Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-12-10

coffin; and when those trees were grown,
they had passed into the possession of
strangers; and the hands that planted them
we're dust
Some were talking of the murder; and
of Wickliffe; and of what pest he had
been to the country round, so quarrelsome;
and what pity If was that a fine young
fellow like Harry Blake should have to die
for having slain man like him. Then
they spoke Of Mary Lincoln; and one Of
them lowered his voice, and said, that he
heard that this was killing her. lie had
seen the doctor, who had been at Mr. Lin
coins twice day, since Harry Blake's
Imprisonment, and he had sale, that he was
fraid it would 60 hard with her; she was
very i'll. Then the conversation was in
terruptcd by the arrival of more new COM
ers. In another part of the lawn, an old
man was leaning on a cane, addressing a
crony, who seemed as old and time-worn
as himself.
"Ah! neighbor Williams" said he,
"this is a very sad business--a very sad
business. knew his father before him;
and have known Harry since he was
baby-who'd "a thought it of him?-who'd
"a thought III"
Neighbor Williams shook mis- head; as
much as TO say, that nobody would have
thought it; but seemed to think further eX-
preston of opinion unnecessary, for he
said nothing.
ale was IA warm-hearted little boy, and
a very likely mana very likely man."
continued the first speaker. at grieves me
to see MIN here. 1t does, indeed, neigh
Dor Williams"
Again neghbor Williams shook his
head; probably to intimate, that it grieved
him too; aud as before he remained ST.
lent.
1t is matter of some uncertainty, how
long neighbor Williams might have been
thus entertained by his companion, had
not their conversation been interrupted by
general buzz Of "Icre he comes!" The
next moment, Harry Blake walked through
the crowd, with an officer on each side of
him. He was exceedingly pale; but his
face was fall of calm determination, and
his step firm and strong. He looked nei-
Their To the right nor left; and, apparent
y without noticing a soul, entered the
court house. The crowd gathered close
were striving and struggling and fight
ing to obtain good position in the court
room.
Harry Blake seemed quite collected;
| nd tho rrnNVI tolt Sn,,.u.4 n .It.a,t,slart
lhut man who had committed murder
should look like other men. Some whIs-
percd that he was hardened repiphate,
not TO show some remorse; and others
said, that none hut an innocent man could
appear so calm and composed. There was
a great deal of whispering and talking
among them, whilst the jury were getting
empannelled; but when the counsel for
the prosecution rose TO open his cause, they
were so silent, that they seemed not even
to breathe.
He dwell briefly but clearly,pn the facts
which are already known. He stated that
he should prove that, on the day of the
murder, the prisoner and WlckIlite had
been together at a tavern. not far from
Schenectady; that a quarrel had arisen
between them, and blows had passed; that
the prisoner had knocked WlckIitte 10 the
floor; hat WicklIfle had fled, and that the
prisoner had only been detained from fol-
lowing by force, and had then called all
there present to witness that he would be
revenged on that man for the wrong done
ain, il it cost him his life that he had
finally been released by those who held
him, on promising not to follow Wicklille,
but that he had positively refused TO pro-
misc that the quarrel should drop there
That shortly afterwards he left the house
alone, taking the path which Nlcklltte
had already taken; that two OF the per-
sons who had teen at the tavern with hun
shortly afterwards lett the inn and took the
Same ROAD which he had taken; that on
arriving at n very lonely part of it; they
were alarmed by the cries IF a person ID
distress, and uttering the words, "Mercy,
mercy, Harry!' That these persons gal
loped TO the spot from which the sound
seemed 10 proceed, and found man kneel-
ing at the side of another Just murdered,
and grasping in his hand IA knife, which
was driven TO the hiatt in the breast OF his
victim; that the murdered man was Hiram
Wicklitie, the person with whom the prl'
soner had just qulrreled, and on whom he
had sworn to be avenged, that the person
kneeling at his side was Harry Blake, the
prisoner. There were footprints about
the road, where there had evidently been
a struggle, aud these footprints had been
t examined and compared with the foot OF
the prisoner, and were found to coInclie III
size.
lie stated his case ccnciscly, yet clear
IL, and seemed to think the f'ct' sufficient
IL s,rong, TO require bat little exertion OF