The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-06-10
A Recent Trial at the Old Bailey
i'm LOndOn---A6ectin Scene.

George Hammond, portrait painter, was
placed ut the bar. 10 be iiied on an indict-
ment foun against himself by the Grand
Jury for the wilfu, murder, with malice atore-
thought, Of George Baldwin, :ope'dancer
and mounte bank The prisoner was man
OF medium height, but sleHder form. His
eyes were blue and mid. His whole bearing
gave evidence of subdued sadness aud melan :
choly resignation. He was forty one years
Of age, hal a soft voice, and his appearance
and IN nuer bore evidence of his being man
of dis iugushed education, in spite of the
poverty Of his dress.
On being called out to plead, the prisoner
admitted that he Gil kill Baldwin, AMI he dc.
plored the act, adding, however, that on h 8
soul and conscience, he did not believe him.
self guilty. Thereupon jury was inpan-
nelod 10 try the prisoner. The indictment
Was T. Q read to the jury, and an act of kill
ing benz admitted the Government rested
u cir case, aui the prisoner WAS called upon
for his defense.
The prisoner then addressed himself to the
Court and Jury:
"My Cord! - said he, "my justification is
to be found in a recital Of the facts. Three
years ago | lost daughter, then four years Of
age, he sole memorial of beloved wife +,
whom it has pleased God to call to Himself.
| lost her. but L did not see her de. She
sappeared-she WAS stolen from m. She
was charming Chi d, and her b al no.
body in the world t. love me. Gentem n,
what have suffered cannot be described; you
cannot comprehend il. had expended in
advertising and fruitless searcber everything |
possessed-furn'ture, pic u'es, even TO my
clothes. All have been sold. For three
ycars on foot had been seeking for my child
in all the cities and all the villages in the
three kingdoms. As soon as by painting por-
traits | had succeeded III gaining little mon
ey. returned to London TO commence my
advertisements in the newspapers. AT length,
on Friday, the l4,h of April last, eros ed
the Smithfeld cattle market. In the center
of the market troupe Of mouotebanks were
performing their iea,s. Among them child
was turning on its head supported by hal
be,d A ray from the soul Of its mother
must have penetrated my ow f, for me to have
recognized my child in that con ilon. IT
was my poor child. Her mother would per
hals h I'VE prccipitated herself towards her f,
and locked herself in her arms. As for me, n
veil passed over my eyes. l knew not how it
was-I, habitually gentle, even to weakness,
seized him by tho clothes-I raised him in
the air, then dashed him to the ground-then
again, and h was dead. Afterward repeut
ed what | had done. At the moment re.
GREETED that was able TO hill but one"
Lord Chief Justice Tindole-These are
not Christian sentiments. How can you ex.
pect the Court and Jury to look with favor on
your defcuce, or God TO pardon you, il you
cannot forgive.
P,isoner-I know, my Lord, what will be
your judgement, and that Of tho jury; but
God has pardoned me; feel it in my heart.
You know not, knew not then, the whole
extent Of the evil that man had doue. When
some compassionate people brought me my
daughter in prison, she was no longer my
child; she was no longer pure and angelo as
formerly; she was corrupt, body and soul
her manner. her language, Infamous, like those
with whom she had been living. / did not
recognize her myself. Do you comprehend
nowl That man bad robbed me Of the love
aud soul Of my child. And IL have killed
him but once.
Foreman-My Lord, we have agreed upon
a verdict.
Chief Jusfiee--I understand 20 i, gentle
meu, but The law must take its course. ]
must cum up the case, and then you will re
tire 10 deliberate.
The Chief Justice having summed up the
case. the jury retired, and in an Instant after
returned into Court with verdict of Not
Guilty"
On the discharge Of tho prisoner, the Sher
if was obliged to surround him WITH an es.
cort. The women were determined to carry
him off in triumph. The crowd followed hin
all the way to his lodgings with deafeune
shouts aud huzzas.