Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-16
The Late Slave Murder Case.

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At the term of the Circuit Court of Mecklen-
burg county, Va, Charles Hudson was tried for
the murder of his slave woman Jane, convicted
of murder in the second degree, and sentenced
TO the Penitentiary for eighteen years. s
The Tobacco Plant says very truly that it is
one of those cases which thoroughly yindicate
Southern character against the aspersions cast
upon us by our enemies at the North. 1t devel-
opes what is as true of us as of any other people
on the civilized GLOBE that we utterly detest aud
abhor cruelty and barbarity, whether to whites
or blacks. es
The evidence in the case was that on the
morning Of the 4th Of July last, at o'clock, one
of the hottest days of the past Summer, Hudson
stripped the woman, naked as she came into the
world, tied her to persimmon tree, and whipped
her tor three consecutive hours, with occasional
intermissions of few minutes, until he had
worn out to stumps fifty two switches, and until
the bark of the body of the tree was rubbed
smooth and greasy by the attrition OF the body
of the victim. The ground aronnd the tree for
seven or eight feet, though it had been freshly
plowed, was trodden hard. One witness testi-
fed that he heard distinctly, at the distance OF
six hundred yards, both the noise OF the switch
es and the screams and entreaties of the woman.
The poor creature was buried the same afternoon
X
rough box, without any shroud. The oyerseer
suggested that the neighbors had better be sent
for to see the body before burial, but Hudson
-dissented.
The body was exhumed on Friday, two days
afterwards, but was in such state of decompo-
sition that the external marks of violence were
well nigh obliterated. But the testimony of the
phyeician, who dissected the body, and of sew
eral other physicians, who were examined as
experts, was distinct and positive that the vio-
lence used was sufficient TO produce death. 1t
was also in evidence that, after the protracted
punishment, Hudson united the woman and sent
her to the creek, some one hundred and fifty yards
distant, to wash herself, accompanied by ne
gro boy, with instructions to bring her back to
him that she complained of great thirst, and
was seen to go down to the waters edge; that
she remained there about fifteen minutes; that
on her return she stopped two or three times,
and complained OF having severe collie; that
finally she stopped and could proceed no further,
when the negro boy, at the command of his
master, took hold of one hand and Hudson of
the other, and dragged her towards the tree.
The main argument of the defence was based
upon the idea that the woman went into the
creek, remained there fifteen minutes, drank to
great excess, aud that this, in all probability,
brought on a congestion of the vitals and pro-
duced death. Ns
Such is an imperfect account of this horrible
transaction. The jury hesitated much between
a conviction for murder in the first and murder
in the second degree. But finally they agreed
and ascertained the term of Imprisonment in the
Penitentiary at eighteen years-the longest term
known to the law. Hudson is now sixty y-eight
years DID, and there is scarcely probability that
be can survive his confinement. Indeed he is
already exceedingly prostrated
On Monday morning, the last day of the
Court, Judge Gholson pronounced sentence upon
him, as follows:
s'Charles Hudson-You have been regularly
tried for the murder of your own slave. You
have been defended with great ability, and a
jury OF your own country have found you guilty
OF murder in the second degree, and fixed the
term of your confinement in the Penitentiary at
eighteen years. In this verdict this Court en-
tirely concurs. will not go into the details Of
the shocking deed. You tied and stripped a
female, who dared not raise her hand against
you-whose only protector in this world you
should have been. For three hours did you, in
one of the hottest days of the summer, cruelty
whip and torture this helpless woman; until, in
the language of counsel, the angel of death
delivered her from the hands of her tormentor.'
You have thus committed great crime against
both human and divine law You have out
ragged the feelings of the community among
whom you lived. You have enabled their ene-
mics to fan the Game of fanaticism, by charging
against them the enormity and cruelty of your
hard and unfeeling heart, although that com
munity cordially loathe and condemn cruelty
and oppression towards black or white.
"But, if your crime has been great, your pun
ishment will be heavy. You are an old man..
Ia all human probability, before eighteen years
have expired, you will be dead. The remnant
The labors of the day will never be followed by
the pleasures of home and friends-but night af-
ter night, until the last night of your earthly
existence, will You be carried to your narrow
cell, and hear, as the prison house keeper de-
parts, the harsh grating of the heavy key that
keeps safe the door of your dungeon. From
man you have nothing to expect. Your doom is
fixed. murderer, you are now convict and
prisoner for life, anG your sentence is just, nay
merciful. Nor is there hope for you beyond the
grave, unless you truly and deeply repent.
ut you will sincerely repent yourself OF this
horrible deed and your other sins-if yon will
bow your head to this deserved punishment and
pray Almighty God to pardon your sins, and
soften and regenerate your heart, there is hope.
Yes--if you. repentance is sincere, it is certain
tuat OOu Will pdTuOu yOu-~IOr rest aSSuEeU tuab
the same power which translated the criminal
from the Gross to Heaven, can and will save
alive the penitent convict. Desolate and dreary
beyond description is your present condition
With a hard and unfeeling heart, human blood
resting upon your head, and your limbs fettered
with felon's chains, whenever weary and tired
you may ask: when shall / be tree9' this
verdict efeighteen years will answer-Never'
never
"Tben trust you will, with deep humility
and sincere repentance, feel and confess your
crime and sins, and that this sentence may
prove the means of saving your SOUL"
PLEA FOR OLD MAIDs.-A woman at the age
of thirty three and a third years, who has new
er been married, is considered p0sses, is called
an sold maid," and the tenn is most unjustly
used in derision The very fact OF being an old
maid is primG tacie evidence of the possession
Of purity, prudence and self denial, and these
are essential to the character OF perfect wife; !;
without them no woman is worth having. Be-
ing an old maid implies decision of character !;
neither sham, nor shows, nor courtly manners,
nor splendid persons have won them over; nor
fair promises, nor shallow tears; they looked
beyond the manner and the dress, and finding
no cheering Indication of depth of mind and
sterling principles, they gave up the specious
present for the chance OF q more solid future,
and determined 10 hope and patience and resig-
nation to s'bide their time"
1t is well for us that we are born babies in
intellect. Could we understand half what most
mothers say and do to their infants, we should