THE ROAD OBSTRUCTED, AND THE TRAVELLERS MURDERED. p. 12.
LIFE AND CONFESSION
OF
SOPHIA HAMILTON,
WHO WAS
TRIED, CONDEMNED AND SENTENCED TO BE
HUNG,
AT MONTREAL, L. C. ON THE 4TH OF AUGUST, 1845,
FOR THE
PERPETRATION OF THE MOST SHOCKING MURDERS AND DARING
ROBBERIES PERHAPS RECORDED IN THE ANNALS
OF CRIME.
[Illustration]
CAREFULLY SELECTED BY THE AUTHOR,
WILLIAM H. JACKSON.
MONTREAL, L. C.
PRINTED FOR THE PUBLISHER
1845.
LIFE AND CONFESSION OF SOPHIA HAMILTON.
It has probably never fallen to the lot of man to record a list of morecruel, heart-rending, atrocious, cold-blooded murders and daringrobberies than have been perpetrated by the subjects of this narrative,and that too in the midst of a highly civilized and Christian community;deeds too, which, for the depravity of every human feeling, seemscarcely to have found a parallel in the annals of crime. And it seemsdoubly shocking and atrocious when we find them perpetrated by one ofthe female sex, which sex has always and in all countries been esteemedas having a higher regard for virtue, and far greater aversion to actsof barbarity, even in the most vitiated, than is generally found in menof the same class. We may truly say that the annals of history havenever unfolded to the world a greater instance of human depravity andutter disregard of every virtuous feeling which should inhabit the humanbreast, than the one it becomes our painful duty to lay before ourreaders in the account of Sophia Hamilton, the subject of this veryinteresting narrative. We deem it not unimportant to give a briefaccount of her parentage, in order that our numerous readers may see thesource from which she sprung; as also the inestimable and intrinsicvalue of a moral education in youth, which is a gem of imperishablevalue, the loss of which many have had to deplore when perhaps too[Pg 6]late. The public may depend on the authenticity of the facts hererelated, as it is from no less a source than a schoolmate of herill-fated father. The author has spared no exertions to collect everyminute and important particular relating to her extraordinary, thoughunfortunate career.
Richard Jones, the father of the principal subject of this narrative wasthe only son of a wealthy nobleman residing in Bristol, England; he hadin the early part of his life received a classical education. But inconsequence of the death of his mother, he of course got an uncontrolledcareer, which continued too long, until at length he became a disgust tohis kind and loving father, whose admonitions he disregarded and whoseprecepts he trampled upon. At the age of twenty-four, he was a perfectsot, regardless of the kind counsel of his relatives; and at length hischaracter became so disreputable that he was accused of almost everyoutrage perpetrated in the neighbourhood in which he belonged. Thispreyed so much upon his aged father that he became ill, and it isthought by many shortened his life. Richard had then attained the age oftwenty-five, and seemed so deeply afflicted by the death of his father,that