Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-05


me of shooting bis son-accuss as Of shooting
teF brUthcrl a1d am prepared 10 dispFoFs the
charge if u assume legal forml No. lhs eiF-
teumsianoss are all Sguinst mel" and The whole
danger Of hIs condition flashed bpon him IN al
instant. 'GrcaI G3dl" be ejsculatud. with clas-
ped hands, "ior hsi horrible destiny have been
lressrvedl' and burryng his face IN his hands,
that strong Eian vspt Ike child.
"What disiresses you, Mr.. FoTbssl" kindly en-.
iGuired the doctor, after rs-enierngt the room and
! Witnessing, in silent surprise The smogiOn Of
Hamilton. "li cannot be possible thar Mr. Tai.
bots lang1sgs can have reference 70 your
"To none other, sir" replied Hamilton, rising
and pacing he floor. MAY God protect me.
dOctoh fear that ruin and damningdispr1es arc
inexiricabIy intsrwoyen with nv destiny. For
the past few days. pitfalls seem 20 line nv path;
and each act and moii0n Of mine tends but ~
draw me more nearly to some dread catastrophe
which Is Of hsndi"
This Is really incomprehensible 10 me, Mr.
Forbes" said The doctor, who now felt interested
to an intense degiee in Hamilton's trouble.
"And 10 me, doctor, it is mystery, all horrid
mystery. Never yet have courted trouble or
disasters, yet Do they now come rrooping on me.
Unsolicited" but al that moment the door Of ths
appearance. He walked up TO Hamilton, and, in
a respectful UNDERGONE, announced the cause Of
his presence.
And what is the character Of the charge a.
gainst met" enquired Hamilton, who had now
braced himself 10 every issue.
''Shootug with intent 10 kill" responded tho
funcionary, exhibiting the warrant
"Come on, sir; | shall accompany YOU" said
Hamilton calmly.
"And YOU shall not 90 unattended by at least
one friend, Mr.. Forbes, ".6trOically observed the
doctor, who. without being at ell intimately ac-
quaintcd with HaniIton's disposition, would, at
that moment, have pledged his own life that he
was innocent.
As thew quilted The hotel, they were met BY
cordial friend Of Hamilton. Mr Seiden, dis.
tinguished adyoca,e-him with whom we saw
, Hamilton in conference Oh the preceding day
He turned with them on their way 10 the magis.
rates Office, listening, as he went, to his friends
) account Of the happenings Of that day and the
/. cause Of his arrest,
Hamilton stood before his sccusers and his
, judge.
"W hat have you 10 say, Mr. Forbes, TO this
charge that is brought against you!" demanded
the magistrate in loud voice, and recounted the
THAI am not guilty." responded Hamilton,
with calm seli-possessiOn.
"Have you any evidence 10 disProye the accu.
sat;on!"
Every action Of my life disproves it,-every
principle Of my nature is abhorrent 10; so foul
crime"
'Tha, evidence, Mr.. Forbes, fear will not bs
all-suGiceat for the law" observed the magis-
trate.
At this moment, Mr.. seden whispered some
thingto his friend.
''Who is my accuser in this matierl" deman-
ded Hamilton.
81 AMI roared the elder Talbot, trembling
with passion. al accuse YOU Of numbering nv
son, and | hope 10 see you hanged for it, you
murderous pi--"
"Siencel" shouted the magistrate and Selden
together.
son my accuser, then, imagine devolves the
burden of proof" said Hamilton calmly. "Let
him produce his evidence"
Here he isl" yocileraledo old Talbot "Stand
forward, Captain Simpson,"
Yes there was Simpson. His victim was at
last enmeshed A few minutes conversation
with the father, after quitting the presence of the
son and Hamilton in the hotel, had originated this
new scene in the drama. He now moved for.
ward in the circle with at effort at calmness,
which left his cheek pale as ashes.
did you witness any part of this transaction,
Captain Simpson," said The magistrate, after ad.
mlnisterug the oath.
Il Witnessed it all believe" replied the Cap
tain in husky and tremuous voice.
Tell US what you know aboutit," said the JUS
Itce, but at that moment Mr.. Seden whispered
few words to him, when he med,-'and be
very particular, Captain, as shall take notes Of
the evidence, which may be used atanother time"
"Mr. Forbes was about ten or twelve wards in
the rear Of Mr.. Talbot, when the former raised
up his rifle and fired. When Mr.. Talbot fell, the
defendant ran up to him, and on seeing him appa-
rently dead, threw down his rifle and fed"
Hamilton looked at the incarnate demon, and
wondered the Almighty had not blasted him with
lightning while he spoke. A moments reflec-
tion. however. convinced him that Simpson tes-
uied as one who Judged from appearances only,
in all save the raising and shooting of the rifle.
"Do you assert, sir, thatI fired my riheat him!"
demanded Hamilton, trembling with emotion.
"You levelled your rifle at himand he fell; and
; | suppose you will not attempt to deny that you
: were hastily moving from the spot when | en-!
4 countered you"
Hamilton did not deny il; but he stated all the
. particulars of the unfortunate events as they oc-
!. Cured, and as we have already described them;
dwelling, as he proceeded, on the improbability
:. of his having shot his friend, or even admitting
that he had done so, on the great unlikelihood
there was, that after retreating from the scene Of
the crime. as witness stated he should have vol
unfairly returned and aided in carrying the woun-
ded man to the hotel. He then adverled TO faiact,
that Simpson had been seen entering the woods
with gun: to the suspicious circumstances under
, which he himself had encountered him immedi-
aely after the act, and that if justice were meted