The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-24
An Affecting Sentence of Condemned Mar
dsrers i'm Eeorgiu.

derers in Eeorgip.
Judge Ball'a sentence of the Wilson's, for
the killing of Thomas Terry, some time since,
in Atlanta, Ga, has been published in the
Southern Cosfedaacg, of that place. II is an
affecting and eloquent address, and will be
read with interest by our readers
Prisoners af tAe Bar You have been placed
at the Bar of this Court to receive the fearful
sentence which the law prescribes as the pen
atty OF that crime Of which you stand con-
yicted by the solemn verdict OF your peers.
Few more revolving scenes have ever been
Witnessed within the walls Of Il Cont of Jus
tice than the enc now presen ted here.
father and a son standing together before the
seat OF judgement to hear the doom winch
the violated law demands as the punishment
of their unhappy deeds / would tnat /
could have been spared this scene, and the
performance Of this painful duty. / would
that the evidence had shown your hands un-
stained By the blood CT the unfortunate VIE
tim of your evil and uncontrolled passions.-
And [ doubt net that those good men and
| true would had the proof allowed them,
hare gladly rendered such verdict as would
have restored 10 you Your liberty and your
coed name But the stern obligation OF an
oath was upon them. Il true verdict 10 find.
according to the evidence, and the same stern
oLIio alton is now on to pronounce the
| judgement in accordance with the verdict -
may, and DO, sincerely comm sefate your
| un happy fate, bat [ have 10 power to ftyelt
il. Here, Justice IS impilcable and its de-
maiiCis imperative. 1t calls for the lust scru-
PIE Of tie pound of flesh nominated in rne
bond But can, even in dischargiGg the
stern duties of the Maeistrate direct you 10
another aud far higher tribunal, where he
ears OF Mercy are never closed 10 the cries Of
true penstenee; 10 that Being whose wisdom
and power were alone adequate TO advise a
plan BY which justice may be reconciled with
the pardon Of the guilty.
1t requires suJerna tural ken to compre-
bend the causes Which have led you both on
in the DARK aid downward read which has
formulated III your ruin. Ihe very iEstru-
nent by which yoa sent your victim anbid-
cen to the presence OF his Maker, too clearly
indicates tie fatal agency which has brought
you 10 the bar of tflis court, aud VIII send
you hence to your appointed Goom.* 1t is
the foul fiend OF intempefance, who has so
long Gesolated this earLn and fi;lea the dark
cham bers of hell with his sh!iekiug victims.
| say hot these things 10 l1CerJte your al
ready narrowed feelings, but That others who
may be entering on tue same fearful path
Why, may take timely warning when they
the signbuacd which YOU nave erected
with lts index pointing To tiat deep abyss into
which yOu have fallen.
Although you have been convicted of diff
ferent grades OF homicide, and Will, there
fore, be doomed to different degrees OF pun
lShmeat, yet, ali the tatr prospects OF ti.is
Ike eifectually closed 10 the cne as the
ether. Ioa, unfortunate old man though
you viii be permitted to finger cat The few
remaining years that decay ing nature ana
growing inEimitleS may allow you, yet the
best OF these may be i4nsuished Q;It III vast
ing labor ana confinement. And SAOulG there
be q remnant LEFT after the eG piratiou OF
Jour sentence, they VIII be years OF slow,
Consuming blight, cursed with the goauings
OF TemoFse at the reflection that you have
Brought misery aGd disgrace upon your own
gray hairs, and, by your unhappy teach ng
and exam pie lgnoIniny and deaIA upon your
own SON. For upon your deVoted head, un-
happy son OF Ii WFetched father, must fail IA
sharper and more appalling doom than even
that which awaits him.
The sentence which an now about to utter
Will cousIgn you 10 an untimeiy end and q
teton's grave. L DehoOfes yoa, more especi-
ally, therefore, To turn your thoughts from
thIs GRID, where not one ray OF hope beams
upon our short pass -ge 10 lie TOMB, to that
brighter one where sin and sorrow and death
are unknown. Your eternal destiny hangs
upon your employment Oh the lew neeliug
golden momrnts yetInteTVeplng between y0u
and That dark bourne which gu are has
trnlnE.
Les nC delusiye hopes Of escaping the de-
mHnds OF the law cause y0u 10 proGrastinate
your Efforts 10 prepare to meet your trod ia
peace for i preparation for dea III is the best
preparation isI hics even should you escape
with life,
AND now, after thiS brief aud kindly meant
admonition, II only remains tor me to PRO.
naunce upon yoU both tae dread sen tence Of
the law.
*Tne Wilson's killed Cesyy by blow on he head
ri.h II bottle Of il !uor,