Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-01
FAMOUS TRIALS
LORD .MoHUN

When man is once tried for crime
for which his life is in jeopardy as pay
ment it would be reasonable to suppose
| that when acquitted he would keep away
from crime for ever after Very seldom
do men give the OPP aortunity of being tried
for murder twice, Lut this was the cas-
with Lord Nohun. He was, according to
the times, q man of honor. More over, be
was brave, perhaps too brave for his bra
vado amounted at times to bullyness
He was first tried for the murder OF a
Mr.. Mountford. Later he had the pleas
| ure' to kill two more opponents in due s
ard was finally s5atehed at the point OF
the sword While enceuntering the Duke o.
Hamilton. At this duel, the second of
Mohun, seeing the tides of fortune we
| turned against his principal and that
the Duke had him at His mercy re3ehel
over the struggling men and stabbed the
!. Duke so that he died from the wound
That many thought that Mohun deserv-
| ed death for his first crime is shown by
| the fact that while being acquitted by
the majority of 50 voices, IA of the iseers
found him gur,ty. Together with this mus;
be taken in 70 consideration the fac that
| Mohun was being tried by his own set
his brother peers, many of whom would
give him the benefit o. the doubt, If there
was any chance.
From the evidence II was shown that
/ the trouble was originally over a woman,
Mrs. Bracegirdie, an actress. Mr., Mount
| ford was the one favored sutton among
the many who sought her hand. Among
the other admirers was one Capt. Rich
ard Hill. This man was so infatuated by
the charms of this woman that he openly
| sH-ore that he would do away with
Mountford thinking that by this his enig
obstacle would be removed. One night,
While at supper the captain was heard to
exclaim: Il am resolved to have the
blood of Mountfood." Lord Mohun,
| hearing this and seeing what he thought
was man of his own CALDER, was seen to
accost Hill, and they walked away togeth-
er, talking excitedly.
The following night, by the evidence, of
Mrs. Bracegirdie, as she was returning
| home, she was surprised to see coach
before the house, and Lori Mohun sitting
inside with several cases of pistols near
him. AS they rushed forward to the
house Hill leaped out and struck wildly
at the woman and her mother, striking
them both with the fiat Of the sword.
They escaped into the house and there
harricaded themselves.
Mohun and Hill then settled themselves
down to a long watchful wait feeling sure
THAT Mountford would visit the house be-
fore long For two hours Hill raced UP
and down the street with his sword drawn,
but perhaps firing, he sent for some wine
: and he and Mohun sat down with their
swords barred and drank. At this time
the watch came up, upon asking what
they did there at that time with uneork-
ed bottles and bare swords, Lord Molun
| replied, II am a peer of the realm, touch
me If you dare" The honest Dogber-
ries at this skunk off. At exactly midnight
Mountford put in his appearance.
: Some words crossed between the par
ties, until the captain becoming inspa-
tient, dashed forward and crying, This
Is no time for such discourses' struck
Afountford with his left hand, and before
he had time to draw ran his through the
: body. At this a cry of murder arose and
4 Hill and M6hun escaped. Mount ford
4 died some IL hours later. Lord Mohun
escaped The first words Of Mohun were
according TO the attorney general, HAS
Hill escaped.
During the trial. MohIn confesse6
that he had changed coats with his frient
to throw the followers off the scent, and
1 expressed his regret that Hill had so little
money about him. As there seerade 10 BIZ
some doubt as to whether or not Mohur
a took any active part or just stood by, he
was liberated.
This did not check the spirit Of Moha,s,
however, for not long after he fought hi.
+ last duA with the Duke of Hamilton
They met IN Hyde Park and for tn,
first time MohGn found that he was no
+, on the winning side He was hard press
ed, and according to witnesses, he Sc
verely wounded the dilize in both legs, VIII,
In turn shortened his sword and passe.
: 1t right through his body At this, tn
second of MofsIn, one Capt Mccartney
he uI,o -