The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-02-11

And you said he turning 10 Grayson
were one Of the Witnesses agains, him.
You swore that you saw him stab Wick
life. On your testimony, principally, he
was hung.
4 was,' replied the old man; 4 saw him
with my own eyes .- A
The prisoner uttered a low sneering
laugh, as he said, turning to the Judge:
You, sir, sentenced an innocent man.
And you said he, turning to the otheI
'swors to a falseh0od. Harry Blake did
not kill Wickliffe. He was as innocent Of
'he sin Of marder as you were-more limo.
cent than you are now.
The old man staggered as il he had been
strickland learned against The table to sup
port himself, whilst the condemned (elon
stood opposite hiin,lookng a. him with a
cold Indifferent air. ' d4
! Yes. old man. said he sternly, you
have blood and perjury on your soul, for l..
said he stepping forward, so that tho light
of the lamp fell strongly upon his savage
features, 4 murdered William Wickliffe
did it! Thank God. did it, for had
long score to settle with him. But Blake
had no hand in it. me: WicklitTe on ,ha
afternoon, alone-wi,h none 10 interfere
between US. told him Of the injuries he
had done me, and told him that the time
was come for redress. He endeavored 10
escape; but followed him up; grappled
win him. and stabbed him. AsyI, Az did 5sS So, !
isapcd into clump Of bushes " bich .ro,,
at the road side. At that moment Blake
came up. and found Wickliffe lying dead
in the road. You know the rest. The tale
he told was as true as The Gospel. He
was only attempting to draw the knife from
the mans breast when you came up and
charged him with the crime of murder!'
Good, God! Can this be- possible!' eiac.
uated the old mat. 1T cannot! Villain,
YOU are liarr !t HtH
'Pshaw' muttered the man. what
could gain by lie! Tomorrow die.
Il don't behave ii! don't believe III
exclaimed Grayson, pacing the cell. and
wrlnging his hands. God in mercy grant
that it may be false!--that this dreadful sin
may npt be upon me? u .It ~ 5aj,a--s
The prisoner sat down. and looked al
the judge and the witness with calmness
which had. something almost Gsndish
IN il when, conirasled with the extreme
agitation Of The one, and the metal agony
of the oher.s tapi a9 01
AT las, the old man stopped in front of
him; and with calmness so suddenly as
sumod in the midst of his paroxsyms. of re.
morse; that even overawed the criminal
said; You are one whose life has been
tissue Of fslsehood and crime. You
must prove wha, you have said, or III not
believe it, ar
Be it SO, replied the prisoner. Il was
| the whole Transaction, and heard all. your
testimony a. the trial; for was there too
III now tell you wha! occurred a. the spot
of the murder, which you did not mention,
but which saw. When you rode up. the
man with you jumped of bis horse and
seized Blake by the collar: your hat fell of
on the ponmel Of your saddle, bu, YOU
caught i. before il reached the ground.-
You than sprang off your horse. and Wills,
Walton held Blake, you examined the bo.
dy. You attempted 10 pull the knife from
his breast, but it was covered with blood
and slipped from your fingers. You rub.
bed your hand on the ground, and going to
bush on the roadside, broke off some
leaves and wiped your hands upon them
and afterwards the handle OF the knife
You then drew it out, and washed il in q
small puddle of water at the foot of su
mach bush. As you did so. you looked
round at Blake, who was standing with hi.
arms folded. and who said, 'Don't be un
essv about me Caleb; didn't kill Wick
life and doa't intend to escape At on,
: time you were within six feet of whore