New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-27
4 RECENT TRIAL At THE OLD BAILEY
~ NDON-AFFE CITING SCENE.
LORD CHlEF-JUSTICE TINDALE PRESID-
NC

George Hammond, portrait painter, was placed
at the bar 10 te tired on an Indictment iound against
himself by the Grand Jury, for the williul murder,
with malice aforehought, of George Baldwin, rope
DANCER and mountebank. The prisoner WAS a man
of medium hight, but slender form. His eyes were
blne and mild His whole bearing gave evidence OF
snbdued sadness aud melancholy resignation. lie
was Al years of age, had soft voice, and Ills appear.
auce and manner bore evidence OF his beng man OF
dstngushed education, in spite Of the poverty OF his
dress. .. ,
On being called ont to plead the prisoner admitted
that he did Kill Baldwin, and be depored the act,
adding however, that, Oh his soul and conscience,
he did not believe himself guilty. Thereupon jury
WIS mpanneled to try the priscner The indictment
WAS then read to the jury and the act of killing
being admitted, the Government rested their case,
and the prisoner was called upon for his defense.
Tie prisoner then addressed himself TO the Court
and Jury:
"My lord" said he, "my justification is to be
fonpd in recital of the facts. Three years ago |
Lost daughter then four years OF age, the sole me,
mortal of a beloved wife, whom it had pleased God
to recall TO Himself. / lost her. but old not see
her die. She disappeared-she was stolen from me.
She was n charming child, and but her had nobody
IN the world to love me. Gentlemen, what l have
suffered cannot be dsscribed you cannot compre-
bend il. | had expended IN advertising and fruit
less searches everything possessed-iurni.ue' pc
lures, even to my clothes All have been sold. For
three wears on foot had been seeking for my child
in all the cities and all the villages in the three king
doms. M soon "a by painting portraits had sue
ceeded in gaining little money, returned to Lon
don TO commence my advertisements in the newspa'
pers. Al length, on Friday, the 18th OF April last,
i crossed the Smithfeld cattle market. In the cen
ter of the market IA troupe Of mountebanks were
performing their tcats. Among them child WAS
tur. ing on its head supported on halberd. A ray
from the soul Of its mother must have penetrated my
own, for me to have recognized my child in that con-
dltion. 1t was my poor child. Her mother would
perhaps have precipitated herself toward her, and
locked herself in her arms. As for me, vail passed
over ry ewes. knew not how 1t was-l, ha0itu-
ally gentle, even TO weakness, seized him by the
clohes--I raised him in the air then dashed him to
the gronnd-tlen again; he was dead. Afterward
| repenied what | had done. AT the moment re-
l,retted that | was able TO kill bat one"
Lord Chief-Justice Tindae--" These are not
Christian sentiments. How can you expect the
Court aud jury to look with favor on your defense,
or God TO pardon you, ii YOU cannot forgive.
Prifoner-" know, my lord, what will be your
Judgment, aud that Of the jury; but God has par,
doned me- feel il in my heart. You know not, i
knew not then, the whole extent of the evii tha'
man had done. When some compassionate people
brought ne my daughter in prison, she was no 'nse
NY child; she Was 10 longer pure apo spt9n' w