Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-10

CONVICTION OF THE MURDERER, BuRNs.-JoHN
BURNS, who was lately under trial, in Wheeling
for The murder of MARY ANN MoNToNY. a pros
titute, has been convicted OF murder in the frs
degree. The InteAigenoer, OF Saturday morning
says,
He will receive his sentence IN the Circuit
| Court on Monday morning al y O'Clock. we
learn that since his conviction Burns has preserv-
ed moody indifference to his tate, but at times
the thought OF the terrible DOOM that awaits him
causes shadow Of remorse overcast his features
and lac has been known 10 give way IN copious
| teaIs.
| On Tuesday morning, as soon as the doors oi
the Court House were thrown open, an eager
rhrong rushed in, completely jamming the court
room. Al O'Clock Judge THOMPSON passed the
sentence OF death upon the prisoner.
The lateuigenoer, OF Tuesday morning, in Civ
ing an account OF the scenes in the court room.
relates the following as to the bearing of the prs-
oner and his father:
Burns, during the delivery Of the sentence, did
not seem to realize his awful situation. He look
ed confused and embarr assed, IL is true, bit did
not wear that agonized look which one would
naturally expect. under the circumstances. tie
seemed touched by the alusion OF the Judge to his
father, and bowed his head and from frequent
application of his handkerchief, seemed TO be
sht dding tears. No other part of his sentence.
even the death doom, seemed TO affect hlIi per-
cep;ibly. His aged tat her, before the eou II vas
organized, sat IN chair inside tile bar, with his
head bowed. When ne looked up his expression
was that o. almost perfect physical exhaustion,
from the weight OF consuming soIrOws preying
upon MS soul. Tie eemed care-worn, and once
or Twice noticed his grey head nodding Poor
man! his anxious, uncertain ami lmplorlng gaze
during The speech OF his counsel, and during the
I 4 LID .l.a
iect Tor the sympathy OF every locker on.
The following, from the same source, will cause
a shudder:
On Sunday last we visited the place where the
foul deed was Ierpetrated- Ii Is nchiy roman
tic and sylvan spot-the last soUt in the world TO
be associated with red murder. We could see
where the ground had been blackened and the
grass blastei by :he heat from the fires around
which the abandoned parties nightly assembled
The spot is entirely out OF sight OF town, and dit
cult OF access. We angled ulong the hills and
clambered up 10 the place, finding ourselt consld-
erably iatgHed upon nearing the summit. The
evidences OF the deed had been removed, though
spots OF blood remained to stain the grass.
Most OF US supposed that the iction Of Burns
would act as warning, at least TO those engaged
Immediately with him upon the night Mary Arm
Montony was murdered; but such, IL appears has
not been the case. We learn that since the hoTrl-
bic affair of the witnesses released from Jail
after the trial OF Burns, have been seen upon the
same spot ca-Ousing around the fires with aban-
doned class OF creatures, OF whom was the prin-
ci pa witness against Burns in the trial just con-
cuded. 1t will be remembered. too, that the re-
mains OF the murdered woman were inferred close
10 the spot where she was hurried into eternity
with prayer upon her lIDs. Nightly, we are in
formed, within sight OF this fresh grave, the old
scenes OF debaucherv are enacted.
lie will be executed on Friday, the Sd day Of
September next, between the hours OF 10 O'Clock,
A. M, and O'Clock, P. NJ, at some public place
in Ohio county