Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 4 October 1848Various
General
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXIII No. 4 October 1848
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
After this the wounds festered. He was seized with a severe fever, of
which he only did not die. November, December, January, and February,
went over in recovering him and preparing for his trial; physicians
and judges alike made him the object of their care--the former healed
his wounds, the latter made ready his scaffold. To be brief, on the
5th of April, 1834, he appeared, being perfectly cured, before the
Court of Sessions.
Sam made a good appearance before the court; he had been carefully
shaved, his head was bare; he was dressed in the sad prison livery of
two shades of gray.
When the trial was entered upon, a singular difficulty presented
itself. Not any of the witnesses of the events of the 10th of
November, would make a deposition against Sam. The presiding judge
threatened them with his discretionary power in vain. Sam then
commanded them to give evidence. All their tongues were loosed. They
related what they had seen.
Sam Needy listened with profound attention. When one of them, out of
forgetfulness, or affection for him, omitted some of the circumstances
chargeable upon the accused, Sam supplied them. By this means the
chain of facts which has been related was unfolded before the court.
There was one moment when some of the females present wept. The clerk
of the court summoned the convict, Heartall. It was his turn to come
forward. He entered, staggering with emotion--he wept. The police
could not prevent his falling into the arms of Sam. Sam raised him,
and said with a smile to the attorney-general, "Here is a villain who
shares his bread with those who are hungry." Then he kissed Heartall's
hand.
The list of witnesses having been gone through, the attorney-general
rose and spoke in these words: "Gentlemen of the jury, society would
be shaken to its foundation if public vengeance did not overtake such
great criminals as this man, who, etc., etc."
After this memorable discourse, Sam's advocate spoke. The pleader
against, and the pleader for, made each in due order, the evolutions
which they are accustomed to make in the arena which is called a
criminal court.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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