Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-12-06
pRooRFpINGs OF COURT.

nehtence OF Armsrong.-rhe Oourt met at
New Castle, last Monday morning. After or
ganizing, Deputy Attorney General Higgins
moved for Judgment in the case Of the State
w.. Andrew Peterson Armstrong The Court
ordered him to be brought In and placed In
the box. He looked remarkably we'll, having
changed very little in appearance since his
arrest. The Court ordered him to stand up
He was then asked If he had anything TO say.
he answered firmly no." Chief Justice Gil
pin then proceeded to sentence him. This
was most solemnly done amid the brea,hless
silence of the large audience, The prisoner
stood during the reading apparently without
emotion, other than hanging his head, and
resting his hands upon the back Of the ssttee
In front of the box. The Chief Justice spoke
as follows:
Andrew Peterson Armstrong, you were in
dicted at the present session Of the Court Of
Oyer and Tsrminer, for the highest crime
known to our law-the crime Of murder-the
wilful, deliberate and pre.neditatsd killing Of
your own wlfe-whom fourteen years ago, you
had vowed before God, to take to your bosom
as the most cherished Of your hearts deepest
affections. You promised to comfort and
honor-to keep her In sickness and in health
TO love and cherish her-until death, accord.
ing to Gods good providence. should separate
you. The promise, the covenant, the VOW
which you then made, was, in the sight OF
heaven most sacred and inviolable. You
may have loved her then, perhaps you did,
and perhaps you were gentle And kind to her
for time, for cannot believe that you were
always utterly devoid Of all human symps-
thies, Of all tender emotions But not for long
did yeur better nature assert and maintain
its asoendsncy. Years ago, the unhappy STRIFE
began At first cold indifference, then sharp
and cruel words Of reproaoh, vile words Of
abuss-and then foul and unmanly blows
Instead Of being satisfied with Q life interest
In her real estate, you demanded that she
should convey to you the absolute fec simple,
to do with It what you pleased, so that you
might, to use your own vile language id
soon drive her ont Of q home. She gave you
part Of her lands, but your insatiate svaroe
demanded the whole. A mean oovetousness,
an Inf. rnal spirit Of sslnshnsss, an acoursed lust
Of gain at her oost-seem to have made the
ruling elements Of your nature, and, because
your poor wife would not give you all, and
thus enable you to cast her forth, stripped
and naked, to depend upon the cold charities
of the world-you hated her with rancorous
malignanoy unparall led, thank heaven. in
tae annals of crime in this State. II yon are
to be believed, you impiously prayed for her
death. You sought her life. Your hand
struck her the rsmorseless blew that
"Cut her offeven in the blossoms of her sins,
Unhoussepd, disappointed, unansrd,
I No reckoning made, but sent TO her account,
| With all her impsrfections on her head ="
| It was murder most foul, strange and I'M
natural And when dead, you buried the
mortal rem Inns Of your violin beneath the
floor And in the stencil and filth Of your own
hog pen
There was time Andrew Peterson Arm
strong, in your early life, when you were an
innocent, harmless, happy boy. There was a
time when gentle emotions and tender sym
I IL.
prompted to deeds Of kindness towards your
fellows. There was a time, perhaps, when
you even loved the woman who had the dire
misfortune to link her fate with yours. We
are told In the good book that man was created
In the image and likeness Of bis maker. There
was time then when you were not altogether
evil, when your moral nature bore some finite
resemblance Of that image. OF how sadly
your sinful life has stained and msrred it
10, wrstohsd man that you are, who shall de
liver you from the body Of this death "
Andrew Peterson Armstrong you have had
ample opportunity to prepare for your de
fence. On your arraignment you pleaded I Ha
you were not guilty OF the charge preferred
against you, and you put yourself upon Goo
and your country for trial. You have beer
ably defended by your counsel, Mr.. Gordon
who nas urged in your behalf every argu'
nent which learning or ingenuity can suggest
u
selection, you have been found guilty Of muir
der in the first degree. And now the fact o
your guilt having been asoertained by thu
jury, the violat ID law Of your country de-
mands your life. 1t oonsigns you to an igno
minious death, and to a felon's grave
Think not that 1t is law merely Of man
enactment. II claims a higher origin. It i
Gods law, aud is as old as the Psntatuck.-
The prohibition Of the crime is contained IL
| al a,.1. of aod. halt n
no murder" The penalty for the crime i
prescribed in the preoept delivered by God t.
Moses In the words, "Whoso shsddeth man
blood Tin the way Of murder) by man shall hi
blood be she'd precept of universal an
never ending application. Moreover, the Law
Of self-defenoe, which 10 founded in the law o
nature, applies as well to communities as /
individuals, and justines the State in putin
you to death The doom, therefore, that await
you, is right aud just, sanctioned as 1t Is b.
the law Of the Almighty
Andrew Peterson Armstrong, have but lit
tie more to say to you. You are to die on Fri
day, the 9Th day of February next. Let m
then with all earnestness, be. seoh you to pre-
pare, If you can, for that awful event.
not deldde yourself with vain expectations {
,, pardon. For say to you plainly, but in tn
! spirit of kindness, that executive clemeno
cannot be extended to you, without manifei
disregard Of pnblic duty.
Unfortunately for you, there are no oircun
o stances attending your offence, calculated
!. mitigate it. enormity or to excite human syn
! patty in your behalf Look not, therefor
r. to man for help in your dire calamity, b'
l. turn at once to Christ the Lord, as the on
}, sourse Of hope and suooor and with low
!. and penitsnt heart, bessech him to have mer'
q upon you-for, as God manifest In the des
He possesses all power both In heaven and I
e. earth, and is the never failing fountain of ,
nj goodness and mercy. He Ia the proper obje
,s Of christian worship, for in Him dwells all Il
te fulness Of the God hoad bodily. He came in
er the world as our Redesmer and Saviour
10 save even the worst Of sinnsrs-even all tho
of who truly believe In his nsme,-allthose W
come unto him and worship him, and who h.
Mt and do his commandments. He has made salv
I'd ton possible to all men. But remember, A
IN drew P. Armstrong, he Is the author Of sal,
es tion to such only as obey him by keeping
CIV commandments; who cease to do evil q
he learn to do well, and who accept him
ed their Saviour and Rsdsemer. Put your tr'
n In him.
IT, Andrew Peterson Armstrong, I oomms
at YOU to ''be taken from the presence Of I
cy Court to the County Jail Of New Castle Ooun
se whence you came there to be kept In cl
Ial confinement until Friday, the sth day OF F
OF ruary, and on that day between the hour
in 10 A. NJ and P. NJ, to be taken to 30
nd private place Of execution within the enc
nd sure.of this prison, and then AID there be HI