Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-08-10
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

nv Blake for murder, who was convicted upon
circumstdntial evidence, and hung. About three
months after his death, the Judge who presid-
ed at the trial received note from prisoner
under sentence of death, requesting to see him
without delay, as his sentence was to be carried
into effect the day following On his way
thither, he overlook an old man walking slow
! ly, whom he accosted and recognized TO be Ca
| leb Grayson, who had been witness on Blake's
trial, and had similar note of his own, but
equally at loss to know the meaning of his
summons. They both entered the cell togeth-
err The prisoner did not move, but only rais-I
ed his head. Grayson recollected having seen
him at tavern the night before Blake's execu-
| ton. and at the gallows.
ssWell, Judge" said he, 81 sent for you to
see if you can.get me out of this scrape. Must
/ l hang Tomorrow?
The Judge shook his head. "It's idle to hope;
nothing can prevent your execution.
.sAnapplication might be made 10 the ligh-
est authorities said The prisoner. "Pardons
have come sometimes even on the scaffOld."
'sNone will come in your case, replied the
Judge; sit is needless for me 10 dwell on your
offence now; but it was one that had no pal
liation, and you may rest assured, that what
ever may have occurred 10 other cases, no par
don will come in yours. In fact, understand
that an application has been made for one by
your counsel, and has been refused"
The features of the prisoner underwent no
charge; nor did The expression of his face alter
in the least. But after moments pause, he
said: as this true, Judge-upon your honor?''
sit is" replied the Judge.
':Then know the worst" replied the GRIM
inal eoldly, land will now tell what have to
communicate, which | would not have done
while there was hope of escape. s'You."
said he, turning to the Judge, presided at the
trial of young Harry Blake, who was accused
of murder, and sentenced him to Death"
81 did"
"And you,n said he, turning to Grayson,
s'were one of the witnesses against him. You
swore that you saw him stab Wicklife. On
your testimony, principally, he was hung"
Il was" replied the old man, 81 saw him
with my own eyes,"
The prisoner uttered low sneering laugh,
as he said, turning to the judge.
''fou, sir, sentenced an innocent man."
''And YOU" said he, turning to the other,
swore to falsehood. Harry Blake did not kill
Wickliffe. He was as innocent of the sin of
murder as you were-more innocent than you
are now
! The old man staggered as if he had been
struck, and leaned against the table to support
himself, whilst the condemned felon stood OPP
poste him, looking at him witha cold, indif-
terent air.
'.Yes, old man." said he stcrnly, "you have
blood and perjury upon your soul, for IL"
said he, stepping forwards so that the light of
the lamp fell strongly upon his savage features,
81 murdered William Wickliffe! Idid i'll
Thank God, did ii, for had long score TO
settle with him. But Blake had no hand in it,,
met Wicklilfe on that afternoon alone--with
none 10 interfere between us. told him the
/ Injuries he had done me, and told him the
time had come for redress. He endeavored to
escape, but followed him up; grappled with
him and stabbed him. AS did SO, | heard
the clatter of horses hoois, and leaped into a
clump of bushes which grew on 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 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 murder'
GOOD Col! Can this be possible?" ejacu-
lated the old man. sit cannot Villain, you
are liar"
'Pshaw!" mut;ered the man, ;'what could
gain by lie? Tomorrow die
Il don't believe it; don't believe it" ex-
claimed Grayson, pacing the cell and wringing
his hands, 'God in mer roy grant that it may
be false! that this dreadful sin may not beup
mel"
The prisoner sat down, and looked at the
Judge and the witnesses with a calmness which
had something almost fiendish in it, when con
trasted with The extreme agitation OF The one,
and the mental agony of the other.
At last the old man stopped i'll front Of him;
and with calmness so suddenly assumed in
the midst of his paroxism of reInorse, that il
even oyerawed the criminal, said: "You are
one whose life has been tissue oil ialsehood
and crime. You must prove what you have
said or Ill not believe it,"
s.Beiieve it, replied the prisoner, saw the
whole transaction, and heard your testimony
at the trial; for l was there too. I'll now tell
you what occurred at the spot of the murder,
which you did not mention, but which saw.
When you rode up. the man with you jumped
off his horse, and seized Blake by the collar;
your hat fell off on the pommel of the saddle,
but you caught il before 1t reached the ground.
You then sprang off your Aorse, aud while Will
son held Blake, you examined the body. You
attempted 10 pull the knilS from his breast, but
it was covered with blood, and slipped from
your fingers. You rubbed your hand on the
ground, and, going TO bush on the road side,
broke off some leaves and wiped your hands
upon them, and afte rwarls the handle OF The
knife. You then drew it out. and wash
ed ii in small puddle of water at the foot of
sumach bush. As you did so, you looked
round at Blake, who was standing with his
arms folded, and who said Don't be me asy
about me, Caleb; didn't kill Wicklife, and
don't mean to escape. At one time you were
within six feet Of where was. It's lucky you
did not find me, for was ready at that mo-
ment 10 sendyou to keep company with Wick
life; but saw all even when you stumbled
and dropped your gloves, as yon mounted your
horse"
God have mercy on mel" calculated Gray
son. '.This is all true!-but one word more
heard Wicklifie, as we rode up, shrek out
Mercy, mercy, Harry! .
'.He was begging for bis life my FIRST name
is Harry"
The old man clasped his hands across his
face, and fell senseless on the floor. BID a
II is needless TO go into the details of the
prisoners confession, which was so full and
clear that ii left no doubt on the mind of the
judge that he guilty of Wickliffes murder,
and that Harry Blake was another of those who
had gone TO swell the list ofyictims to Circum-
stantial Evidence.