Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-08-13

hi'"e ~ I-1t lhal lew GAYS VIII cOUsIWu TIE 20.
4 lher 10 premature grave, OF 70 living death
! see you shake your head. but sgain ! say.
though you deceive yourself you cannot deceive
me. hat room is there for hope' am in the
tolls anu must be the victim. But better death
than imprisonment. Think sou could bear iOr
years 10 be shut up in the dull walls Of PRISON,
to see no sun rise OF set, 10 hear no more the
birds sing, never 10 listen 10 the sound Of hu.
man voice, cut OF from friends, from character.
and The world, until the eyes grow dim. the hair
grows grey. and your very relatives forget YOU
1--we. Aud then to know that your wife's heart is
breaking, 10 hear thai she has died, and not even
TO press last kiss on her brow. OH my God"
he continued, Durying his face in his hands while
his frame shook kconyulsiyely with emotion, 'sthat
should I've tc suffer this"
IT'S terrible to see a strong man struggling
like LAGOON, with the folds he cannon break.
could have spoken words ofconsoaton. bu, he
shook his head. ! shall never forget the firm.
n9ld expression Of his ccuntenance. as utter a
momenrary pause he continued.
"But let Us forget this scene. have been a
child; yet the struggle is over. Better men than
have rolted in prisons. and WHY should com.
plain But Mury-2oor, poor Maryl---"
The day Of the trial came at length. As a
matter ofcourse il took place in the village of
-, that being the county town, and such an
excitement had never rcigncd in that vicinity.
The history Of the accused was well known. and
men atcrnoted beneath their wish for his acquil.
tai and their doubts Of his guilt With large
portion, however, mostly relatives and nlimales
otthe deceased, there was a firm persuasion oi
his crlmnality, and a determination, al every
hazard. 10 convict him. Pity seemed to be dried
up in their bosoms. The most able counsel Of
the bar had been engaged for the prosecution
and such an array Of talent was never scarcely
brought against a single man. All this contri.
buled 10 deepen TO an unusual degree the inter-
est al all times attending trial for murder: and
long before the hour for the opening Of the
court, the whole village was alive with persons
Fastening 10 the scene Of trial. From every
lane and street, from every house and hoyeI
they poured along, rich and poor, old and Young
lostIing and crowding each other until the ample
room was filled, and hundreds Of eager faces
peerad from the area, the bar, the bench and
looked down from the gallery above. Even the
windows were blocked up BY the multitude; and
the court yard without was overhowing with
hundreds waiting 10 catch the slightest sound
from within.
The prisoner entered with a firm step and un.
daunted look, and taking his seat in the bar bow.
ed 10 the Judge, ran his eve moment proudly
round the room, and then dropped it to the
ground before the eager gaze of the thousands o
spectators. His sweet wife had resisted every
enreaty 10 be absent, and now sat by his side
cIasplng his hand, and gazing up into his face
as the trial proceeded with that deep, trusting
look which seemed to say that if all the world
deserted him, she, at least, would cling to him
through woe, and shame, and mockcry; ave! even
to death itself The aged Judge upon the bench
who had known both her and her husband in
better days, turned his head away, and did not
disdain tear. His feeling were with the pri.
soner; but he was sworn to Try the accused ac.
cording 10 the laws Of God and man.
The trial began. The jury was empanneed
the Indictment read and the prisoner arraigned
He plead "not guilty." put himself upon God
and his country. and then the clerk, in the sol.
emn response of the law, answered. God send
ou good deIiverance!" There was a thrill OF
sympathy ran through the crowd, and hundreds
The opening speech Of the prosecutors attor
ney now began, and nothing could have beer
more artful and effective. Not content with
stating the evidence against my CLIENT he dwell
rhetorcally upon the virtues of the deceased
the history of the prisoners marriage, and the
benefits likely TO accrue TO him from Mr.. Will
sons murder. saw Duva's eye fash an in
slant, but thenall again was calm. The attorney
took his seat and, from the altered countenanct
ofthe jury, felt that the tide was turning agains
the accused. My heart failed me, for knew
that the evidence of the commonwealth was ter
rby strong, and that we had none or little TO re-
but ii. Though had spent some days in securing
the coast, enquiring if Mr.. Wilson had been seer
prosecuting his journey after the hour of the sup
posed murder, had been wholly unsuccessful
My colleague shook his head, and, with
mournlul look, unioIded his spapers.
The testimony was the same as on the exami
nation. The identity of the body was the frs
point to be proved, and though there was herr
some doubts expressed by one or two witnesses
most of them Swore positively 10 the corpse a
that of Mr.. Wilson.
The prosecution then gave in evidence from
an examination Of The skull, that the blow
was by blunt instrument, fracturing that por
lion Of the frame. The fight, as they called il
Of the prisoner was proved, and various othe
minor facts. all, however, strengthening the sus
Picon against him. My heart died within m
as they proceeded At last the evidence wa
closed, and there was mutual exchange of in
telligence in The jury box, which went like a
! iceb throuuh nv heart
We followed, and opened our defence. On
evidence was slight, and only calculated to es
rabish the former high character ofthe accused
We admitted there was much 10 create suspicio
against him, but we dwet upon the dangers c
presumptive evidence, and appealed to the loft
sentiments. and unblemished honor which th
prisoner had ever entertained. But why con
tinue!
lweIl remember the impression my coleagu
made. Up TO the moment of his rising to ad
drece tho iurv ,vo b,d bonod Tho, Soma ipforn1a