The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-06-03
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THE RIFLE.
Ky THE LATE wILLIAM LECGErr


hundred yards from the place where the murder
had been committed, he found copper powder
flask (Which was shown 10 HIM, and ne drn'Iled
it) the letters c. K. II, ID, being cut upon one of
lis sides, apparently with knife, Thrre was bat
one more witness on the part Of the people, Dir
Luwton, the magistrate before whom the miorlu-
nate prisoner had been examined. lie testified Is
to the facts which were deposed before hi'l, to-
gelher with the acknowledgement Of DR. RNlngion
That he had been in conwny with Mr. ciIver,i4ut,
&c. But we may pass over these crCuulstanacS
us the reader is already acquainted with Them,
The prisoner was now put on bis defence; and
all that talent and ingenuity could devise, was
done by his skilful counsel The witnesses were
cross-cAanined, and re-cross-eXamincd; but their
answers, were uniformly the same. y large nHn-
her Of respectable persons came forward 10 testify
10 the excellence OF our herO's general chWarler,
but their evidence was rendered unnecessary by
the attorney for the people admitting in unelIINu-
cal terms, that previous to this horrld ocCuren"r,t
had been exemplary TO high desJec NJ Irngh
weared by his cXcrtlons, aud distressed IL thcr
result, Mr. BIunIIcy discontinued his examination;
he had one more weapon TO try IN behalf OF his
client; the powerful one Of cioqnenct; and Il WAS
used by a master of the art, but alas wis used
III vain lie dwclt much on the !lCt that his unl0r
tunate client had wished his route to be lrtIled
from the village, and ihat buckhorn had Stated for
the purpose, when the disastrous snow storm &c
Cured, and took away the only hope he had Of
proving his innocence lie cited cases 10 the jury
in which circumstances, even stronger ttan these,
had been lulslted, when their rlcin murdered by
their laws, was slumbcrng III the grave lie APP
pGulGd 10 them us parents, to know II they Wouu
believe, that son, who had been 50 lltl, whose
character had previously been without stain or
C. IL,
u'rectilude and honor, TO commit such IN alrocious
crine But itwoud be useless TO recapjtUIaue the
arguments that were made use of Oh It's interesting
occasion; they were Intellectual.
The attorney for the prosecution summed up
very briefly. lie assured The jury that the c'I-
dcncc was so clear in lis nature, SO conCutcualed,
50 nconroyelibe, Jas to amount TO mora certainty,
Near the body Of the murdered man II powdgr-
flask, such rs The eastern people Principally use,
had been found, with the initials of the prisoner p
name and medical degree engraved npon II, {. T.
VI. d., Charles RivmgtOn, Doctor OF Medicine
The trail il pursued and ii leads them to the house
Of Mr. Wentworth, where the prisoner arriving On
the evening of The bloody deed, remained all might.
They continue the trail, till they fad him, with
greedy eyes, bcuding over thu pIuudtrh h. hid torn
rom his grey-haircd victim such, continued he,
is n rapid outline Of the facts; aud deeplyaS | d.
p'ore the wre;ched young mans guilt, yet believe
ing him guilty, it is my sacred duty to display his
enormity; bul further than the iaperous calt Of
justice requires, will not, canno, %,
The charge Of the jude, who was evidently
much affected, occupied bar few minutes and the
Jury retired to make up Their verdict. have al
ready told the reader thnt the prisoner was p1c.io
consequence Of sickness, produced by his exposed
situation in prison; but the appalling events oI the
tIial had caused no alteration in Ils appcaiancc,
lie AT firm and collected and there was Hican-
choy sweetness in the expression Of hls Couu.
tennnCr, which told that all was Caln Wllhn. In
decd, the awful coincidence Of the circumstances
had been made fully known 10 hmbrl0rc he came
inlo court; be was convinced uH'es, the iulcrpos-
iGs arm Of heaven should prevent the blew, hl
death and gnominY mast full upon hHu, and, gilcr
a severe conflict ha ha! became able 10 say, 'iuy
viii be done
His mother, by the assistance Of that never fail
ing comfort in sorrow, religion, had hitherto sup
ported, with something linn resignation 10 the
divine will, ihi4 g.eptrst earthly calamity, Ia
compliance with her sons rcQuest--who wa, fear
iuI that the feelings Of nature night become too
strong for control, and who wished To behave Ul'h
manlincss and equinny through the IT, my pcrloI,
she RETAINED from gong To court on the day that
was to decide, in great measure, her in0rt' de3-
tiny.
Seated ip the little paror Of their dwelling, to-
gehcr with a weeping Callarina, the strength Of
whose love Ind drawn her to the spot, and avail
ting with intense anxiety the issue of the mg!ud
hour, was the mother Of Chnre, Rviu4ion, at the
time to which have brought my narrative. She
started at each noise TINT reached her ear, aud
every breeze that Shoes the easement seem lalea
with the awful sentence ofthe law against her son.
Md yet that noble woman, though torn by the
deep and awful soliclude which only mothers
heart can know, stroye to speak words Of comfort
to the lovely being beside her, whose a,iuconaDa
bosom seemed bursting with aliliction.
Weep not so bitterly she said '"uhlrnr my
dear child; alas soon may have M other child
than you. But no. the Sclrchrr Of heart; knows
that Chlrles i. guillIess and will put forth his arm
To sqyc. What sound was that? am wrong to
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