Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-12

CHAPTER XI.
A month had passed away into the infnitude Of
the past, and draped the earth in the russet uni.
fornityof decay, save here andthere where some
evergreens looked up through The heart of the
forest, thoughts of youthful innocence in the
breast of age, too painfully ycontrastngthe bright
ness and the spotessness Of earlier days with the
dclormity which sorrow and care and crime have
enstamped upon the present.
The Superior Court of the county Of --
was in session in the town of A., and the
day had arrived for testing, in the crucible Of the
law, the purity Of one of our dramatiS persona
The elder Talbotiro many circumstances which
ranspired during the month preceding, but more
especially, at the instances Of his son, now con-
valesclng, had cancelled from the docket his suit
against Hamilton Forbes; and Robert Simpson
sat alone on the seat Of the accused. Positions
had become reversed and he who before had os-
tenSbly ranked as a supernumerary, had been
now promoted to the bad eminence of principal
in guilt. Great was the excitement inspired by
the occasion. and strong the array Of talent mar.
shaIed for the prosecution and against it.
Simpson endeavored 10 look calm. During
the past few weeks much had occurred to disturb
his usually marked placidiy of manner,-tho
nameIess annoyances of averted looks, and cold
and distant regards Of former friends, more pain
ul than decisive announcements Of hostile feel
ing; above all was he unnamed by the sudden
and total eStrangemcni of The elder Talbot an
eStrangement the more unaccountabe 10 him that
it happened the day after their last meeting at
the Magistrates office, where the father took side
with him against his own son. Yet did he look
calm and composed; but to the keen observer,
there was something un-assured in the wandering
of his eye, and in the relaxed and lopsing mus.
Gle of the underlip.
When the case was called, Mr.. Selden for the
prosecution, urged the application of those points
in the plaintiffs deposition, sustaining the case
with all that power for which he was remarkable.
But the defence insisted, that even though the de-.
fendant had been seen entering the forest with
gun, his having shot The plaintiff was non Sequi-
tur; besides il was highly improbable, that the
plaintiff could plainly identify any individual al
so great distance, even though he, (the plain.
tiff,) were truly sober at the time.
This was hard and ungenerous hit at poor
Tom who stood, pale and angnid, leaning on the
shoulder of Hamilton within the bar.
Hereupon, Selden called forward Hamilton,
who testified to the perfect sobriely Of Tom on
the occasion alluded to. But the defence, with
that rudeness which sometimes disgraces the bar,
objected 10 the reception of Hamilton's evidence
in the case, as it was natural TO suppose, that he
had certain leanings in the matter, and certain
animosties TO crafty, from his well known anti
pathy 10 the defendant.
"The witness is incapable Of such conduct"
Indignantly retoned Selden, whose fiery nature
II chic .oeult hio Grian1 EGIIoUJ-
ever natural" he continued, ait may be for you,
sir, TO mpute vile and dishonorable m moves to
others, from wrong understanding of what per.
tans to honorable instincts" there the court
called him to order.)
81 had thought, may it please tho court that |
should be able to conduct this trial 10 the end
with becoming temper, but the flippant insult
to the witness took ME by surprise. The oppo.
site counsel will find, however, to their confusion,
before this day is done, that the evidence will oe
sufficient, not only to sustain the prosecution
proving in so much, that the defendant is moral.
y guilty of murder, but that prior 10 this, event,
he stood before the bar Of his own conscience, a
convict edmurderer,-am murderer, who perpetrat.
ed his nefariousd deed dundercrcumstances too afro.
cious forhumanity to comprehend; miscreant,
too intolerable TO walk the earth.--staned with
every vice, and backened with every crime; an
escapade long from nsulted justice, and the slow,
but sure-paced, retrbuton which now awaits
him."
This was unexpected by all; and the whole Of
that crowd, including the judge and jury, and op-
posing counsel, were silent with astonishment.
Simpson turned pale, and his eyes, as he turned
them on the speaker, corrugated rapidly for amo.
ment, then settled into sullen scowl.