Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-05-28
then dashed off into the forest toward her
home.
Scgard slowly followed.

A week has rolled by since that night
a dreadful week-and the rough court
room of the settlement is filled with dense
throng. There, congregated together, you
might have seen the stalwart hunter in his
picturesque dress--the merchant from the
far, far East-the Indian in his sweeping
blanket and braided mocasns, and the at
torney, who, even there assumed the
knowing look and professional swagger.-
Nor should we forget to mention the Judge
in his leggins and hunting shirt.
Suddenly silence as of death fell upon
the motley throng The clerk arose and
read an indictment for murder, closing
with these words which have struck terror
to the hearts Of thousands-"Gulty or not
guilty."
The prisoner calmly arose, and in deep,
clear, unfaltering voice answered "not
Guilty"
Courage still sat on the brow of Hen
ry Segard--pale as it was with mental suf-
fering.
The trial commenced. The States at
torney opened by informing the jury
(though they knew it before,) that they
were to try the prisoner at the bar for the
murder of one Charles Grayson. He then
went on to give the usual recital of facts
connected with the affair, and wound up
with the sterotyped philippe of almost
all gentlemen, holding his legal situation,
against crime.
The witnesses were then called; and the
testimony was, in substance thus:
Segard had left his home on the night of
the murder, saying that he was to Join a
hunt--that no hunt had taken place, nor
had any been contemplated; that the pris-
oner had been seen going in the direction
of Grayson's lodge; that Grayson had been
found stabbed and dead; that Segard had
often been heard to threaten the deceaseds
life; that his wife had refused to speak on
the subject, and was unable to attend the
trial, owing to illness produced by grief;
and that Yantee, the wife of Grayson, had
not been seen or heard of since the night
of the murder.
The cross-examination produced nothing
worthy of mention, and the case here rest
ed. After the argument of counsel Sc
. gard attempted TO rise, and address the u-
ry, but was dissuaded by his advocate.
And Henry Segard was found guilty Of
murder in the first degree!
Oh! those awful thirty days one by one
the doomed wretch sees them glide away;
hour; he sees the eternity gradually ap-
-, preaching; at last he scaffold; dark and
. awful meets his quaiing eye; the last hour
, is here.
We need not describe the execution; the
first that ever occurred in-. Horror
- chilled every heart, and some shed tears
They remembered Segards bravery, frank
. ness, nobleness, services, and they wept
those stern, iron-nerved hunters! The last
= moment has arrived! Segard stood up, and
! in voice long remembered, exclaimed, II
= am inn0ceRt?' He was urged to 90 on, but
, with a scornful smile said, THE brave do
= not fear die! am innocent"
He then knelt and prayed for his wife,
father, mother and brothers.
81 am ready" said he, in firm tone, and
the cap was drawn down; the word was
given; he, the young, the lion-hearted was
a corpsc -
S Save himl Save himl" shouted wild
: voice, and Yantee darted into the crowd.
e "Savc him! Save him! the brave is inno-
r, cent! slew the Black Eagle' The
c crowd recoiled in horror. a." she con-
d tinued, Il met him going to our lodge; he
made the bird of the forrest believe that
1 the fawn loved not the Eagle; then had
C only one to hate; only one to kill. flew to
t the lodge; he was asleep; stabbed him.
: The daughter of chief" cried she, in
e proud voice, and drawing herself up TO
her fullest height, "was revenged! | fed
!. to my home" continued she, "in the woods.
heard that the brave was to die for Yam
e tees deed. flew to save him! Too late!
: Too late! The brave would have slain the
Black Eagle, but mine, mine, was the right
t to revenge!'
a The girl overcome by WEAKNESS. grief
c and passion, sunk upon the ground, lifeless
The chord of life had been stretched too
! far, and it snapped.
Y The above tale is true in its leading de-
f tails. 1t is almost impossible to execute a
person in the section where the meloncho-
a y affair occurred, and indeed the whole
e state has become proverbial for its injudi-
cious mercy towards criminals.
e Lawyers will tell you that Henry Segard
" on the testimony, should have been execu-
ted. For my own part, having read, AZ
4 least once, the best work on evidence, l
t must agree with them. And now, reader
Judge kindly of A TALE OF CIRCUMsTAN-
|, TIAL EVIDENCE.
EXCERPTS FROM BULwERs "ZANoNI -
Man must be disappointed with the lesser
lie things of life, before ne can comprehend
s. the full value of the greatest. 1t is the