The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-10

and done too, with q deadly weapon, held with
such steady hand and unerring aim, that the
jury were perfectly justifable in finding malice
was implied, and intent to kill well formed
in the mind when the fatal shot was fired, al
though without deliberation and premedita-
ton. The law fixes the penalty for the crime of
which you stand convicted. There is dis
cretion left to the court The punishment, great
as it may seem, is confinement in the peniten-
tiary during life.
In the solitude of your confinement, when you
are shut out from the world and man, have no
doubt that you will often think of the crirne
you have committed and shrink from the
thought that your hands stained with the
blood Of fellow being
Your crime was of sech nature that it shock
ed the NJ oral sensibiIities of the whole commu-
nifty. 1t hurried a fellow being without mo-
ment's warning hour of meditation OF prep
aration, into the presence of his Maker, and
left you murderer, as shown by the verdict OF
the jury that heard the case. 1t is an awful and
terrible thing to take the life of a human being1
do not refer to these matters to cause remorse
despair to seize hold of your mind, but for
the purpose of reminding you that your crime
is of such character that there can be no hope
for you in this world or in the world to come,
unless there is @ heartfelt conviction, and sim
cere and genuine repentance for the crime you
have committed against the laws of God and
man.
James Brady is dead. No act thought or deed
on your part, or on the part of others, can now
help or injure him. He has gone never to re-
turn; but as to yourself, while you will be de-
MED your liberty and be shut off from all COM
munication with general society, and be under
the control and directions of others, you will
still have an opportunity given you, to look in,
as it were, upon yourself, to commune with
your own heart and conscience, and avail your
self of that promise of forgiveness and salvation,
that we are taught and have every reason to
believe is extended to all who will, in the right
and proper way, seek and ask for it.
You will have the time and privilege given
you, in your confinement, to become sorry for
and repent of the crimes you have committed,
and to become O different and wholly reformed
man, and possibly again fitted for citizenship
in this world, and prepared and fitted for the
world and life that is to come.
Then, with this promise before you, and which,
it is believed is extended ito you, you may not
only hope tor reformation and change of heart
and life, through true repentance, that will
bring forgivness and reconciled conscience,
but if your conduct and prison life, for few
years. are such that they will evidence such
change and reformation, and convince those
who will have charge of you, that you would
be safe person to be permitted again to ming
lie society with your fellow men, such persons
and officers of the prison in which you will be
confined, whose duty will be to watch your ev
cry day conduct, as prisoner, may become en-
listed in your favor, and through their recon-
mendation, and the aid of friends outside, it
might be possible that you may be restored to
your citizenship and your liberty.
Your welfare in time and in eternity there
fore, depends largely upon yourself, and upon
your conduct while confined in prison. If ey
cry act shows humble and contrite spirit,
and your conduct as a prisoner is such that
your daily record that will be kept there, shall
be unsullied, you may hope for the aid and as
sistance have named; otherwise, the number
of your days will be made full, and the remain
der of your life will be within the walls OF the
prison to which you are to be consigned.
Hoping that you will remember these words,
which are spoken in all kindness, and that they
may cause you to reflect and think upon the
matters suggested, in a way that will benefit
you here and hereafter, now, in discharge of
duty, pronounce the sentence of the law, which
is, that you, Peter Becker, be confined in the
penitentiary of this State, and be kept at hard
labor, for the period of your natural life, and
that you pay the costs of this prosecution.