Star. — 1830-09-15 (London, England)

TRIAL OF HENDERSON.  From the rife Herald. The trial of Henderson came on yesterday (Wednesday) about eleven o'clock. When brought to the bar his appearance was perfectly col. lected, and he seemed altogether unconscious, except by a slight flush in his countenance, of any thing singular in his situation, or in the feel. ings of the spectators towards him. His countenance appears to wear a certain habitual complacency, which did not forsake him in the situation in which he was placed. He has a certain weakness in his eyes, which seems to prevent him from keeping them sufficiently open; and gives his physiognomy a peculiar appearance. He heard the most agitating parts of the evidence against him with apparent calmness ; and whenever it was requited that he should be identified by any of the witnesses he rose readily, with an appearance even of courtesy and attention to the wishes of the Court, which was sufficiently I striking. The jury were absent about five minutes, when they returned into Court, and delivered by their chancellor, Ale. Pitcairn, of Pitcairn, the following verdict : The jury is unanimously of opinion, that the prisoner, John Hendemon, is guilty of the three charges—theft—forgery—and murder—as libelled.  It was exactly twelve o'clock at night when judgment was passed. Lord Mackenzie said, that a very painful duty now devolved on the Court. All the three crimes charged against the prisoner were of such a nature, that any of them might have been followed by a capital punishment, but for that of murder no punishment but one was awarded by the laws of GOD or man. He was unwilling to dwell on the aggravated nature of this crime; yet he could not avoid stating that the present case was a dreadful one. An unfortunate man was basely and cruelly murdered by an assassin, while sitting at his own honest trade; and that by his companion, and his only companion—one who was bound rather to defend him, even at the risk of his life, had that been required. The crime, too, was committed for the sake of base lucre; and the determination to attain that end was followed up with a degree of coolness and perseverance unexampled. Considering these aggra. rated circumstances, his Lordship could propose nothing else as punishment than that he should suffer death, with all the aggravations directed by the statute in such cues. The execution of this sentence he pro. posed to be carried into effect at the county town of Cupar, on the 30th day of September. Lord Meadowbank proceeded to pass sentence. Prisoner, be after a very long and patient trial, a Jury of your country has declared you guilty of [three crimes ; one of these Is the most aggravated of which a human being can be guilty. Our Maker has declared, in let. ten of fire, " Thou shalt do no murder ;" yet in the face of Aug command from the GOD before whom you must shortly appear, under circumstances of cruelty and dire barbarity, have you perpetrated that crime, and that crime must now be followed by the fearful punishment which is justly awarded to it. It is quite in vain for you to expect that the sentence of the law will not be carried into certain execution.  The Lords Meadowbank and Mackenzie do therefore decern and decree that you, John Henderson, be taken from the bar to the gaol of Perth, there to be fed on bread and water ; and with all convenient speed thereafter, that you be transmitted by the Sheriffs of Perth and Fife shires to the county gaol of Cupar, there to be fed on bread and water until the 30th day of September, in this present year ; and that on that day, between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, and at such place as the Magistrates shall direct, you be hanged by the neck, by the common hangman, till you be dead, and that your body be then given for dissection. And now may the Lord Almighty have mercy on your soul. After these awful words the prisoner was removed from the bar. He stood collectedly while sentence was pronounced.