Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-10-16
Gsnsral Emtslliasnrs.
AN AFEEcrixG scInE.

| NJ An AFFECTING scENE.
We last week pnbiished ps,ics Of he case VI
James n. Jurey. 81 Richmond, ara SOW Give i
sketch q most affecting scene ii Court.
The Richmond star publishes lhs following r..
port Of The proceedings and The speech deliver
eddy MIR. g. Scop, On catering The plea 81
"gailty.n s.ss
T6rsbAT, sspienbe, sob, 1885,
s James Fl. Jarsy came forward 10 answer 10
The charge u Forgery. The prisoner looked
much distressed, kspt his be al hang nr vetv
seeMiug 10 notice 10 one around him, aud pie.
scented one Of the saddest pictures Of blishted
hopes and wrecked mind, that II has ever been
cur misfortune 10 behold. Indeed, we could rot
but feel deeply for bis unenviablelsiiuatio ;and
we do trust thai his case may eveIHactas warn.
ing 10 all young men TO beware lest they zoo, at
some weak moment, fall BY a like uansgressiop.
At the opening Of this case, Mr. Scou came for.
ward, and referring 10 bis motion fotSa continu.
ance, on yesterday morning, drscI5sed the reason
for that moiion-vhich was that the prisoner
had commanded him, a, CounseEIie plead gully
to the charge, and that he had desired time 10 10.
dect before he assumed SO fearful a responsibility.
ty Mr.. Scott then, E brief and touching al
dress, owned, 10 behalf Of the prisoner, The pur.
pose of making no concealment Of his gullt; but
TO submit himself, humbly and nententlv, TO The
Justice of the law which he had intIacted.
"Buttead the Iematksof Mi Scblf, which We
here give, as addressed by himself 10 The May.
or:
when, on yesterday, for the prisoner, i ash.
ed you 10 postpone the investigator until To-
day, ! then gave assurance that Isooghi the in
dulgence for considerations, which, IL I were
permitted 10 disclose, would Unsatisfactory 10
Your Judgment You kindly and promptly grant
ed what asked and will now, hone, show
that il was under no ordinary circumstances that
requested the DELAY. j.
!" Until Saturday last, tho prisoner was 10 me-
stranger, On that day, and i'll this The gloom
end darkness Of his short life, he solicited nv
Professional services, and has held COUNSEL with
me in regard TO this most serious prosecution!
10 professional life of now more than thirty
years, and some familiarity with scenes Of dis
tress and desolafion in human affaiTs, in which
every sympathy ofthe human heart would be
aroused in pity and comuissetaiion FOR the hum.
hed sufferer and offender, have never witness
ed but one other which has made so deep a q i'm
preston on my own heart as that of the unfor,
innate young man whose case u now TO be in
vestigated. Early in my interviews with him,
the first, the great, the absorbing desire with
him-one that seemed fastened % his conscience
and his soul, which no human ingenuity, advice
or reasoning could shake was tru,hfulIy to
make known his error and promptly TO submit
TO such punishment as the offended laws of his
country denounced against him. Firmly, YET
calmly, he was warned and admonished Of the
fearful consequences, which the execution o:
could shake him. Neither the fear of punish
meni, nor the hope &C escape from this ptosecn-
| lion, made him hesitate or pause. EKave been
commanded by the prisoner to arrest this inves-
tigaton With determination fixed and mail
ie[able, on yesterday morning, be repeated 10 me
this command, could not even then obey
Such professional responsibility had never
before encountered-s1ch another, pray Hea-
| ven, | may never(agsin have cause to meet. !
| asked one nights consideration--l asked il for
myself, not for this unhappy ypung man. ! am
again commanded by the accused. possessed as
heis with full kno Wedge Of the awful import
tff The admoniiop, to say 70 you, sir, that be
confesses, bis gui ill., and that nd witness need be
called to prove IL; and bows, in humble Iesig.
nation, loihs punish ment BY law prescribed for
| his crime.
/" pious christian, with a ia character, ma :
ny friends, and prospect for The coming future
| bright and cheering, he, in q moment of weak
ness, has fallen from The ways of honesty and Of
virtue. He. will not BE- tempted by any earthly
hope, TO consent TO add 10 his gull, BY falsely
denying that guilt. While thus speak by the
command and under the auhoEity Of The prison.
err, what terms can picture the condition Of his
young, accomplished, devoted, now virtually
widowed wife, and his not fstherless, yetworse
than orphan child l With this theme | cannot
hust myself.
The scenes az wee land distress, which no
Human tongue can descTibe,o yesterday and Of
che Sabbath, spring again fresh before me The
approving cry of that wife, ID her crushed and
humbled husband yet sounds in my ears, .Yes,
husband, tell ali, conceal nothing-give up the
last dollar to psy all you owe. God will for.
give all 10 ia fepentaut sinner
The united wishes, then, Of the husbsnd and
wife, obey, when on his behalf, I submit, bis
case with the acknowledgement that he is guilty
Of The charge made in the warrant before you"