The Sun. — 1828-08-16 (London, England)

CORDER.  1 t is desirable, before tl►e Phrenologists can sit as a Jury upon the head of this miscreant, or interpose their sophisms between the public eye and his heart, that his real character should be embodied. The subject is, indeed, revolting, but it may be rendered instructive. Many of the facts of the case are fraught with weighty and solemn warnings. What could more clearly demonstrate an overruling Providence than the ground taken by Corder for his defence ? He was not ignorant of the difficulty of identifying the body of his victim. That ground of defence if not tenable, was tempting, in a case so desperate ; whereas the pretence of suicide had, in the form he advanced it, all human probabilities against it. And yet this cool, calculating villain was not permitted to see this self-evident fact. The God who de►►ounces murder in his Word, prevented, by his Providence, the murderer from escaping ; and made that line of defence which convicted him, the means of bringing him to confession. The idea of leaving the odium of self-murder on the memory of his victim, found one unbroken chord in his conscience, and wrung from it, in spite of all his hardened effrontery, a fidl acknowledgement of his guilt. Is not this the finger of God ? Men may flatter themselves in an opinion, that they could resist or evade any process of conviction in the case of an unwitnessed crime ; and, had the Omniscient Witness no power over the strength and stratagems of a vitiated heart, they might, at times, defy detection. But all hearts are in the hand of God, and he can turn them from their purpose in a moment. By recalling an old feeling of past times, or by awakening a new fear of eternity, he can make the most collected and callous sink like Corder, or start up in their true character, like Satan at the touch of Ithuriel's spear. "Be sure your sin will find you out," is one of the general laws of the Divine government, which neither felons nor fiends can resist, when the moral purposes of that Government require their confession or exposure. Corder could out-brave his conscience at Ealing, although, like the retreats of Nero, it must have rung with the shrieks of his victim by night and by day ; he could outface all the soleninities of his trial and condemnation, and attempt to play the hero before scowling thousands ; he could cant against popery, and express his scorn for Methodists, (save the mark !) whilst the sentence of death was on his head ; but one simple and natural thought—the blasted memory of his victim, broke up at once the whole prison-house of his desperate soul. Much has been said as to the moral influence of the speech addressed to Corder by the Judge. The hope that a better world was opening to receive the murderer, if penitent, has been arraigned as unwarranted, and as necessarily injurious to society. And it certainly was unwarranted by any thing in the character or spirit of the murderer. He had manifested no signs of penitence or principle at the time. Indeed, all penitence, in such cases, is a Very equivocal thing. The duty cannot be too warmly, if wisely, pressed upon felons: but the less they say about the symptoms of scaffold-repentance, the better. The Saviour alone had a right to say to a dying malefactor, " This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." It must be admitted, however, that a Judge is placed in a peculiarly delicate position, when passing sentence of death. Were he to manifest no sympathy, he would be regarded as unfeeling. It should, however, be rigidly confined 'to wishes, prayers, advices, and warnings, and never become the open expression of hopes. Hoping may allowed to alleviate, in the mind of the Judge, the pain with which he performs his trying duty ; but he as much owes it to his country to keep his hopes within his own bosom, as to himself to indulge them for his own relief. The public need no help in the matter of hoping the best. They will go quite far enough in that exercise without an example from the Bench. That example is, of course, always well meant, however unwisely shewn. It is not, however, the only thing connected with the death of felons which requires to .be modified ; for, if the hope expressed by the Judge tend to lessen public horror or dread of felony, what must the administration of the Holy Sacrament suggest ? It is, us appointed by Christ, the emblem, pledge, and seal of eternal salvation ; and whilst that is given to felons, it is worse than folly to condemn the warm-hearted hopes of a Judge. This act would defeat any impression that a Judge could make on the public mind, were he even to express the strongest fears of the final state of the murderer. Whilst the Clergyman is bound to carry the Sacrament to the cell, it is of little consequence what is said on the Bench,—unless, indeed, the Bench should thunder a solemn protest against this use of the Sacrament. When it does that, it will be echoed back by louder thunder from all the Oracles of God !  One thing must be added to these hints. Who was the first seducer of Maria Marten ? Is he alive ? Has he a conscience 2 The Red Barn is the goal of that career into which he led her ! He thought not of this, nor intended it. True : but it is not less true that all seduction tends in some way to this issue. And what a hell on earth must every man endure who lives to see the victim of his lust become the victim of another man's blood. thirstiness, and that man hurried into Eternity to meet the spirit, which he hurried into it more suddenly ! Truly the way of transgressors is hard ! And by nothing is this more clearly seen by realizing what must be the conscience of a seducer when his victim is murdered, and her murderer executed.—The