DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0093
THE HAMMERSMITH GHOSTS. 75
The prisoner stated his age to be 29. He was dressed
in black, and conducted himself throughout the trial with
decent firmness. During the time he remained at the bar,
his countenance did not appear to express much agitation,
until the Jury left the box. Upon the return of the Jury,
he appeared still more agitated ; and particularly so, when
he was pronounced guilty of murder. While the awful
Sentence was passing upon him by the Recorder, he sup-
ported himself with difficulty, and was led out of the Dock
by Mr. Kirby’s assistant, overwhelmed with the horrors of
his situation. Mr. Dignum, of Drury Lane Theatre, sat
by him, and was extremely affected ; he wept, clasped his
hands together, and suffered the greatest agitation. Seve-
ral of his relations were also present, and apparently in
great distress. The Sessions House was crowded in every
part by nine o’clock, and the Yard was filled with an
anxious multitude, all making inquiry, and interested in
the fate of the prisoner.—He was as usual taken back to
Newgate; but at seven in the evening, a respite arrived
for him, til] his Majesty’s pleasure should be known.
With respect to the fate of this unfortunate man, though
we do not pretend to state our opinion against that of the
Jury, the sentiments of the majority of the people, unre-
servedly ascribe the respite of Smith, to the possible pre-
sumption in the breast of the Judge, that the Jury, after
having returned a verdict of manslaughter against the pri-
soner, should have declared him not guilty of murder,
when they reconsidered the verdict.—And if the Jury were
out an hour and twenty minutes in the first instance, when
they returned the verdict of manslaughter, the few minutes
they occupied the second time, when they brought in that
of wilful murder, must, to common apprehensions, appear
rather too short. However, having given in our preced-
ing pages, a faithful detail of this important trial and sin-
gular verdicts, we now proceed to a retrospective history
l 2 ©f
The prisoner stated his age to be 29. He was dressed
in black, and conducted himself throughout the trial with
decent firmness. During the time he remained at the bar,
his countenance did not appear to express much agitation,
until the Jury left the box. Upon the return of the Jury,
he appeared still more agitated ; and particularly so, when
he was pronounced guilty of murder. While the awful
Sentence was passing upon him by the Recorder, he sup-
ported himself with difficulty, and was led out of the Dock
by Mr. Kirby’s assistant, overwhelmed with the horrors of
his situation. Mr. Dignum, of Drury Lane Theatre, sat
by him, and was extremely affected ; he wept, clasped his
hands together, and suffered the greatest agitation. Seve-
ral of his relations were also present, and apparently in
great distress. The Sessions House was crowded in every
part by nine o’clock, and the Yard was filled with an
anxious multitude, all making inquiry, and interested in
the fate of the prisoner.—He was as usual taken back to
Newgate; but at seven in the evening, a respite arrived
for him, til] his Majesty’s pleasure should be known.
With respect to the fate of this unfortunate man, though
we do not pretend to state our opinion against that of the
Jury, the sentiments of the majority of the people, unre-
servedly ascribe the respite of Smith, to the possible pre-
sumption in the breast of the Judge, that the Jury, after
having returned a verdict of manslaughter against the pri-
soner, should have declared him not guilty of murder,
when they reconsidered the verdict.—And if the Jury were
out an hour and twenty minutes in the first instance, when
they returned the verdict of manslaughter, the few minutes
they occupied the second time, when they brought in that
of wilful murder, must, to common apprehensions, appear
rather too short. However, having given in our preced-
ing pages, a faithful detail of this important trial and sin-
gular verdicts, we now proceed to a retrospective history
l 2 ©f