True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-06-16
fFRoM WHEELING TIMES.
The Case Of John Burns.

ed Yesterday morning, TO hear the sent
ence of John Burns, convicted, at Inc {
present term of the Court, Of the murder {
of Mary Ann Montony. On Judge
Thompson taking his seat on the BENCH
the Clerk addressed the prisoner in these
words
John Burns, you have been indicted
and found guilty Of murder in the first
degree. Have you anything to say why
sentence of death should not be passed
upon you r
To which Burns replied: /
"All l have 10 say, my counsel will
say for me-"
Mfr. Pendleton then addressed the
Court for more than an hour, in a review
of the testimony in the case, and the
character of the witnesses who gave that
testimony, arguing that Burns, though in
some measure guilty of the crime, was
not guilty of murder in the first degree
that those who testified were present on
the occasion of the murder, and took no
measure to counteract these blows, inter-
posed no word 10 prevent Burns from do
ING the deed, were, in common with
Burns, participators and abettors to the
murder-on which ground, he wished the
prisoner might have the benefit Of new
trial.
When Mr.. Pendleton concluded, Judge
Thompson reioined, reviewing the testi-
mony, and affirming that he believed the
verdict just and proper one under the
circumstances. The Judge then proceed
ed to deliver the sentence Of the law,
which will be found below.
During the reading Of the charge,
Burns appeared perfectly calm and col
lected, not a muscle Of his face moving,
not an action betraying the slightes. c IN.
cern, except when allusion was made TO
his aged father. Then the prisoner be-
trayed signs of emotion. He hung down
his head and seemed deeply affected, FIRE.
quently splitting and wiping his eyes with
his handkerchief. But if he wept his
tears were soon over.
When the allusion was made 10 him
self, he looked the Judge steadily in his
face, not one slight trace Of emotion being
visible. The sentence being pronounced,
portion only Of the bulk remaining 10
see the appearance of the prisoner.
In compliance with request from the
prisoner. through his council, the period
of execution was deferred until Friday
the I'd day of September.
1t will be seen that Judge Thompson
has deemed it best for the public interest
that the execution be public and not a
private one.
We learn that Burns remarked to the
officers, on his return TO the Jail that his
; % sentence was hard but just one." II
! is also said that he confessed to having
! stabbed his victim thirty times in the
right side before he left her.
We hope the unfortunate man will
make good use of the liberal time afford
ed him by the Judge for the purpose o
: preparing for the awful change. It's un
:; ;; derstood' that the ministers of the cit,
u will commence their labors with him 10
. day. He appears to speak of his sen
tence without anything like realization
y y of its awful character.
P.S. We learn, since writing the abov
N that Burns has made confession Of tn
q charge against him. He admits that h
7 killed the woman, but not with tn
; "handy billy" That after the crowd ha
: left there in the morning, he went u
= again with the deliberate intention c
~ ~ putting an end to her existence. H
u says he went in company with Myers
" " found her standing up, and converse
:, with her-asked her if she would nc
o. consderit favor TO be relieved OF he
Is misery. She replied in the affirmative
when he rejoined that if he had revolve
y he would do it, and was Of good min
L. y to do il as il was.
d. Soon after, he commenced THROWN
stones at her, and finally taking larg
:" stone, weighing about twenty pound
he beat her head TO the state in which
was found by the coroner. He says l
went up there thinking the woman mig
IL recover, make complaint against him, al
IA cause him 10 be sent to the peniten,iar
ne and it was in order TO prevent it that
ne determined on putting an end to h
'rs existence, supposlng when he did so th
OF nothing would ever be said about it.
ol The following is Judge Thompson
II sentence: ... ,l
ms The pIesen. term Of this Court b
ri. been one of the saddest periods of 4
Is. life. Whatever of error, and sin, al
nd sorrow | had Witnessed among mankint
ee, had deemed could be mainly remedial
of by some or all of the agencies within
,ea control of man, l had hoped that educati
en- political institutions and measures, W
rit. honest and earnest agitation of the pub
is mind upon all subjects capable Of disc
ore sion would have contributed 10 ameliora
has TO improve and finally elevate the VIII
ow mass of the people to the perception
BON their noblest rights, as embodied 3
, to enforced in The obligations of duty. ]
led, the increasing conviction. foreshadov
old by frequent concurring causes, that tn
ant is a portion, large potion of manki
,ar- for whom there is no hope of elevation
,ure dignity in this life. and sadder still
that them, as of others of higher cultr
und no prospect of happiness beyond,
olic made my heart sad, as one who mou
so, many hopes that are lost.
acid 1t is painful 10 look around upon
yh a numerous Free Schools, where child
may. be taught many lessons, where t
uors should be instructed constantly in du
-. of self denial and practical virtue