Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-18

was, pleased his father, who often said eX-
ultngly, "There is no danger of Joe. He
knows how to fight his own way through
the world"
Such was their mutual product of char
acter, when Mr.. Barker was summoned to
Jury, in a case involving death He was
vexed to be called away from his en-
pigments, aud had never reflected at all
upon the fearful responsibility of juryman.
james Lloyd, the prisoner, was a very
young man, and his open, honest counte-
nance gave no indication of capacity for
crime but he was accused of murder, and
crcumstantial evidence was strong against
him. 1t was proved that previous quar-
rel had existed between him and the muir
dered man, and that they had been seen to
take the same road, the prisoner in a state
of intoxication, the night the violent deed
was committed Most people thought there
was no doubt Of his guilt; others deemed
the case by no means certain. Two of the
Jury were reluctant to convict him, and
WiShcd to find the evidence insufficient the
penalty was so dreadful, and their feelings
were so mubh touched by the settled mise
ny of his youthful counenance. Others
:
Scripture demanded blood for blood OF
] this lumber was Peter Barker. From the
beginning, he was against the prisoner
| The lawyer who pleaded for him had once
been employed in lawsuit against Mr..
Barker, and had gained the cause for his
client. The juryman cherished a grudge
against him for his sarcastic eloquence on
that occasion. Moreover it SO happened
that neighbor Goodwin, who years ago had
reproved his severity to the horse, took COM
passionate interest i'll the accused. He Of
ten consulted with his lawyer, and seemed
to watch the countenances of the jury anX-
iously. 1t was a busy season of the year,
aud the jury were impatient to be at their
workshops and farms. Mr.. Barker would
not have admitted it, even to himself but
all these circumstances helped to increase
his hardness against the prisoner. By such
inconceiyably slight motives is the conduct
OF men often swayed on most important
occasions.
If the poor young fellow really did COM
nit the act" said one of the jury, " it seems
likely that he did it in state of intoxlca-
ton. | was once drunk myself; and they
told me afterwards that ] had quarrelIed
with man, and knocked him down high
flight of steps but had no recollection of
it. If had killed him, and they had hung
me for it, what an awful thing it would have
been for my poor father and mother. 1t
taught me lesson, for ] was never again
intoxicated. Perhaps this poor youth might
profit by his dreadful experience, if chance
were allowed him. He is so young and
tboro i9 n,,.i,in.s l-.I =, h:- ..-"n.onaneen
i" AS for his womanly face" replied Mr..
Barker, "there is no trusting to that. The
worst villains are not always the worst-look-
ing. As for his being intoxicated, there is
no telling whether it be true or not. That
cunning lawyer may have made up the sto-
ry for the sake of exciting compassion, and
the witnesses may be more than willing
enough TO believe everything strange in the
prisoners conduct was the result of intoXi-
cation. Moreover, it won't do to admit
that plea III exclamation for then don't you
see, a man who wants to kill his enemy has
only to get drunk in the first place If any
body killed my Joe, drunk or not drunk,
should want him to swing for it,"
BY such remarks urged in his vehement
way, he swayed minds more timid and len
lent thar his own, without being fully aware
of what he was doing. He was foreman OF
the Jury; and when the awful moment ar
rived on which depended the life of fell
| low being, he pronounced the word Gull
ty," in a strong, firm voice. The next in
slant his ey. fell on the prisoner, standing
there so pale, and still looking at him witt
5 such fixed despair There was something
i'll the face that moved him strongly. He
= turned quickly away, but the vision was be
f fore him, always and everywhere before
t him. "This is weakness" he said to him
4 self 81 have merely done my duty. The
d law required it. have done my duty
e But still the pale young face looked at him
: always and everywhere it looked at him.
i lie feared to touch newspaper, for h
S wished not to know when the day of execu
It ton would arrive. But oificious neighbors
l. ignorant of his state of mind, were cage
|. to talk upon the subject; and when draw
a into such discourse, he strove to fortiiy hi
S own feelings by dwelling OH all the wors
k circumstances of the case. Notwithstand
d ing all his efforts, the night preceding tn
execution, he had troubled dreams in whic
1t that gastly young face was always conspic
d uous. When he awoke he saw it in the air
> 1t walked beside him as he ploughed tn
e fields, it stood before him on the threshold
Is OF his own door. All that the merciful il
d ryman had suggested came before him wit
II painful distinctness. Could there be doub
u that the condemned had really committe
10 murder! Was he intoxicated Might h
- have happened to be intoxicated for the frs
ie time in his life And he so young Blu
ID he drove these thoughts away saying eve
e to himself, " The law required it, l mere
lie ly did my duty" Still everything locke
gloomy to him, The evening clouds seen
e, ed like funeral pals, and pale desparin
1t face gazed at him forever.
IS For the first time in his manhood, h
10 craved companion in the darkness Neigl
ii bors came in, aud described the execution
if and while they talked, the agitated juryma
= beat the fire brands into thousand pieces
y and spoke never a word. They told ho
ID the youth had written long letter to hi
c. mother, and had died calm and resigned
III " BY the way, perhaps you knew his mother
Mt Mr.. Barker" said one; they tell me sh
of used to live in this neighborhood Do yo
remember girl by the name of Mary VIII
e. liams r.
g The tongs dropped from Mr.. Barker
I'd hand, as he gasped out, Mary Williams