The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-28

tion), etc, might equally be the acts of one not
in priests orders, aDd IL the judge had been 30
disposed might have passed under the same
category as the former testimony
When the Jury had retired. the Judge sent
down the prisoner from the bar, but ere he
left the court his eyes met those OF Clara
Finch.
During all this to her, most exciting scene,
she had sc arcely once taken her eyes off Father
Joachim, and now as his loving gaze fell upon
her just as he was turning 10 leave, she was
unable to contain herself and drew down her
veil to conceal her emotion.
While the jodge prohted by the interval TO
retire, there WAS a loud hum OF voices through
ont the court, aud many harsh comment up
on the prisoner fell upon the ears OF clara as
she sat pouring forth her sonl in prayer that
the Jury might be influenced to give favora-
tormenting her friend at this solemn moment.
and conversed with Dame Dorothy on general
topics. The judge soon returned and shortly
afterwards the jury reappeared and the prison
or was ordered back to the bar.
"What have you to say, gentlemen OF the
jury, touching your verdiot-is the prisoner
at tue bar guilty OF not guilty -
born priest nn n the orders Of the Clutch Of
Rome, and SO guilty Of high treason under the
statute of Queen Elizabeth"
"And so you say ALL"
"The jury have found you guilty" quoth
the officer of the cour5. "What have you to
say for yourself Francis johnson, that the SEN
tenoe of death should not be passed against
youp
for / have shown that the things alleged
against me heretofore were ns6ffieieut to
prove me priest, or take away my iife.'
"The jury have found you guilty" returnrd
the Judge, and there is nothing more to be said
touching the evidence, but that you are to be
condemned a priest"
my lord" he returned, "although the jury
have found me guilty, am still innocent OF
any guilt of death, and with your lordship's
permission will prove it,"
F." How 7" asked the judge.
II have not been out of England to take
auy orders from a foreign power since the
K,ue's restoration to the crown, neither had
any opportunity TO take orders in England ;
therefore if were priest, was 10 before his
Majesty came into England but whatever
| did before his Majesty came into England can
not make 1ue now guilty, because bis Majesty,
| before lis re.urn, isaned several proclama.
| tious tf1t rono shcrld ever be troubled for
their religion or conscience' sake, and sint G
| his return he hath done the same, not only by
| proca,natiou, buts not long since, in the de
claration setting forth that every one should
| fully practise his own religion of whatever
sect or persuasion soever."
"Where have you the seal TO that proclama
! ton ~ asked The judge.
~ never questioned but that q subject
might take his Kings word, declared in his
! puU,io proclamation without his seal y
" However That may be-" Iejoined his lord
ship, 'if you are priest now in England, you
are guilty"
| Snpposipg l bad taken orders" replied
the Franciscan, "before the King came to
| England, it is certain thai could not degrade
| myself or be other Use nov than was ordain-
ed then; therefore if Was a priest cannot
| now be held guilty of it, because all that was
| ever done before the Kings restoration was
| forgiven and blotted out by the Kipe's ganer
bad hand ia the death of bis royal father
and 80 the Catholics, for their religion. wer'
not excluded from the general pardon, where
| fore. my lord, am not guilty"
! Van uDiltv" returned the Indg6. HaD(
| are preeuIniDg far too much by venturing t.
plead 50 resolutely and with such confidence
! befoIe me and all this bench"
/ Tuereupon he craved pardon for his fault
| desiring his lordsbip to consider that he hat
| been hidden to speak if he had anything tc
| say for himself, and that he had reason t.
| like to speak for bis life in this world, bu
! tha at if notwi thstanding all the reasons he hat
| alleged, he must lose his life, he had NOR
| to suy.
Then the judge, assuming the black cap, pro
| nounced a. follows:
| 1.-THE sentence of the court, upon you
| Francis Johnson, is that you 20 from hence t.
| the place from whence you came from theme
you shall Oe drawn upon q hurdle to the ptac
of execution. Yon shall there be hanged b
| TIE neck, till ypr be half dead your rncmbeI
shail be cut off before your eyes, ana throw
into the use; where like wise youF bowels sha
ue buTnt. Ycur head shall I've cut CT and se
upon IA pole, and your body cut INTO foo
quarters to be at the Kings disposal. An
ubH you nave LueIGS ou Sou'
As soon as the judge hsd pronounced til
sentence, Father Joachim, who had fixed b
eyes upon him while he spoke. bowed his bea
aud said aloud: Thanks be to God. &c
save the King, and beseech God to bless yoI
lordsbip and all this honorable bench"
"You have spoken very WE'LL" Teturne
Judge Atkins, ''aud do not intend that yC
, shall die, at least, not for tho present, unit
l know the Kings further pleasure"
Father Wall, In his memoir, has recorded
7 himself that he experienced not one Beetle
| disturbing thonght towards judge, jury,
witnesses, and that while his sentence was
irg delivered be wasSwithout any concaru f
aught in this world, and freely offered himse
3 to God.
i 1t appears from the same record, that aft
the judge left the bench, an interval of half
r hour occurred before the prsoper was repiCv
T from the court, during which be couVers
freely with some Protestant gentlemen 81
r others who came around him To express the
u sorrow for his fate He told them that he ~
% troubled they should grieve for him or h
y condition; who was joyfal for 1T himself fl
u a be said, he had protested this faith aud re
70 gion all his lifetime, of the truth of which
was as sure as of the truth of Gods word
I: which it is grounded, and therefore in it
~ deposed his soul and eternal life and hap
30 ness; aud therefore, he said, should he fear
- lose his temporal life for this faith where