The Shasta courier., 1862-03-29
An Interesting Trial.

LUG i0itOWing, most auectlng case, was
tried at the Old Bailey, in London
George Hammond, portrait painter, was
placed ct the bar, to be tried on an indict-
ment found against him by the grand jury,
for the wilful murder, with malice afore-
thought. Of George Baldwin, rope dancer
and mountebank. The prisoner was . man
Of middle height, but slender form. His eyes
were blue and mild. His whole being gave
evidence of subdued sadness and melancholy
resignation. He was forty one years of age;
he had soft voice, and his manner and ap-
pearance bore testimony of his being man
Of distinguished education, in spite Of the
poverty Of bis dress 4sass
On being called on to plead, the prisoner
admitted that he did kill Baldwin, and he
deplored the act, adding, however, on his
conscience, he did not believe himself to be
guilty. Thereupon a jury was empanneled
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 de-
fense.
The prisoner then addressed himself to the
court and jury.
"My lord," said he, tiny justification is
to be found in the recital of the facts. Three
years ago l lost daughter, then four years
of age, tho sole memorial of my beloved wife,
whom it has pleased God to recall to himself.
/ lost her; but did not see her die. She
was charming child, and but for her had
nobody in the world to love me. Gentlemen,
what have suffered can not be described,
you can not comprehend it. | expended in
advertising and fruitless searches everything
l possessed-furniture, pictures, and even to
my Clothes All had been sold. For several
years, on foot, have sought for my child in
all the cities and all the villages of the three
kingdoms. As soon as, by painting por-
traits, l had succeeded in getting little mo-
ney, returned to recommence my advertise
ments in the newspapers. At length, on
Friday, the l4th day Of April last, crossed
the Smithfeld cattle market. In the center
of the market, troupe of mountebanks were
performing their feats. Among them child
was turning on its head, its legs in the air,
and its head supported by a halbert ray
from the soul of its mother must have pene-
trated my own, for me to have recognized my
child in that condition. 1t was my poor
child. Her mother would perhaps have pre-
cipitated herself into her arms. AS for me,
veil passed over my eyes. / threw myself
upon the chief of the rope dancers. l knew
not how it was; 1, habitually gentle, even to
weakness, seized him by the clothes /; l raised
him in the uir and dashed him to the ground
then again. He was dead. Afterwards
repeated what had done. At that moment
| regretted was only able to kill but one. y
Lord Chief Justice Titnal.-These are not
Christian sentiments. How can you expect
the court and jury to look with favor on your
offence, or God to pardon you, if you can not
forgive?
Prisoner.-I know, my lord, what will be
your Judgment, and that of the jury, but
God has already pardoned me; feel it in my
heart. You know mott knew not then
the whole extent of the evil that man had
done. When some compassionate people
brought me my daughter in my prison, she
was no longer my child; she was nc longer
pure and angelic as formerly; she was cor
rupted, body and soul-her language, infa
nous, like that of the people with whom she
had been living. She did not recognize me,
and l no longer recognized her myself. Do
you comprehend me now? That man had
robbed me of the love and soul of my child
and have killed him but once.
Foreman.-My lord, We have agreed on
our verdict.
Chief Justicc-I understand you, gentle
men, but the law must take its course /
must sum up the case, and then you will re-
tire to deliberate.
The Chief Justice having summed up the
case, the jury retired, and in an instant after
returned into the court with verdict of
" Not guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond, the Sheriff
was obliged to surround him with an escort.
The crowd of women and men was immense.
The women were determined to carry him off
in triumph. The crowd followed him all the
way to his lodgings with deafening shouts
and huzzas.