The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-17

ter hour And then the roor man would
throw himself on his bed and weep.
But the parting between his wife and
children-what pen can describe that
terrible interview They knelt in prayer,
their wo BECOME countenances sufiIused in
tears, and with hands clasped consulsively
together. The scene was too narrowing
and sacred for the eve of a stranger. !
rushed from the cell, and buried myself in
my lodgings, whence did not remove till
tsall was over. Next day James Harvey,
victim of circumstantial evidence, and
of barbarous criminal code, persisted Oh
the scatfold.
Three weeks afterwards the court ar
rived at populous city in the west of
England. 1t had in the interval visited
another assize town, and there Judge
A-had left three for execution. At
the trials of these men, however. | bad
not attended. So shocked ad been my
feelings with the mournful event that had
taken place at, that had gone into
Wales for change of scene. After
roaming about for fortnight amidst the
wild solitudes of CRrnarvonshire, | took
the stage for the city which knew the
court was to visit, and arrived on the day
previous TO the opening of the assizes.
Well, are we to have heavy calen>
dar p inquired next morning of broth
er barrister on entering the court.
Rather light for March assize, re-
piled the impatient counsel as he hustled
! FINI,o-.f.. (Nart,,.rtvhffc
highway robbery-in which | am for the
prosecution. He'll swing for it and per-
haps four or f7e others.
A good hanging Judge is A., said
the under-sheriff, who at this moment
Joined us, rubbing his hands, as if pleas
ed with the prospect of a few executions.
No chance of the prophecy yonder COM
ing to pass | Supposed
Not in the least replied the busting
counsel. lie never looked better. Ills
illness has gone completely off. And thi:
days work will brighten him up.
Cartwright's trial came on. had new
err seen the man before, and was not aware
that this was the same person whom Har-
vey had incidentally told me he had dis
charged for theft, the truth being that till
the last moment of his existence, that I'M
fortunate man had not known how much
he had been a sacrifice TO this wrctch's
malice
The crime Of which the villain now
stood accused was that Of robbing a far
mer of the paltry sum Of eight shlllings,
IN the neighbnrhood of lllracombe. He
pleaded not guilty but put IN no defence.
A verdict was recorded against him, and
in due form A-sentenced him to he
hanged. An expression of fiendish ma
lignancy cleaned over the haggard feae
lures of the ielon as he asked leave 10 adj
dress a few words to the court. 1t was
granted. Leaning forward, aud raising
his heavy scowling eyes to the judge. he
thus began There is something on my
mind my lord-a dreadful crime which,
as am to die for eight shilings took
from the farmer, may as well confess
You may remember Harvey, my lord
whom you hanged the other day at
what of him, iellow!' replied the
Judge, his features suddenly flushing Grim
Son.
WHY. my lord, only this-that he was
as innocent Of the crime for which you
hanged him as the child yet II born
did the deed Iput the watch in his
trunk = And to the unutierable horror
Of the entire court, he related the whole
particulars of The transaction, the origin
of his grudge against Harvey, and his de-
light on bringing him to the gdllnws.
'Inhuman. execrable villain gasped
the Judge, in extreme excitement.
CIeverly done thought Was 1t not my
| lord p reloined the rufhan with bitter
IRONY. THE evidence you know, was IT.
| resistibie the crime as clear as the sun
al noonday: and if, in such plain cases.
the inst and necessary law was not en-
forced, society would be dissolved, and
there would be no security for property !!
These were your words, think. How
ON that occasion admired your lnrdShlps
Judgment and eIoquencel Society would
be dissolved if an innocent man were not
hang d la !-ha !-ha Capital cap
ital = shouted the ferocious felOn with
demoniac glee, as he marked the effect OF
his words on the counienance of the
Judge.
Remove the prisoner = cried the sher-
if. An officer was about TO do so; but
the Judge motioned him to deslst. His
lordship's features worked consulSiTely.
lie seemed to speak, but the words would
not come.
i suppose, my lord, continued Cart
wright, in low and Kissing tones, as the
shadow of unutterable despair grew and
settled ON his face suppose You know
that his wife destroyed herself Phe cor
oner's jury said she had fallen into the
water. | know better. She drowned
herself under the agonies of broken
heart | saw her corpse. with the dead
baby in its arms , and then ! felt, and
knew that was lost Lost, doomed to
everlasting perdition But my lord = |
and here the wretch broke into howl,
wild and terrific we shall 90 Gown to-
H. ,ro,,.r- 20 tvhara vour deserts are /