The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-08-27


..NOr Gisss.TV.''
The subjnincd affecting narrative of an
incident which occurred years ago in
England is printed by request Of proml
nent member of the Tallahassee bar:
George Hammond, a portrait painter,
was placed at the bar, to be tried on an
Indictment found against himself by the
grand jury for the wiiful murder, with
malice alorethought, OF George Baldwin,
q rope dancer and mountebank. The prIs-
oncr was a man of medium height, but
slender torn. His eyes were blue and
mild His whole bearing gave evidence
of subducd sadness and melancholy re-
signation. He was forty:one years of age,
had u soft voice, and his appearance and
manner bore evidence to his being a man
of distinguished education, in spite of the
poverty of his dress.
On being called out to plead, the prls-
oner admitted that he did kill Baldwin,
and he dcplored the act, adding, however,
that on his soul and conscience he did not
believe himself guilty. Thereupon the
jury was empanneled to try the prisoner.
The Indictment was then read to the
jury, and the act of killing being admit
ted the government rested their case, and
the prisoner was called upon for his de
fence.
The prisoner then addressed himself to
the court and jury.
My Lord" said he, my justification
is to be found in recital Of the facts.
Three years ago lost daughter, then
four years Of age, the sole memorial of
my beloved wife, whom it had pleased
God to recall to himself. | lost her, but
| did not see her die. She disappeared
She was stolen from me. She was a
charming child, and but her | had nobody
in the world to love me. Gentlemen,
what have suffered cannot be described
you cannot comprehend it. | have cx-
pended in advertising and truitleSs
searches everything possessed -urni-
turc, pictures, even to my clothes. All
have been sold.
For three years on foot, | had been
seeking for my child i'll AL the cities and
all the villages in the three kingdoms.
As soon as by painting portraits | had
succeeded in gaining little money, re-
turned to London to commence my adj
length, on Friday, the l4th Of April last,
| crossed the Smthtield cattle mar<et
In the center of the market troupe of
mountebanks were performing their teat>.
Among them a child was turning on its
head supported on a halberd a ray
from the soul Of its mother must have
penetrated my own, for me TO have recog--
nized my child in that condition. 1t was
my poor child. Her mother would per
haps have prcci pitated herself towards
her, and locked herself in her arms. As
for me veil passed over my eyes.
knew not how it was-I, habitually gen
tie, even to weakness, seized him by the
clotheS-I raised him in the air, then
dashed him to the ground-then again
he was dead Afterwards | repented
what had done. At the moment | re-
GREETED that | was able to kill but one"
Lord. ChiefJ Justice Tindale-' These
are not Christian sentiments How can
you expect the court and jury to look
with favor on your defence, or God to
pardon you, if you cannot forgive
Prisoner-"I know, my Lord, what
will be your judgment, and that of the
jury but God has already pardoned me
| feel it in my heart. You know mott
knew not then-the whole extent of the evil
that man had done When some compass
sionate people brought me my daughter
in prison, she was no longer my child
she was no longer pure and angelic as
formerly she was corrupt, body and
soul-her manner, her language, infamous
like those with whom she had been living.
| did not recognize her myself DO you
comprehend me now? That man had
robbed me of the love and soul of my
child And II have killed him but
once"
Foreman" My Lord, we have agreed
on our verdict"
Chief ustice--"I understand you, gen
tlemcn, but the law must take its course
must sum mp the case, and then you will
retire to deliberate"
The ChiefIustice having summed up
the case the jury retired, and in All instant
after returned into court with verdict
not guilty"
On the discharge of Hammond, the
sheriff was obliged to surround 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 of huzzas.
RIGHT PEART.''