Part 3

We deem it quite unnecessary to attempt to give even an outline of her trial, for it would extend far beyond our limits, as we have already said more than we calculated to when we commenced writing. Suffice it to say, that her trial and sentence was the most solemn scene perhaps ever witnessed in that city, or any other city on the broad American continent. She seemed stern and quite unmoved throughout the entire time of her trial, which occupied three days, and seemed quite composed; while her able counsel, to whom great praise is due for the extraordinary ability which he exhibited while addressing the Jury, which occupied over two hours, seemed quite affected. After the Judge's charge to the Jury, which followed, they retired and remained out about an hour, when they returned with a verdict of "Guilty of Murder in the first degree." She received sentence on the 11th of August, to die by the law the 5th of September, during which time she remained silent, until three days previous to her final destination, when she received a quantity of poison, which she took to avoid the public exposure of a shameful death. But it may be asked, how she got the poison, or by whom it was carried into the prison cell; that remains as yet unknown; but, according to the opinion of many of the most respectable persons of the county in which she resided, during her cruel and blood-stained career, she had many associates in guilt, who have not as yet been discovered; but whom I hope will, before long, find their way to condign punishment, as it was utterly impossible that she, or her known associates, could possibly continue such a course of life so long, without recourse to others for assistance. But while numberless conjectures are afloat with regard to this one and that one being associated with her, and partakers of the benefits of her robberies, I consider that it is my duty to speak very careful, lest I should be instrumental in tarnishing the personal character of individuals, on the authority of mere report, as a little time will no doubt satisfy justice by discovering the guilty. There was one circumstance connected with her detection, which, I venture to state, gave reason for suspicion, and which may not be amiss to remark.--Subsequent to her imprisonment, quite a number of individuals retired from business. Some, who were extensively engaged in grocery business, others, who were equally as extensive as wine merchants, stopped suddenly, or left their business in the hands of others, and immediately disappeared, and no one knew where they went, or could give the slightest intimation of their business abroad, as it is considerably different in a village, from that of a city life, as each wishes to know the business of his neighbor, and, in fact, does to a considerable extent. But no one knew the cause of their sudden and unexpected disappearing, whilst others remarked the velocity of the wheels of fortune, which accompanied some of their neighbors from poverty to opulence and wealth, in the space of a few years, &c., together with many other circumstantial opinions which I am compelled to omit. But it may be interesting to the reader to state one more circumstance, to which I was eye witness, and which seemed very strange to me. She remained silent as before mentioned, and in consequence of the rumor and excitement which prevailed, I was induced to go to see her, in order to speak to her on some important matters connected with her previous course of life. Consequently, on Monday, the 1st instant, I went, and when I reached the prison, the jailor told me that he could not possibly admit me that day, it being Monday. However, I remained in the city until morning, when I went again, accompanied by the sheriff. And I was no little astonished on hearing the jailor say, That he hoped that he would not be so much annoyed in future as during the last week, by persons wishing to see her, as there were more applications to visit her, than all the other prisoners together. However, the massive iron door was unbolted and swung open, and we proceeded along the dark hall, whilst every tread of my foot, as it sounded in my ear, caused a sensation easier imagined than described; and at length we reached a range of cells, and immediately the turnkey, as he is generally called, unbolted it, and told me to walk in.--And as I found myself inside a prison cell for the first time in my life, I stumbled, for it was either too dark to see, or else my sight became dim on approaching the scene of horror which stood erect before me; and before I could recover myself, I was accosted by her strong, stern voice, as she said, "Is that you, Mr. Jackson--do you want to speak with me?" I answered in the affirmative. She then said, "Sit down." But the place was so small that I could hardly turn around. "Do you think there is any hopes of my reprieve, or shall I have to suffer an ignominious death on the scaffold? If so, I shall be a corpse before to-morrow noon, for I don't want to live any longer. So you may go, for I am as one already dead." Not one word could I get her to speak more, and I retired with a heart overpowered with sorrow. As I walked out of the dreadful tomb of the living, the door was again bolted, which sounded like the mournful death-bell. How many solemn reflections rushed into my mind at that dreadful moment, but not one word could I utter for some minutes; when the sheriff, seeing my confused countenance, remarked something lively to me, and I soon regained my strength, but could not, during that entire day, cast off the mantle of horror with which I was clothed. I assure you, gentle reader, were you to behold that solemn scene as I did, that your heart would melt into pity for the misfortune of a child of humanity, however wicked she might have been. But to return to my subject. The sheriff remarked there was a difference in her countenance since he last saw her; and as the time of her destination was fast approaching, it was thought advisable to send a minister of the gospel to render some consolation, and accordingly she was asked by the jailor in what profession she would like to die. She answered, that she would prefer to die in that to which she nominally belonged, which was the Wesleyan, and application was immediately made to a minister of that denomination, who attended as early as possible, but too late, for she had privately taken a quantity of poison.--After the poison began to operate, she raved like a maniac, tearing the clothes from her body, and attempting to lay hold of and bite every thing within her reach, cursing God, and the hour that gave her birth. After these fits had a little subsided, and reason had again returned, the pangs of a guilty conscience and remorse, with all its frightful horrors and bitter anguish, would seize her soul, and she would cry out in the bitterness of her torments, that she already felt the flames of hell! reproaching herself in the most bitter anguish, for the awful crimes she had committed. Then she would again rave like a maniac, cursing and swearing in a most horrible manner, and attempting to destroy every thing within her reach. So strong was she in those fits of raving, that it was with difficulty that three men were able to tie her on the bed. She appeared to be in great agony and pain until she died. About three hours before her death, she was visited by a minister of the Methodist Church, to which she nominally belonged. He endeavored to console and reconcile her, by telling her that there was yet hope, if she would only repent and acknowledge the crimes which she had committed. She got a little consoled, and confessed the following, as near as we could learn from the minister's confused memory, who was much afflicted on beholding her awful appearance.

CONFESSION OF SOPHIA HAMILTON,

NARRATED BY THE REV. MR. BROOKS.

I was born in the year 1812, convenient to Woodstock, in the province of New Brunswick. My parents emigrated from England a short time previous to my birth, and I am happy to say that my mother is dead, so that she wo'nt feel the mortification of hearing or knowing of my untimely and ill-fated end, for she was, in early life doomed to drink deep of the galling cup of bitter sorrow. She was questioned by the minister, as to what she had reference to. She replied, I mean my ill-fated father, who lost his life when I was about eight years old, in attempting to take that of another, whose name was Murdock. My father killed Murdock, and was himself immediately devoured by a large dog which belonged to the house of Murdock. Soon after my father's death, my poor mother, (with a large family and the sole charge and responsibility of a large establishment, and not being acquainted with public life,--together with the disgraceful stigma of my father's death,) was compelled to sell out, and leave that section of the country, which she did in 1823, two years after my father's death. She then moved, taking with her the whole family, to Quebec, stopped there, and finding it difficult to maintain a large family, she then moved up the St. Lawrence River, and settled down about eighteen miles from Montreal, where I lived with her until I became eighteen years old, when I was married to Mr. Hamilton, in the year 1830. About ten months after my marriage, I moved with my husband to his native place, which was about ten miles from Kingston, Upper Canada, where I, during the first year, enjoyed the happiest portion of my natural life. But I soon began to discern a dark shade in his countenance, caused by jealousy, as if to signify that he was sorry that he ever beheld me. My mortification on beholding that, and listening to the taunting and sneering of his relatives, with which I was situated, was great. My solitary and melancholy contemplations were much easier imagined than described, being all alone, without one trustworthy friend to console my wounded feelings. Therefore I was left all alone to contemplate on my misfortune; during which time I often resolved, that if I could find no alternative, that I would rather die, than live to be made the tool of contempt, as I was innocent of the guilt with which I was charged. But I bore it with fortitude, for my resolute and arbitrary temper was hard to subdue. Although spurned with contempt, and looked upon as an inferior in rank, family and education, I at once resolved to teach them a lesson on the latter. (She then attempted to jump up, but was unable.) Soon after I found his health beginning to decline, in consequence of a pleuritic fever which seized him. I thought it was a good opportunity to put an end to my melancholy life; but alas! I was only dipping myself deeper into the pit of misery. I poisoned him when two years and eight months married to him, to free myself from the trials incident to a protracted illness. The poison I administered to him through my negro cook, and, in three months after, I strangled to death my first offspring, which was the only child that nature ever furnished me with. O! that ever memorable year and day! to it I will seal my condemnation, for it never left my memory either day or night. It has haunted me, and followed my footsteps through every moment of my unhappy life since. The cries of the innocent victim, I think just now----. (Here she got into a terrible rage of despair for some time, then, getting a little calm, proceeded):--Were I on the summit of Mount Ararat, and could utter language as loud as thunder, and could speak every tongue and language, and had around me all the nations of the earth, I would proclaim that I deserve the cruelest death of any being which ever existed, if I only thought that it would be the means of preventing one single misguided and cruel wretch from a similar offence. Yes, I wish that my name, and the memory of my cruelty, may be for ever, engraven on the memory of those who survive me, or hear of my cruel life and miserable death, that it may be a warning to those entering on the path of life, that they may suppress human passion, and untie the strong holds of Satan, who was my daily companion through life.--She was again interrupted by the good and meek parson, who tried to console her, by reminding her of the patience which holy Job exercised during his long affliction. She then became quite composed, and quite a consoling discourse was given by the minister, by telling her, that, as she soon expected to meet her eternal Judge, he hoped that her repentance might be sincere; at the same time reminding her of the sorrow of Judas, who despaired of salvation, and was consequently lost for ever. He then referred to the repentance of the thief on the cross, for example, to show that there was hopes for salvation even at the eleventh hour, and cautiously warned her against the awful consequences of dying in despair of the salvation of that good and bountiful providence, who is ever willing to extend the arm of mercy to each and every one of us, however black and grievous-looking may be our sins. And here he quoted some texts of Scripture, which says, that He desireth not the death of the sinner, but rather that they live and be converted; and said, that he had every reason to hope that it pleased the Almighty to punish her in this world. She then seemed quite composed and easy, though weak. She went on to say, I would bear all the torture and affliction with pleasure. Here the humble and consoling servant of God, who felt pleasure in the dark recess of the prison cell, then referred to the cruel torture and affliction which was endured by the primitive Christians and the early saints, who suffered, though innocent; as also the patience of the innocent and harmless, who suffered in England during the Reformation. Here he referred to Lady Jane Gray, and the innocent Mary, Queen of Scots, who laid their heads on the block, to appease the wrath of that blood-stained and cruel people.--She then proceeded as follows: After the death of my husband, I sold out my effects and left that part of the country, and lived with my mother a short time; but my disposition being unsettled, I soon after moved from there to Laparara, a village a short distance from Montreal, where I commenced keeping tavern in the fall of 1835, and, in two months after, I assisted to kill a gentleman from Quebec, whose name was Parker. Richard, son of one of my consorts, shot him through a window, as he sat at dinner. We robbed him of £2,000; his horse was afterwards sold in Plattsburg, New York. This was the first murder that I was guilty of after the death of my husband and child, which could never be erased from my memory, were I to live longer than I now desire. I was the principal deviser of the cruel act before related, of obstructing the road, by which the two men from Montreal were killed, and I was on the ground a few minutes after, just as they were expiring. I assisted to search their pockets and wallets, where we found over 2,000 sovereigns in gold; the ill-fated Brown, who was executed at Kingston, was my principal assistant, and perpetrator in the blackest deeds that ever disgraced a being. In 1840 I moved from my old stand to the village of St. Johns, where I commenced business in April, 1841. With my own hands I killed a gentleman from Albany, New York, (who stopped at my house,) while he was at breakfast; I robbed him of $800. In the month of November following, I assisted to rob a gentleman from Charleston, South Carolina, who stopped at my house. I, with two others, entered the room whilst he was sleeping, and cut his throat from ear to ear. We found in his wallet $4,000 in paper. Shortly after, I with my own hands killed a boy who was for some time in my house in the capacity of waiter, because he threatened to discover of what he had previously seen. About six months before I was taken, I murdered a smuggler, who put up at my house frequently on his way to the States; he came in at an unusually late hour, and ordered supper. I mixed a quantity of poison in the bread which I gave him; I then put him to sleep in a room separate from the main part of the house, so that if he should make any alarm during the night he would be unheard, taking care to secure the money which he left in my charge until morning. Six weeks after this, I murdered two emigrants, on their way from Montreal to New York. Finding that they had considerable money, as they inquired about the currency of English gold in the States, I inquired how much they had; they showed it to me, and I told them that it was generally too light. I then put them to sleep in a room adapted for such persons, and in the night we entered by means of a slide door which was for the purpose, where we found them asleep. Each of us were armed, but we found no resistance; we soon committed them to eternity. Their bodies we buried in the wood-house, and found £400, in gold, in their bed; we then divided the spoil. Their names I never knew. And last of all, I assisted to murder Morse, the Quaker, from New York, while boarding at my house. I am guilty of ten deliberate murders with my own hands, and accessory to many more. I will not confess any more, for I do not, nor cannot, expect forgiveness; for I already feel the wrath of an avenging God, searing my very soul,--for my crimes are too black, my deeds too heinous, to expect to reign in happiness with those innocent beings that I caused to leave the world by my cruel treachery; the tears of the bereaved widows, and the cries of the helpless orphans, will speak with tongues of indignation against me.

She here made another attempt to rise, but in vain. She then laid down for a little time quite still and motionless, but was again seized with another fit of despair. Placing her eyes fast on the object of her consolation, in the most terrific and agonizing cries, she exclaimed, that she now "felt the pains of hell searing her very soul!"

. . . . . . .

The turnkey now came in, and assisted to support her. For some time she remained in most exquisite anguish, until she at last sunk back on her pillow, weak and exhausted, and her immortal spirit winged its way, to appear before its eternal Judge, there to answer for the deeds committed in the body, and we hope will, or has, found more favor and mercy, than she did from the human tribunal, which sentenced her to die, according to the civil law, which I hope will still continue to be rightly and justly administered, because on its administration depends our safety and happiness, as well as civil and religious liberties.

Her death was truly heart rending and awful, and should serve as a warning to all those who read this account, to be prepared to meet their eternal Judge, to render such an account of their past lives as may stand the test on that great day, when each and every one of us shall have the book of life unfolded, either to our everlasting happiness, or eternal condemnation. When we reflect how awful must be the afflictions of the guilty sinner in the last and terrible moments, when, finding their earthly career of misspent time about to close on them for ever, what price would they then give for a new life, or the opportunity which was so abused; what would then signify the paltry, ill-gotten treasure, which was obtained at the expense of the tears of the widow and the cries of the helpless orphan, or at the expense of the life and blood of their fellow being, and last of all, at the lost of their happiness here, and their immortal souls hereafter.

The ill-fated and long to be remembered Sophia Hamilton breathed her last on the evening of the 3d of September, 1843. Thus terminated the cruel, atrocious, and blood-thirsty career of father, son and daughter. And now, gentle reader, you may contemplate over this melancholy field of human wickedness, which, I venture to say, stands unparalleled in the annals of crime; for true it is, that as man lives, he generally dies; as we find Brown did, who was mentioned in the foregoing pages, and whose career ceased with hers; therefore it is to be sincerely hoped that the exposure of the lives of those atrocious beings may be a timely lesson to those who may read this; that all may learn to avoid a wicked, regardless course of life in youth, lest it might grow up to maturity, and cease only with their mortal career. When we behold the hardened and regardless sinner, who perhaps mocks at the idea of practical religion, as well as the boasting, disdainful infidel, who not only mocks, but tramples on the holy ordinances of religion, could we behold him prostrate on the couch of death, then indeed, we would find an awful lesson in the contradiction of his previous pretentions to attempt to mock, or at least disregard every thing that was sacred. Even the modern infidel Paine, who mused and cherished the grossest and most blasphemous infidelity in France, but thank God that the day was then arriving when infidelity together with the inquisition was about to find a deep grave in that once happy land he not content with that defeat in vain attempted to introduce it into the land of his nativity, but found himself again frustrated and it was then that he in his last effort turned his attention to America where he got permission to publish his works the fruits of which require but little commentary. Reader if I have wandered from my subject, it is in order to show that a miserable death is the fruits of a wicked life, for how did Paine seem to feel on the matter during the close of his earthly campaign, he died like Voltair his predecessor and many other remarkable infidels, yes reader, and like Judas who betrayed his divine master afflicted by the bitter gall of remorse and sorrow, but it is to be feared not true repentance. Therefore we should try to live as we would wish to die, or at least with a conscience as free from guilt as possible in order to render our last moments happy. Still keeping in view the subjects here quoted as a living lesson, which on due reflection will not fail to dictate to any thinking mind the true path to virtue here below, and to everlasting happiness hereafter, the true object for which man was created and endowed with reason to guide and direct his path through this life of troubles which he makes for himself by his own neglect of his duty.

In giving to the public on abridgement of the life of this atrociously wicked women, we hope that our numerous readers, either moral or immoral, will never need such a lesson as that already detailed; but it may be truly looked upon as one of the most astonishing circumstances of the age, in the midst of civilization and morality. Were we to attempt to give even an outline of the melancholy and sad-looking scene which the trial presented, it would, we fear, fill the minds of our gentle and tender-hearted readers with horror; but we have endeavored as much as possible to avoid the darker and more disagreeable portion of the cruelty with which this vile creature was charged. We assure you reader, that we entertain too much respect for the feelings, as well as the moral effect which the exposure of such crimes might have on the weaker minds, and we therefore consider it a duty we owe to the public to lay before the world the foregoing pages.