Year: 1860

II =
County, Va. -
CONVICTION OF The MuRDKRRR-SENrKScKp TO
THE PENITENTIARY-AFFRcTiN AND ApPRo.
PRIArKRE OF uDeK GHoLsoN


At the term Of the Circuit Court of Mecklenburp
county, Va, Chas. Hudson was tried for the muf-
der Of his slave woman Jane, convicted of murder
in the second degree, and sentenced to the peni-
tentiary for eighteen years.


The Tobacco Plant says very truly that II is one Of
those cases which thoroughly vindicate southern
character against the aspersions cast upon us by
our enemies at the North, IL develops what Is as
true Of us as Of any other people the civilized
globe, that we utterly detest and abhor cruelty
and barbarity, whether to whites or blacks -a
The evidence In the case was that on the morn


ing Of the 4th Of July last at eight O'clock one of
the hottest days OF the past summer, Hudson
stripped the woman, naked az she came into the
world tied her to a pefsimmon tree and whipped


her three consecutive hours with occasional inter
missions Of Few minutes, until he had worn out
to stumPs hffy-two switches, and until the bark Of
the body ofthe tree was rubbed smooth aud greasy
by the attrition of the body of the victim The
ground around the tree for seven or eli ght feet,
though II had been freshly plowed, was :trodden
hard. One witness testified that he heard distnct


iy, at the distance OF 600 Yards both the noise cf
switches and the screams and entreaties of the
woman: The poor creature was buried the same
afternoon only some ten inches beneath the ground
In rough box, without any shroud. The over.
seer suggested that the neighbour had better be


sent Tor to See the body before BURIAL but Hudson
fhe body was exhumed on Friday. two DAYS
= n
afterwards, but was In such state of decompos-
don that the external marks Of violence were well
nlsn ooliterated But the testimony Of the ply
sician who dissected the body and of several
other physicians, who were examined az experts,
was distinct and positive that ths violence used
was suftclent to produce death. 1t was also in


evidence that, after the protracted punishment,
Hudson united the woman and sent her to the
creek, some $50 yards distant to wash herself ac-
companied by negro boy with instruc II ons to
bring her back to him; that she complained of
and 4
edge; that she remained there about fifteen min


utes; that on her return she stopped two or three
nmes, and complained Of having severe collie;
sha. nnaily she stopped and conld proceed no
further, when the negro boy, at the command of
nls master, took hold Of one hand and Hudson of


the other, and dragged her towards the tree


Tne mali argument Of the defence was based
upon the idea that the woman went into the creek
| remained there fifteen minutes, drank to great


excess, and that this, In all probablity broIlp ht


on congestion Of the vitals ana produced deaih


such Is an imperfect account Of this horrible


transaction. The jury hesitated much between


a convection for murder in the rst and murder in


the second degree. But finally they agreed and


ascertained the term Of imprisonment In the penl-


to the law Hudson 10 now sixty-eight wears old


and there is scarcely a probability that he can


survive his Confinement. Indeed he 10 already ex
ceedtngiy prostrated.


On Monday morning, the last day of the Court.


follows. A.. ~ q


Charles Hudson-You have been regularly tried
Tor the murder Of your own slave. You have been
defended with great ability, and jury of your
own country have found you guilty Of murder I'm
the second degree, and fixed the term of your


eonnnement IN the Penitentiary at Is years In


THIS verdict this court entirely concurs. will
not 60 into the details Of the shockiny deed You


tied and stripped female, who dared not raise


@ ner hand against you1whose only protector in


this world you should have been For three


hours did you, in one Of the hottest days of the


summer, cruelty whip and torture this bel pless


woman, until, In the lang uage of counsel, 1.-THE


angel Of death delivered her from the hands of


her tormenter.n You have thus Committed a
great crime against both human and divine law


ou have outraged the feelings of the community


among whom you lived. You have enabled thefr


enemies TO fan the flame Of fdnatcism, by charg-


Ing against them the enormity and cruelty of your


hard and uHfeeling heart, although that commu.


nifty cordially loathe and condemn cruelty and


Oppression towards black or white


But, II your crime has been great your punish


ment will be heavy. You are an old man In


all human probability before eig bteen wears ba ye


expired, you will be dead. The remnant of your


days are TO be spent within prison Wills The


ldbors OF the day will never be followed by the


pleasures Of home and friends-but night aft.r


night until the last night of your earthly exist.


ence, will you be carried to your narrow cell and


hear, as the prison house keeper departs. the


harsh grating of the heavy key that keeps safe the


door OF your dungeon. From man You have


nothing 10 expect Your doom is fxed. A muir


dsref, you are now convict and prisoner for life


and your sentence Is ust, nay merciful Nor Is


there hope for you beyond the grave, unless you


truly and deeply repent


II You Will sincerely repent yourself of this hor


rloie DEED and your other sins-if you will bow


your head to this deserved punishment, and pray


Almighty God to pardon your SINS and soften


and regenerate your heart there is hope Yes-if


Your repentance is sincere, it is certain that cd


VIII pardon yOu-for rest assured that the same


power which translated the criminal from the


Cross TO Heaven, can and will save alive the peni-


tent convict Desolate and dreary beyond des-
~


and unfesling heart, human blood resting upon


your head, and your limbs fettered with f.lon,s
chains, whenever weary and tired, you may ask


w ben shall be free .' this verdict of Is years


Will answer-'Nevef''-'neve =. i ~.
|! Then trust you will with deep humility and
sincere repentance, feel and confess yolr crime
and sins, and that this sentence may prove the


means Of saving your soul