Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-01
DEPARTuREs.
Crime i'm EngIand-COnvictiO of "a
Member OF Parliament OF Forgery
He is Sentenced tn imprisonment for
IITe-A Henarka IN bic speech.


The telegrams from Cape Race referred to
the conviction OF the Hon. VIM. Rupell (ate
Member OF Parliament from LAMBETH upon
two criminal indictments, ''the one of forging
a will, the other of forging deed" Having
pleaded guilty, he was brought up for sentence,
whereupon the prisoner addressed the Court
as follows.
My Lord, J trust for your Unbiased opinion.
/ ann desirous of saying ~ words before
you proceed to pass sentence. | have to re-
gret any Inconvenience NAV have occasioned
by my declining to plead. Ii was my desire
to have prevented any inconvenience to the
prosecution, but l did not expect to be
brought here until this morning. Ny pur-
pose has never swerved from the first, when
/ resolved to surrender myself and plead
guilty. Ny lord, my life has been one of
fearful vicisstudes At the age OF 81, con-
tracted my first debt with friend with whom
/ was connected bv the most intimate ties
Ny friends would not advance me the means
to pay the debt, and my friend fell into
grievous pecuniary difficulties, and / could
not paw the debt owed. 1t was then risked
my soul, and took the first step in crime
Whatever | have done the guilt is mine alone.
True, | have to bear the brunt of it, but the
guilt, | repeat, is mine alone. | cast no
blame on any ne;-I allude to those profess
sional gentlemen with whom have had ex-
tensive transactions.
There is no truth in the supposition that
endeavored, under the influence OF family
interest, to provide the members OF my family
at the expense OF others, without regard to
truth and justice. Such supposition, my
lord, submit. carries on the face of 1t its own
refutation. Ny succeeding crimes were in
consequence OF the first. 1t is true that my
father, just before he died, really expressed
TO me, in whom. after the great fraud / had
committed, he reposed confidence. 1t is true
that he expressed desire that should take
all his property and pay TO the members of
his family annuities each as he described to
me. was prevented by my first crime from
carrying his wishes into legal effect, and at
the time | felt justified by forging the will of
1856, and adopting the will OF 1850, TO carry
out my fathers last wishes as they were ex-
pressed 20 me. | say thought then | was
justified, do not think so now. Ruin has
been the result. do not say how that ruin
has been consummated. 1t would take too
long to relate to YOU, my lord how have
been ruined. | have written at great length
the story OF nv life whilst / have been in
prison, but upon reflection i have been con-
vinced that, if published, il would cause un-
necessary pain to others, and be of no public
good. | have, therefore, entirely at my own
instance suppressed 1t.
must content myself therefore, Oy simply
stating that the accounts which have been
given 10 the public from the remarks of Mr..
Sergeant Shea at Guilford, and from the COM
ments OF minor newspapers, are calculated
only to mislead the public. | am living
paradox, my lord, and no one has clue to
the solution of it. / cannot hope that shall
ever be understood. 1t is not true, my lord,
that / am personally extravagant. l do not
argue; simply state the fact. 1t is not true
that have gambled. 1t is not true that am
a hbertine. Those who do not wish to believe
me will probably remain unconvinced. Those
who love me my statement is unnecessary.
have tried hard, my lord, to bring about a
compromise Of these terrible events before
left England. l felt that nv first duty was
not to my family, but TO those persons who
had entrusted me with their money in reliance
on my honor. and the representation | had
made. / confessed the whole of my guilt, be-
fore / left England, TO gentlemen who had
the means of making it known to all the per-
sons interested in my mortgages. Iremained
in England month and ten days after that
confession. / offered to surrender / said,
Il confess my guilt had made no provision
for myself, and intended TO make none. /
wished only to retrieve the past" / said to
them, What are YOU going to do?" Twas
answered, 1--WE don't believe your statement
We think it cleverly concocted tale to pro-
vide for your family; and if the members of
your family move one inch, we will intiict
them with you for conspiracy"
1t was only then that / surrendered the
hope of bringing about a compromise, which
would have confined the loss entirely to men,