Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-12

oi lhe lofin by winch she hrsi Impressed him
with the idea Of his sister when in life-or his
quarrel with her on the morning Of her death
how she went forth in the forest as usual-how
he loaded his gun and followed her-how he
came back aud she did not-how she was found
in what condiuon-her body ridded with bul.
lets, and she incapable Of farther strife and far.
ther suffering al any hands. Step by step, how
ever, slowly, but with wonderful ingenuity.
the resul! Of long practice and daily necessities,
she led his incapable mind onward to the Just
appreciation Of all the facts in the history. Il
was evident, at certain stage in the procee-
dlngs, that these were finally comprehended-
The Important difficulty remained Of showing
him, not only his own share IN the deed, but the
motive and malice Of it---Ihe moral Of the fact
- how, provoked by his sister in the quarrel,
he had prepared his gun with buckshot for her
destruction; how, filled with this purpose, he
had deliberately pursued her. and instigalcd by
the black heart, had followed her to her fayorile
retreat in the forest, a. there completed the mea-
sure of his evil thoughts by shooting her thro
the body. We need scarcely say, that it was
IN approaching this portion Of her task, that the
mother found her greatest difficulty. To con-
meet the moral purpose with the deed, with
which, to the ordinary mind, il is not always
coupled, was in the present case productive Of
more prolonged trial of the patience of the par
ties. The court, however, and the spectators,
watched with unnagging interest, the strange
dramatic spectacle. They did not seem to feel
fatigued as they looked to the eyes aud features
Of the accused, for the gradual appearance Of
that dawning light Of consciousness which
should announce the entry of the new idea in
to his mind. Equally mild and vacant, for a
time, were his features, as he submitted TO q far.
lher examination, in which many Of the signs
were wholly new, and insignificant of new sug-
gestlons-sgns, some Of Them, of which the
woman herself seemed doubtful, even while she
employed them, and which she sometimes ex-
changed for others. 1t was doubtful whether
she would succeed. The boy seemed rather
bewildered than informed. She herself grew
somewhat strange, and ii was only by the fire.
quent inIerposton Of the Judge, that she was
kept steadily on the track Of that leading mo-
tive of the supposed criminal, to which it was
essential that his thoughts should be awakened.
Still, there was progress; every now and then IL
would be seen that the eye of the boy would
tighten, as if under moral consciousness, and
he would nod afiirmatively, as taking the sug-
gestion the mother was aboring TO convey
Point after point was thus gained in this strange
progress, and The whole nature Of the charge
slowly and painfully evolved in details too min.
ute for us to follow, ii was evident 10 all, began
to gllmmer fairly upon his faculties, until as the
burden Of the accusation, ina all its hideous pro
portions, flashed completely upon his soul, HI
uttered shrek of terrible intelligence, which
thrilled through the whole assembIy-a hideous
shrek, such as belonged only to the mute
where the voice seems to struggle with convul-
sve violence against the bonds which it can
not break, and before his purpose could be con-
jectured, he Ieaped from The prisoners dock,
and, putting aside all obstacles, darling across
the intervening space, bounded headlong up the
stones which led to the bench where sat the pre-
siding Judge. He had seen the part which the
latter had taken in the tral--had noticed his
controlling influence of his mother, and concei-
we'd him TO be the sole arbiter Of his fate. In
an instant he had fastened his arms about The
neck oflhe astonished magistrate, and with con-
vulsve sobs, the inadequate wall of imbecility
the tears al! the while pouring down his cheeks
he proceeded by his rude but expressive action
which no longer needed the interpretations o
his mother--lO deny that he was guilty--lhat he
had ever lifted his hand against his sister:--tC
declare that he had always loved her too well tc
give her pain; and as for the black heart, O
which he was accused, tofng ii from him with
aversion and horror, as guest to which he haC
never given harborage in his breast. The &c
tion hlu trin N hic nurDOSa No Ion
guage could have made ii more significant. |
was the voice of nature in which the instincts
made the actor enabling him to attain degree
Of eloquence, though speechess, which produ
ced emotions quite as intense, and conviction:
quite as satisfactory, as any words could have
done. The whole court was in tears. The
counsel of the prisoner was dumb, having no ar
gument so powerful as those which the muu
himself had produced. The judge, his eye
teeming with frequent overflow, gave the cas-
10 the jury, in charge, which, to those who knew
his remarkable successes in sudden and passion
ate outbursts of emotion, it will not seem ex
travagant 10 say, was one Of the most noble ant
touching specimens of judicial eloquence tha
ever responded TO the full and exquisite sympa
thes of an audience.
We need hardly say that the prisoner was
acquitted-that the jury, without leaving thei
places, found him gutless of the offence;-Ih
mere array of circumstances, short Of absolut
proof of the crime, not being suffered TO weigl
against that Uoice Of the mute himself, which
could only have found its irresistible eloquenc'
in the conscious innocence Of his heart. BL
who was guilty? The question to this day re
mains unanswered. tits one that need not u
gain be disturbed. The penalties, 10 him whos'
hand performed the murderous action, have, nj
doubt, been quite as terrible as any which couIC
be inflicted by human law. 1t was very proba
bly,, as we have already hnted, the involuntar,
deed of the hunter, whose heart failed in III
necessary courage which would have honestl,
declared his misfortune, and have found, in tn
open avowel of his sorrow and contrition, q
soothing and relief against the sings of sci
reproach, which his very silence must make re
morseful.