
u very few instances, changed capital pun
ishmcnt to perpetual Imprisonment. But
It is believed that this has beech done only
where facts have relieved the offence OF ex.
treme turpitudc, or where some peculiar cir
have been supposed to call for
change. This power Of Communication or
pardon is ono over which you have no con-
troll, and your hope for such favor, even
i desirable, will probably prove delusive in
your case. II made secure, infinitely more
raluablc Is that pardon which will rescue
you from spiritual death, and give you q
ife OF bliss beyond the grave.
You IRE in life--physical health and men
al soundness arg continued. Thus Used,
'ou haya tho power to return from your
and obtain from God pardon
which he has promised to all who, Twill seek
/, in sincerity and truth, by repentance
nd humble submission to his authority,
Trough the Saviour's death, which will de.
iver even from blood.guiltincss, and will
rash thoroughly tho murderer from his in.
luity. Do not despair, II you IRE resolved
. propitiate the favor Of Heaven. You
ave III tuc DiDlo the usSurtlcc VI ucip III
he influence Of tho Holy Spirit in your eff.
,rts to sock truo wisdom. Hero Is hope
hitch cannot iail, IL cherished in christian
18th and humility. II will sustain you if
ell founded, whether you guide your life
peace after having received il hack under
uInan laws, or whether you suffer in the
tecution Of retrlbutive justice. In discharge
the offence of which you stand convicted,
is ordered that you DO hanged by the neck
ntil you shall be dead, and for further
ntence In confederation Aforesaid, 1t Is or.
|erel that you be confined to hard labor In
10 State Prison. situated in Thomastown,
the county Of Lincoln, until such punish.
ent shall b. inflicted, and that you stand
until removed in execution Of the ,
tier sentence.
Mar COP HAVE MrRcr ON YorR Soul.
During the reading Of tho sentence, the j
hief Justices voice tremblcd with emotion,
ID once or twice his utteranoe was choak.
|. A death.like stiffness pervaded the