[The following extract from the Irish Times of 27th February 1875 has been in our possession for several years. We feel sure that many will read it with interest. — ED.]
THE proceedings in connection with the trial of John—, charged with the murder in October last near this town of an old man named Edward—, appear to have excited extraordinary public interest here. Yesterday and today the Crown Court was crowded with people to see a man who, according to the evidence of the Crown, was the perpetrator of crimes of a desperate character. Large numbers of persons who were unable to obtain admission to the Court waited outside, in the hope of seeing him when passing through the Court to the prison van in which he was to be driven to the prison.
“Long before Mr. Justice Barry took his seat on the bench this morning, every available position was occupied by persons who were curious to know what point could be raised in the prisoner’s favor by Mr. Buchanan, who was requested by the Judge to read over the depositions, in order to be in a position to advise the prisoner as to the course which he should adopt when called on to plead to an indictment involving his life; but it would appear that the unhappy man was determined that no attempt should be made to save him from the consequences of his crimes, for he intimated through the prison officials that he had made up his mind, and that he would put in no plea but that of ‘guilty.’ When placed in the dock he looked haggard, careworn, and as one perfectly resigned to a fate that was inevitable. He was arraigned as John—, and indicted with having on the 23rd October last feloniously and willfully murdered one Edward—, and when the Clerk of the Crown put the question, ‘What say you, guilty or not guilty?’ the prisoner replied, ‘Guilty, my lord; guilty, my lord.’
The Clerk of the Crown then asked him what he had to say why sentence of death by execution should not be passed on him?
The prisoner— ‘I say that I have been most guilty of this crime in the sight of the Almighty God, and I have to condemn and accuse myself of it, and to say that from my heart I am sorry for it. I have been bad in the sight of the Almighty God, but I hope that as my body is to go that the Almighty will have mercy on my soul, and that during the time I shall be allowed to live the Almighty will allow me to glorify Him the more, so that when it is pleasing to Him to take my soul out of this body by execution that He will have mercy on my soul; that I shall afterward sing in His presence among His angels and saints, and that I may enjoy Him for all eternity.’
Mr. Justice Barry then said— ‘John—, you have pleaded guilty to this charge of the willful murder of Edward—. In that plea of guilty you only anticipated the inevitable result of the trial, for no sane man who would hear the evidence that should be addressed against you could hesitate to arrive at the conclusion of your guilt. You basely and cruelly murdered that old man from the meanest and most contemptible of all motives—the greed of gain. You possessed yourself of the few pounds which he had put together by his industry and labor. Your career has been a remarkable one. You have scarcely arrived in years at the prime of manhood. You appear to belong to the class of persons who, I am proud to say, are but little known in this country—a class who devote themselves to a persistent career of crime, just as other men apply themselves to a course of industry and honesty. It appears that you are now but thirty-one years of age, and up to the year 1864 you had been convicted and had suffered punishment eighteen times for different larcenies and for the reception of stolen goods. For one of these offenses you were subjected to a serious punishment—four years’ penal servitude. That time you served, and in 1864 you pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary, and for that crime you were sentenced by the presiding Judge to ten years’ penal servitude, from which you were only liberated on the 1St August 1874. We then find you in the workhouse, and while there you conceived and planned the desperate act which you subsequently carried out. Having, I believe, while there, heard of the solitary condition of this old man, Edward—, and that he was in the possession of some little means, availing yourself of that knowledge you contrived a plan by which you effected an entrance to his little cottage, and murdered and pillaged him. For that crime you now stand at that bar; but that is not all. With your ill-gotten booty you book yourself to Belfast, where you spent that money in a manner almost as bad as that in which you had acquired it. Wishing then to replenish yourself with others’ money, you, on the 19th November, attempted a most daring robbery, and accompanied that robbery with violence which nearly caused the death of two persons—certainly the death of one person. While you were under arrest in connection with that crime you were, through the acuteness of a police officer, recognized as the person who was charged with the crime of murdering Edward—. I am not one of those who can—and I do not envy those who can—look without feelings of pity and awe on a fellow-man about to receive the doom that consigns him for a violent and ignominious death; but I own that in your case, those feelings must be largely mixed with feelings of gratitude that you were so soon arrested in your career of bloodshed and crime before others, like the unfortunate old man Edward—, had fallen victims to your murderous hand. I have been informed, and I have heard with satisfaction, that you have listened with attention to the religious ministrations of some excellent persons who have with a holy zeal devoted themselves to the task of your tardy conversion. I hope that that conversion will continue to the last, and will bear fruit during the period that remains to you, and that you will devote that brief period of time in an endeavor to effect a reconciliation with your God.’ (His lordship here assumed the black cap.) ‘It only now remains for me to pass upon you the dreadful sentence of the law. The sentence and judgment of the Court is, and I do adjudge that you, John—, be taken from the bar of this Court, where you now stand, to the place from whence you came, the common gaol of the county of Sligo, and that on Wednesday the 24th March you will be taken to the common place of execution within the walls of the prison in which you are confined, and that you be hanged by the head until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul!’
“The prisoner then put his hands together, and raising them, spoke in a sort of fervent rhapsody, probably the result of intense remorse for his crime. He prayed that the Lord might have mercy on him and have mercy on every soul present, and grant to all sinners that mercy which had been afforded to him. He believed in the true God, whose blessed Son had shed His blood for him, and to whom his soul was as precious as the soul of the greatest king. He thanked the Almighty for giving him such comfort and consolation and courage to confess the heinous crime of willful murder.
“This terminated a scene which was regarded as one of the most unusual and impressive that could be witnessed in a Court of Justice.
“After the prisoner had uttered his last words he descended the steps of the dock, and was soon after conveyed under escort to the county gaol.”
Do we not see in the above case a marvelous instance of the grace of God? No one who has learned his own lost and ruined condition will find fault with the God of all grace thus plucking an unworthy sinner as a brand from the burning. All may not be guilty of the same sins, but each one is a sinner, and guilty before God; each one needs a Saviour, and, thank God, there is a Saviour for all who will own their guilt and trust in the precious blood that cleanseth from all sin. Does that word “all” seem to be too comprehensive? Thank God that He says “all.” The precious blood of Christ can wash even a murderer, and make him “white as snow,” and that same precious blood is needed by the most refined and moral member of society. Nothing more is needed by the vilest who honestly confesses his sin in the sight of God, and nothing less will do for any, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Each one who enters the bright glory of God will have but one song to sing— “Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood” (Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)).
Murders and suicides have become alarmingly frequent of late; the lust for money, drink, and various forms of vice have led to the perpetration of these awful crimes which increase with the growing unbelief in God and His Word and in a future state which mark the times in which we live. An awful responsibility rests upon those religious teachers who have sown unbelief of the Bible broadcast through the land.
Should any of our readers be tempted to doubt, we would earnestly invite them to a daily reading of the Scriptures.
A. H. B.