Middletown transcript., 1871-05-06
Popular eilli5csllaap.
LEssOy or ltuRDER TRiAI..-DIs-
COURSE by REV. L.. W. BAC0S.

COURSE by REV. l.. W. BACON.
The Rev Leonard W Bacon. pastor of
the Congregational Church, on North Eu-
taw street, near Dolphin, Baltimore, de-
liycred discourse week or two ago up.
on the subject Of The lesson Of Muir
der Trial. His text was from Dueteron-
omy, fifth chapter, and seventeenth and
eighteenth verses: " Thou shal, not kill.
neither shalt thou commit adultery"
The reserened speaker remarked that fer
week past the whole State Of Maryland
has been Witnessing through The ucwsIa-
rers a capital trial af cAt aordiuary inter-
est aud If vtY peculiar character; Il
young homicide outrial for his life "a jury
cmf1nnelel, sworn - render verdict ar-
cording to law AMI iaets, the instructions
ot the btnrh aud il. ruling, on question:.
ID cVi leryt ~ lti,lHuoy raaiormcd 10 th
accepted principals ii evidence aud Of las,
So q. 10 roniiu1 tht investigation 10 the
one question that Of the prisoner innocence
or guilt. The course nf the counsel for The
pros. cntian uni f5r ihe ddlnse il este
hly directed 10 ,hp same enl the Siait
aitempiiae 10 establish the fet of hon-
lie With its Implication Of nalire. tn
irasers5r masiAg show nf proving, first
that lhe net WIS done il sclfaefen,c. ana
secondly. tbat tie aet was done in II ma-
ment ol irresponsible insanity.
All ilis ispain aud straight forward
Al Ills. IL such o5Ienses must como. i
gery sht nnl honorable II the admins.
iraiipa u justice in the Site Bn, as We
observe the progress Of t,ls trial. it b..
comes perfectly obvious, oven stranger.
that the fc1l defense !, me Which it i, for.
billen to introduce, ani when urset.n.-
less, i introduced whie! il is forbidden.
to rehal, and which, nevertheless. is ro-
hnttea hy the prosecution which the inrs
lrf SWIM nat 10 take into consideration
aud which. nevertheless. III are uniyer.
sally expected t. consider, anl nnaui-
Mnn.ly do consider. and en which. wiih
what is commonly accepted as II sprt Of il.
nus petinrS, amid the irrepressble mp.
planses pf tho orowl. they render their
yefliet. L is clearly enough mol the
mansaser who i on ttial, bn, the man
,l1in
The irfansc If ths homicide in tha fo.
run Of public opinion the red de- nse IF
il, mt tln Legal tietinn nf defense IN tn
criminal court is that tho victim has been
gully ofsclnci1n The crime uf iae.
tina. IL vas about 10 say, but seduction /.
no ctimr nnaer Maryland law The court
are irt ing. not an assnssin, hnt deal
man aud M absent wnmnn The sham
ltfense nf the prisoner at the bar is nnly
,pt mp 10 h,p dropped again The jury
having considered the case Of the corpse
bring in \ speedy verdict of . served lin
right, aud the prisoner at the bar. being
acquitted or the pretext of his being a
temporary maniac or Of having been as.
sanltod with deadly weapons. and forced
into nh unwilling homicide, instead If be.
ing committed Ia the charge Of physicians.
or enndolci with for the painful accident
that Ind befalcn him. is hailed with
shouts anl cheers, anl carried alofi on he
shoulders Of the crowd as hero, or dc.
liycrer of society from the presence of n
criminal SO hcnious that Il Is not fit that he
sHpuii i've.
This case in no essential respect varies
from the general cnurse Of judicial dealing
in many Of the States in similar cnses 1t
is supposed to mark the adherence Of
those States for the crimes that provoked
the bloody deeds. But suppose that he
was the shameless sclucer that he is de-
clared TO be. wherein has he offended A.
ganst the State? What crime has he
committed Search the s,a,nte books
and Gee II is moi named upon them. lf
be could be convicted of the deed. under
every aeegaya,ing circumstance, it wonll
subject him to nc penalty disqnalify him
from no honor or emolument If tho hon
orable instinct which rises to yindicato the
violated sanc,ity Of the family is not a
whimsical and mock -chivalrous notion.
then tho laws or no laws Of this State for
The protection Of the family is an insult 10
the law which God has written in His
word and on The heart Of every man, and
thus il il a shame upon It's own honor, a
repreaeh 10 civilization, an open invita-
lion 10 mob violence or personal revenge,