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Domestic News
June 25, 1804
Jenks' Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
At Albany's General Sessions court last week, Hannah Bowman was tried for assaulting Mr. Spencer with an iron weapon, claiming divine command to kill him due to religious enthusiasm. Jury found her not guilty, deeming her insane.
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NEW-YORK JUNE 18.
At the court of General Sessions held at Albany last week, the circumstances of a very singular case transpired. It appeared on an indictment for an assault and battery, that Hannah Bowman, the defendant, had been religiously affected for two years past, and so great an enthusiast in her devotion as occasionally to abstract her mind from the common concerns of life. At length, a short time since. she was commanded by God to kill a Mr Spencer, a gentleman in the neighbourhood, which purpose she attempted to execute, and accordingly went to his house and attacked him with an iron weapon and wounded him severely before he was secured ; when she regretted that she had failed in completing the order, and hoped forgiveness for her disobedience to the divine mandate.
The jury without leaving the court considered her frantic and insane, and of course found her not guilty.
At the court of General Sessions held at Albany last week, the circumstances of a very singular case transpired. It appeared on an indictment for an assault and battery, that Hannah Bowman, the defendant, had been religiously affected for two years past, and so great an enthusiast in her devotion as occasionally to abstract her mind from the common concerns of life. At length, a short time since. she was commanded by God to kill a Mr Spencer, a gentleman in the neighbourhood, which purpose she attempted to execute, and accordingly went to his house and attacked him with an iron weapon and wounded him severely before he was secured ; when she regretted that she had failed in completing the order, and hoped forgiveness for her disobedience to the divine mandate.
The jury without leaving the court considered her frantic and insane, and of course found her not guilty.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime
Legal Or Court
Religious Event
What keywords are associated?
Albany Court
Assault Battery
Insanity Defense
Religious Delusion
Divine Command
What entities or persons were involved?
Hannah Bowman
Mr Spencer
Where did it happen?
Albany
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Albany
Event Date
Last Week
Key Persons
Hannah Bowman
Mr Spencer
Outcome
mr spencer wounded severely; hannah bowman found not guilty by jury due to insanity
Event Details
Hannah Bowman, religiously affected for two years, was commanded by God to kill Mr Spencer, attacked him with an iron weapon at his house, wounding him severely before being secured; she regretted failing to complete the divine mandate.