South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-04-29


Gold IN his defence, and waverine ia
1neir belief of his innocence. Con-
sclous that the eye of suspicion was O.
Pen' and satisfied that nothing short of
apubllc investigation could restore him
to honor, the unhappy young man sur
rendered himself to the civil authority,
and demanded trial. The best coun-
sci had been engaged-and on the day
OF trial, Hamilton stood before the as
sembled county-an arraigned culprit
IN the presence of those before whom
he walked in honor from childhood.
AS the trial proceeded, the conf
dence of his friends diminished and
those who had doubted, became CON
trlned in the belief of the prisoners
guilt. "Tri1es light as air become
confirmation strong as proofs of Holy
Writ" to the jealous minds of the audi
ence, and one fact was linked to anoth-
or IN curious coincidence, until tho
chain of corrobborating circumstances
seemed irresistibly conclusive. His
recent intimacy with the deceased, and
even the attention which friendship s.
hospitality had dictated, were ingeni-
ously insisted upon as evidence ola de-
liberate plan ofwickedness long form
ed and gradually developed. The facts
that ne accompanied the deceased on
his way-that he lost the path in a
country with which he was supposed to
be familiar his conduct on hearing the
death of his friend, the money; the
knife; caused the most incredulous to
tremble for his fate. But when the
breast-pin of Hamilton, found near the
body otthe murdered man, was produc-
ed. and pistol known to have been
that the prisoner, wasproven to have
been picked up near the same spot--but
little room was lefs even for charity to
indulge benevolent doubt. Nor was
this all-the prosecution had still ano-
Their witness the pale girl who sat by
him, clasping his hands in hers, was un-
expectedly called upon to rise and give
testimony. She shrunk from the call,
and buried her face in her brother bo-
som. That blow was not anticipated !;
for none but the myrmidons of party
vengeance, who had even violated the
sanctuary of family confidence in
search of evidence, dreamed that any
eliminating circumstance was in the
possession of this young lady. Attic
mandate ofthe court, she arose, laid a.
side her veil, and disclosed face bag
gard with anxiety and terror. Ia low,
treInulous accents. broken with sobs,
she reluctantly deposed that the
clothes worn by her brother, on his re-
turn from that fatal journey. were torn.
soiled with earth, and bloody! An au-
dible murmur ran through the crowd,
who were listening in GREATNESS ST.
lencc-the prisoner bowed his head in
mute despair; the witness was borne a.
way insensible; the argument procee-
ded, and after an eloquent but vain de-
fence, thejury brought in verdict of
GUILTY.! The sentence OF death was
passed.
The summer had passed away. The
hand Of autumn had begun to tinge
with mellow hues the magnificent
scenery of the forest twas evening,
and the clear moonbeams were shining
through the gates ofthe prisoners cell.
phe unhappy man. haggard. attenuat-
ed, and heat-broken. was lying upon
his wretched pallet, rejecting altern-
1ely upon the early wreck of bis
blighted hopes. the hour of ignominy
that was just approaching, and the
dread futurity into which he would
soon be plunged. TWAS the season IN
which his marriage with Almira was to
have been solemnized. With what
pride and Joy had he looked forward to
this hourl And now, instead Of the
wedding festivities, the lovely bride,
and the train of congratulating friends,
so often pictured in fancy. he realized
letters, a dungeon, and a disgraceiu
death |! The well known tread of the
TAILOR interrupted the bitter train OF
thought. The door opened, and as the
light strcamed from the lantern across
the cell, he saw a female form timidly
approaching. In moment Aimira had
sunk on herknees beside him, and their
hands were silently clasped together.
The jailor, a blunt though humane
man, briefly disclosed plan which he,
with Almira, had devised for the es-
cape of Hamilton. He had consented to
allow the prisoner to escape, in female
dress, while she was to remain in his
stead, so that the whole continuance
should seem to be her own. 81 am a
plain man," concluded the jailor, "but
know what's right. 1t 'aint fair to hang
no man on suspicion and more than