Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-10-18
Miscellaneous.
An Affecting Scene.

s'"i'S, oeoi9e halnniohu, portrait pain-
ter, was placed at the bar, to be tried on
an Indictment found against himself by
the Grand Jury, for the wiful murder,
with malice aforethought. of George Bald
win, a rope.dancer and mountebank. The
prisoner was man of medium height, but
slender form. His eyes were blue and
mild. His whole being gave evidence of
subdued sadness and melancholy resigna-
tion. He was forty-one years of age, had
a soft voice, and his appearance and man
ner bore evidence of his being a man of
distinguished education, in spite ofthe pov-
erty of his dress.
On being called out to plead, the prison.
er admitted that he did kill Baldwin, and
he deplorcd the act, adding on his soul
and conscience, he did not believe himself
guilty. Thereupon jury was impannel-
ed to try the prisoner. 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 defence.
The prisoner then addressed himself to
the Court and Jury, and the following re-
marks was made:
my lord,' said he, 'my justification is
to be found ia recital of few facts
Three years ago lost daughter, then
four years of age, the sole memorial of a
beloved wife, whom it had pleased God to
recall to Himself, I lost her, but 1 did
not see her die. She disappeared--she
was stolen from Inc. She was charming
child, and but her had nobody in the
world to love me. Gentlemen, what l
have suffered cannot be described; you
cannot comprehend it. Ihad expended in
advertising aud fruitless searches every.
thing 1 possessed-furniture, pictures,
even to my clothes. All have been sold
For three years 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 portraits 1 had succeeded
in gaining little money | returned to
London to commence my advertisements
in the newspapers.
At length on Friday, the l4th of April
last, crossed the Smithfeld cattle market
In the centre of the market q troupe o1
mountebanks were performing their feats.
Among them child was turning on its
head supported on halberd. A ray from
the soul of its mother must have penetra-
ted my own, for me TO have recognized my
child in that condition. 1t was my pool
child. Her mother would perhaps have
precipitated herself towards her, and lock
ed herself in her arms. AS for me, a val
passed over my eyes. / knew not how il
} was-I, habtually gentle, even to weak
ness, siezed him by the clothes--I raisct
him in the air, then dashed him to tn
ground-then again; he was dead. AZ
forwards 1 regretted what l had done.
AT the moment regretted that / wa
, able to kill but one.
Lord Chief Justice Tindale -'Thest
are not Christian sentiments. How car
you expect the Court and Jury to lool
, with favor OH your defence, or God to par
$ don you, if you cannot forgive!
5 Prisoner--'I know, my Lord, what vii
= bo your judgement, and that of the jury
' but God has pardoned me; feel it in m
i. heart. You know not, ! know not then
the whole extent of the evil that man ha
done. When some compassionate peopl
brought me my daughter in prison, sh
g was no longer my child she was no longe
r pure and angelic as formerly; she wa
S corrupt, body and soul-her manner, he
: language, infamous, like those with whor
9 she had been living. did not recogniz
8 her myself. Do you comprehend, now
: That man has robbed nae of the love an
soul of my child. And II have kille
y him but once
}; Foreman-'My Lord, we have agree
b on our verdict
$ Chief Justice-'I understand you ger
= tlemen, but the law must take its cours'
It l must sum up the case, and then you wi
G retire and deliberate
s The Chief Justice having summed u
i the case, the Jury retired, and in an il
Y stant after returned into Court with ver
o dict Of Not Guilty
,, On the discharge of Hammond, I'll
d sheriff was obliged to surround him wit
a an escort. The women were determine
= to carry him off in triumph. The crow
g followed him all the way to his lodgin
= with deafenipg shouts of huzzas.
le --.----~~$----------