Gazette Of The United States

BOSTON, JULY 21.

Last week at Pownalborough, in the County of Lincoln, before the Supreme Judicial Court, came on the trial of Samuel Hadlock, of Mount-Desert, for the murder of ELIJAH LITTLEFIELD GOTT, a young man of about 22 years of age; and after a trial, which lasted the whole day, the Jury returned their Verdict, that the prisoner was Guilty. In the course of the trial, it appeared that Hadlock previous to his committing the horrid murder, had worked himself up into a violent passion with his neighbours, on account, as he said, of their propagating some stories to his disadvantage; the first effect of which discovered itself at the house of one Manchester, where, after some abusive language he seized Mrs. Manchester by the hair of her head, pulled her out of doors, and threw her on the ground several times, in a great rage—he then left the house, and in a short time after called to the deceased, who at this time was passing by, in a boat, and requested to be set across the river in his boat.

With this friendly design Gott went on shore, Hadlock inquired where he was going with his boat? Gott answered, to an island after sand. Hadlock told him he had no right there, as he himself had a lease of the island. Gott replied that he did not know it. Upon this, Hadlock fastened the boat and plunged Gott three times under the water, holding him down one time —he then with a large club drove the young man and a boy that was with him up to Manchester's house, where he found one Richardson, who had been called to the aid of this distressed family—he immediately seized Richardson by the collar, thrust him out of doors with great violence, who taking advantage of a fence, jumped over, pulled Hadlock against
the fence, and held him—at this instant Mr. Gott came out, Hadlock caught hold of his hair and held his head hard down on his own breast, he was relieved by Mrs. Manchester—Richardson now permitted Hadlock to rise, on his solemn promises that he would behave decently, and not offer further abuse to the company; no sooner was he at liberty, than he snatched up an hedge-stake and pursued the young men, but not being able to come up with Richardson, he pursued Gott, whose clothes were wet, and boots filled with water, soon came up with him, and knocked him down; the young man then begged him to spare his life, and that God would have mercy on him! Hadlock told him to pray quick, for it should be the last time; repeating his blows which fractured his skull in several places. The witnesses testified that they left them in this situation, not daring to return until the next morning, when they found Mr. Gott both senseless and speechless in Manchester's house, which had been deserted over night by the family. Mr. Gott survived but a few hours. Thus fell an innocent young man, a victim to the ungoverned passions of an unprovoked neighbour, probably too much inflamed with strong drink. Let such as indulge this vice take warning by Hadlock's unhappy situation, especially when they are reminded that the law considers intoxication as an aggravation, rather than an excuse for a crime.