The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-05-15

ing with the rash and fiery -blooded brothc,
of his betrothed, d,--had overlooked the in.
suits heaped upon him at every epportuBi,
ty,--and at last, by his pi,yiag and forgiv.
ing heart had been led into the trap spread
by the prince of darkness at his feet
Much more was added, and when he
ceased after more than an hour had elaps.
ed murmur ran through tho Courtroom,
and the hands OF several Of tho Jury were
pressed for an instant upon their mos,ened
eyes. Woedburn was then permitted to
address few words to the crowd. He
rose calmly and gracefully, threw back the
dark hair from his pale, broad brow,--cast
his large, earnest eyes rapidly over the
sea Of eager faces before him, and then his
clear voice rose above the stiffness like tho
eloquent breathing Of truth and virtue from
heart where no evil passion had ever
dwelt. His appearance produced thrill
ing eifect,--women (for yielding to their
intense curiosty--they had been present
at the whole triaD women shrieked, chill
drcn tremhletl and sobbcd, and strong men
bowed their heads and endcavored to hide
their tears OF pity from the gaze Of others.
His speech was not a lengthy one nor was
1t Iabored,it was the spontaneous overflow
ing of an oppressed and wounded spirit,
writhing beneath its fetters, yet bearing
them like portion of its mortal lot, with
out one complaint agins. the hands which
had stricken and bound it.
'You will perhaps condemn n,s'. he
said, in conclusion" to painful and igno-
minious deatlI,-you will take away the
life which God has bestowed upon me-
you will rob me Of tho precious gin which
can never be restored though tears OF scr.
row and repentance should pierce tho tomb
and fall upon tao clay--cold hear,,-yet
you will do your duty as you solemnly be-
lieve, for man cannot see into the heast ct
his fellow. But day is scatning, "herc the
speakers tones became sublime in their
deeprich compass as they fell on the ear
(. Z. ~ = \ IA 10 7 Y.
of the remotest hearer with perfect dis.
tinctness, day is coming when before
the tribunal which has never erred you viii
discover how weak is the judgment OF
man. and what pastsy taing is hueaan
Justice" He took his seat amid the tears
aud murmering of the crowd aud it was
some moments before the excitement was
sufficiently quelled TO allow the Judge to
address the jury. His emotion was great,
and his voice trcmblcd excessively when
he began; in solemn tones he charged
them to consider every circumstance which
could favor the prisoner, but at the same
tine to remember the greatness of the
crime with which he was accused, and the
weight of testimony which had been
brought against him. lie bid them act as
their consciences would dictate in III !. sigh,
OF God and man and Of the solemn oath of
office they had taken and ao,hng more
could be required of them. They were
absent for an hour, and during that time
the interest and agitation Of the crowd in
creased four. fold. When the door unclo-
scd and the twelve men who heM the fate
OF fellow. being in their hands came
forth with slow steps and serious faces, a
brea'hless silence pcrvadcd the whole
Court and all bent forward as il TO read
their decision on their clouded bsows. The
response OF the foreman 10 the usual qucs-
ton. came slowly and clearly, crushing
with deadly force tho lingering hopes
which had clung like ivy To torab around
the bleeding heart of the accnscd.-t was,
Gully Of ,ciym murder!"
Woodburn bowed his face on his claspcd
hands and when he lifted it again, it was
pale and mot;onlcss as that of CORPSE :
not shadow daekcned the marble fore.
head,--not flash lit up the clear cold eye.
1t seemed as II his heart had been frozen
by the cruel stroke, and hencefor,h he had
done with life and earthly things. When
the sentence of the law was repeated
10 him, he evnccd no emotion save sli,rbt
qnivcring OF the lightly compressed lips
and when be was remanded to prison there
to await his execution. he walked through
the crowd W tha firm steady step aud high
calm look.
The effort on Emily was almos, fatal; to
the last hour she had nourishcd tho hone
OF his acqual. and when tho terrible
words-"Guilty OF murder! his crime
TO be expia,ed on the gallows !"--rcached
her, dealhIike Hwoon was the conse.
quencc. DR.. Walton did all he could for
her, but bfain-fevcr confined her to her
bed for weeks, and The Darlcys, Mr.. Barn
ly, and her friend Mr., Upham watched
her night after night expecting each QUO
to be her last OF life. When she was con-
Va'escent they attempted To ia,errs. aud
'husc her but their efforts were vain; a
settled gloom rested on her broken spiri,
and she would sit fos hours with folded
hands and closed eyes until some horrid
recollection swept across her mind bants
ing her slender form with its resistless
fnrcN - TIA f.,t,,S,nnt t6.s a f.-Ssl (.