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John Hatfield's
Trial
August 15. This day (Monday) the notorious Hatfield
was tried on a charge of forgery, and convicted, at the
Carlisle Assizes. On being called for his defence, the
prisoner addressed himself to the jury. He said, he felt
some degree of satisfaction in being able to have his
sufferings terminated, as they of course must be, by their
verdict. For the space of nine months he has been dragged
from prison to prison, and torn from place to place, subject
to all the misrepresentations of calumny. "Whatever will be
my fate," said he, "I am content; it is the award of
justice, impartially adinistered; but I will solemnly
declare, that in all my transactions, I never intended to
defraud or injure the persons whose names have appeared in
the prosecutions. This will I maintain to the last of my
life." The jury, notwithstanding the plausible defence of
the prisoner, found him guilty on two indictments.- At eight
on Tuesday morning, the prisoner was brought up to receive
judgment; when Baron Thompson, after beseeching him to
employ the remaining part of his time for eternity, and
hoping that he would find mercy at the hour of his death,
and day of judgment, pronounced sentence of death in
the usual form.- The prisoner heard it with firmness, bowed
respectfully, and was taken away from the dock, and thence
to the gaol. From the evidence which traspired on the trial
it appears that Hatfield is of a respectable family. He is a
man of much address, and
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