The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1847-08-25 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE FATAL DUEL AT CAMDEN TOWN.  It being generally known that the trilli Of Lieutenast Munro would come on this (Wednesday) wetting, the court was densely crowded at an early hour. A number of gentlemen were on the bench. Alexander Thomson Munro, aged 43. gentleman, wag placed at the bar, on an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of David Lynar Fawcett. The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.  The Attorney-Generay, Mr Waddington, and Mr Clark were eounsel for the prosecution; Mr Clarkson and Mr Bodkin defended the prisoner. After the examination of several witnesses, Mr Jostle° Erie summed up the evidence. The jury at the conclusion of the learned judge's address, retired to consider their verdict. After an absence of 20 minutes they returned into Court, and having answered to their names, Mr Straight, the Clerk of Arraigns, said—Gentlemen, have you screed upon your verdict! The Foreman.—Yes, sir. . . . . .  (At this moment the most intense interest was manifested throughout the sourt, which was crammed to excess.] How may you, gentlemen, is the prisoner guilty or not guilty? The Foreman.—Guilly, but the jury strongly recommend him to mercy: • A death-like silence followed the announcement of the verdict during which the concise] for the prosecution and the defence held a conversation together and some ' law books were banded to the learned judge. The prisoner, on being asked in the usual form what he had to say why sentence of death should not be passed upoa him, be having been convicted of wilful murder, respectfally bowed to the Court, but made no reply. Mr Justice Erle then said the prisoner bad been convicted of the crime of murder, but the jury, in consider. ing their verdict, had strongly recommended him to mercy, in which recommendation he fully concurred, and should take care that, without delay, it was forwarded to the proper quarter. Under the peculiar circumstance of the case, as they bad been disclosed in evidence, he did not feel that he was called upon, in the discharge of his duty, to pass the awful sentence of death. He most observe, however, that the prisoner at 1 the bar had been convicted of a great, a most serious 11 crime—the crime of murder; and in a country where II human life was held so sacred, in most cases the heaviest 11 penalty known to the law followed. The learned counsel I for the defence made Ingestions of a merciful nature, as to absence of all premeditation or motive, in which he fully concurred. He (Mr Justice Erie) also fully believed that the prisoner was deserving of the excellent character be bad received by the distinguished witnesses who had been called. That be had pursued an honourable path through life there could not be a doubt, but these favourable circumstances however, remained for others to consider. He had no right to anticipate what might be the effect; his only duty on the present occasion was to order that sentence of death be recorded.  Sentence of death was then recorded, and the prisoner was removed from the dock.  During tb• time of Mr Clarkson's address to the jury (which was one of great power and feeling), the prisoner shed tears, and appeared suffering great mental azony. He heard the verdiet and sentence with apparent composure. The trial excited intense interest.