Virginia Free Press & Farmers' Repository

Negro Sarah, a slave belonging to Richard Williams, Esq. was put upon her trial, on Monday last, for Infanticide: Thomas Griggs, Esq. for the commonwealth, and Joseph T. Dougherty, Esq. for the prisoner. After a patient examination, she was acquitted, several members of the Court entertaining doubts upon the subject. This case has convinced us, that there ought to be enacted various grades of punishment for offences of this sort. Whenever the circumstances and proofs are strongly against the accused, and yet not sufficient to justify the punishment of death, it is productive of evil to let the criminal escape entirely. Under the existing law, however, there is no alternative, but death or acquittal.