1

I John C. Hamilton Judge of the ninth Judicial circuit
in the State of Tennessee - certify that at a circuit
court held for the county Henderson, in said circuit
on the 3nd Monday in October 1828. William Walden
was brought to the bar of the court, for trial upon
an indictment for the murder of William B Smith,
wherupon it was suggested to the court, that the said
Walden had become insane, since pleading to
the indictment wherupon a jury was by my
directions impanelled to try the fact of insanity
and the said jury returned as their verdict,
that the said William Walden, was insane
from the visitation of God. That by the
Laws he can never be tried as long as he
remains insane. And to keep him confined
waiting for a restoration of his intellectual
powers; or a lucid interval, would be
[met?], ^and not subserve the ends of Justice or the violated laws and was done having been adduced
to my satisfaction that imprisonment, would
rather increase that improve his the malady
than improve his mind, and that his
life, would be greatly endangered by
imprisonment - It is considered by the said
court, that the said William Walden, is a
fit object for Executive clemency, and as
such he is recommended to the Executive of Tennessee
for pardon

Given under my hand this 29th of October 1828

[J C Hamilton]]
Judge &c