Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-07-11
Human Nature the Same all
the World Over.

people that no nation has more sarcasti-
cally reviled our trials by jury, or more
bitterly alluded to our subseryiency to
public opinion, than have done the jour
mails and people Of Englaud, They have
lost no opportunity Of sneeriug at the
justice of our Courts of Law, and ques
tiouing the " maudliu sympathy" as they
expressed it, which prevails iu the Amer
lean jury box. But the following very
interesting aud veey righteous decision Of
their own Courts conirlus the tact that
the true instincts Of human nature are
the same, among civilized nations, all over
the globe.
In recent trial at the Old Bailey, III
London, Lord Chief Justice Tindalc pre-
siding, Goo Hammond, q portrait painter
was placed at the bar, to be tried on an
indictment found against himself by the
Graud Jury, for wiItul murder, with mal-
ice atorothoeght, Of Geo. Baldwin, q rope
dancer aud mountebank. The prisoner
was a man Of medium height, but slender
form. His eyes were blue and mild. His
whole bearing gave evidence Of subdued
saln.ss aud melancholy resignation, He
was IL year, Of age, had ! soft voice and
his appearance and manner bore evidence
of his being man Of distinguished edu-
cation, in spite Of the poverty Of his
dress.
On being called out to plead, the pris-
oncr admitted that he did Kill Baldwin,
aud he deplored the act, adding, however,
that, on his soul and conscience, he did
not believe himself guilty. Thereupon
jury was impanueled 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 were made.
i" Ny Lord, said he, my justification
i, to be found in u recital Of the facts
Three years ago | lost daughter, then
four years OF age, the sole memorial Of
beloved wife whom it has pleased God to
recall to Himself | lost her. bat | did
not see her die. She disappeared-she
was stolen from me- She was q charming
child, aud but her | had nobody in the
world to love me. Gentlemen, what |
have suffered cannot be described you
cannot comprehend it. had expended
iu advertising and truitless searches every
thing | po,scssel-furui,urc, pictures,
even to my clothes. All have been sold.
For three years | bad been seeking for
my child iu all the cities and all the vii
lagos iu the three kingdoms. As soon as
by painting portraits | had succeeded IN
gaining little money, | returned to Lou
don to commence by advertisements in
the newspapers. At length on Friday,
the lth day Of April last, crossed the
Smithield cattle market. In the centre
Of the market troup of mountcbauks
we're performing their feats. Among
them child was turning on its head sup
ported by halberd. 4 ray from the
soul Of its mother must have penetrated
my own, for me to have recognized my
child in that condition 1t was my child.
Her mother would have precipitated her
self towards her and locked herself III
her arms. As for me . veil passed over
my eyes. | know not how it was, hab
itually so gentle, even to weakness, seized
him by the elothes-l raised him i'll the
air, then dashed him to the grouud-thcn
again; ne was dead Atterward | re-
pcntel what had done. At the moment
| regretted that | was able to kill but
one.
Lord Chief Justice Tindae-" These
are not Christian sentiments. How can
YOU expect the Court and jury to look
with favor on yonr defence, or God to
pardon you, if You cannot forgive"
Prisoner" know my Lord, what
viii be your judgment, and that of the
jury; but God has pardoncd me feel
it my heart. You knew not then, the
whole extent of the evil that man has
done. When some compassionate people
brought me my daughter in prison, she
was no longer my child; she was no lon
ger pure and angelic as formerly; she was
corrupt, body and soul-aer manner, her
language, infamous like those with whom
she had been living. did not recognize
her myself. Do you comprehend now :?
That man had robbed me Of the love and
soul of my child. And IL have killed
him bat once"
Foromau-"M Ny Lord, We have agreed
on our verdict
The Chiet-Justice having summed up
the case, the jury retired and in an instant
after returned into Court with yirdict of
j." Not guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond, the
sheriff was obliged to surrender him with
an escort. 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.
Trcrs oN T,NpS hin lamhs infaStnl