The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-04
A Recent Trsai at she Did Bailey iW LoaAsa
affecting sceoe--l.Ord chile - asllce TIN.
dale. Presidtng.

George Hammond, a portrait painter, Vas
placed at the bar, TO be tried on an indictment
found against himself by the Grasd Jury, for
the the willfu murder with malice aforethought
of George Baldwin, = rope dancer and mounte-
bank.
The prisoner was man Of medium height, but
slender form. His ewes we're blue aud mild.
His whole bearing gave evidence OF subdued sad.
ness ard melancholy resignation. He was IL
ss lssss ua St ske s bad soft VOICE and HE appear.
man Of distinguished education, in spite of the
poverty OF his dress.
On being called out to plead. the prisoner ad
ntted that he did kill Baldwin, aud he depiored
the act, adding, however, that. on his soul and
conscience, he did not believe himself guilty.
Thereupon q jury was impannelled to try tho
prisoner. The indictment then read TO the
jury, and the act OF killing being admitted. the
Government rested their case, and tho prisoner
Was called upon for his defence.
The prisoner then addressed himself to the
Court aud Jury:
my Lord" ssid he. ''my justification is to bs
iosnd in a recital of the facts Three years ago
lost daughter, then four years Of sge. the sole
memorial OF 4 beloved wife. whom il had pleased
God to recall TO Himself. | lost her. but | did
not see her die. She disappesre1-she vas sto.
| len from me- She wasa charming child and but
| her l had nobody In the " ,rld to love me. Cen
tlemen, what have suffered cannot be describ-
ed you cannot comprehend IT, had expended
n advertising and irutless searches, everything
| 1 Posss.ssd fs-nitu~c, pictures, all, even 10 my
clothes. All nave been s,id For three wears
Oh foot had been seeking for nv child in all
the Cities and villages in the three Kingdoms
As soon as by painting portraits had succeeded
in gaining little money, | returned to London
TO commence NV advertisements in the ne wspa-
pers At length, Friday the l+th day Of
April last, crossed the SmiIhfed cattle marx et
! In the Center OF the market a troupe Of mounte-
banks we're performing their feais. Among them
. child was turning on its head supported on
| hslberd. A raw from the soul OF its mother must
have penetrated my own, Tor to have recog-
uized my child in that condition. IL ~xs nv poor
child. Her mother would. perhaps, have precp.
itsted herself toward her, ard locked herself in
her arms. As for me, q val passed over my
eyes. knew not hos it wss-I, hAbituaiiy gem
lie, even TO weakness. seized him by the clothes
Il raised him in the air, then dashed him 70 the
ground-then again; he was dead. Afterward
| repented what had done At the moment
regretted that was able TO kill bat one"
Lord Ch,et Justice Tindsle-"These are not
Christian sentiments. Hox can you expect the
Court aud jury 10 look with favor on your de-
tense. or God to pardon you. if you cannot for.
give-
Pfisoner-"I kpov, nv lord. what will be your
Judgment, and that OF the jury; but God has
pardoSed ne; feel it ia nv heart You know
not, knew no, then, the whole extent OF the
evil that man had done When some compass
sionate people brought me nv daughter in pris.
On, she vas no longer my child she DO
longer pure and angelic as formerly; she uaa
corrupt, body and soul-her manner her Ian.
gusge, infamous, like those with wsom she had
been living did not recognize her mysef Do
Won comprehend Do~. That man had robbed
me OF the love AID soul OF my child. And l.
| have killed him bat once"
ForemAn-'Ny lord, We have agreed on on.
verdict"
Chief Justice-'T understand you, gentleman
bu, the law must take its course I mus. sam
up the case, and then you will retire TO delibe.
rate
The Chief Justice having summed up the case
the jury retired, and in an instsn, after return
ed into Court with the verdict Of Not guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond the sheriff sas
obliged TO surround bin With an escort The
women we're determined to carry him OF ia tri
umph. The crowd folloued him all the way "a
his lodgings with desfening shouts and buzzas.