Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-18

| crowd, which expressed their feelings toward
him but too well. Although there were some
present who gazed upon his fine form with ad-
miration, land amongst these the females,) yet
none gave vent to these thoughts except it Were
exclamations Of surprise, that one of such noble
bearing should have been engaged in so enor-
nous crime, as that of arson.
None appeared to doubt his guilt, and all
seemed to rejoice in the detection of one whom
they believed to be the author of all the alarm,
on account of the unusual number of fires that
had taken place of late, which bore upon them
selves the marks of an incendiary. Did say
I all believed him guilty. There was one among
! that company who would not believe the noble
being before her, could have been guilty Of SO
dreadful a crime as that charged upon him, and
this was the fair Emeline Lester! The moment
her eyes fell upon him, thrill ran through her
frame unknown before. That face, that form,
seemed familiar to her, but where she had seen
him, she was unable to say. A thousand be-
wildering thoughts passed quickly through her
mind. There was a secret chain that linked that
form to her mind, but in vain she strove to dis
cover the key by which she might disentangle
its intricate folds. dissatisfied and perplexed,
she strove to dspel the subject from her mind,
but her efforts were only succeeded by its roots
becoming more deeply implanted.
But to proceed with our story. We will not
follow the Court through the many ceremonies
prescribed by law, and sanctioned by justice
but hasten to the evidence adduced to establish
the guilt of Montague.
The chief witness that was brought against
him, having taken the oath usual on such occa-
sions, deposed -
That passing the building destroyed, few
moments before the alarm was given, he perceiv-
ed person suddenly emerge from the door Of
the shed, adjoining the house, and hastened to-
ward the hotel where the prisoner lodged. Sus-
pecting some foul play, he had followed and
overtaken him. That smart struggle ensued
between them, in which the prisoner had drop
ped pocket-book, which was now before the
Court bearing the prisoners name-and which
he had declared since to be his-and which he
has owned he lost upon the night of the fire."
The servant of the Hotel, who also declared
that Montague had left the Hotel at about ii
o'clock and had not returned until after the
alarm of fire. These circumstances, with some
Others Of minor Importance, were deemed enough
to warrant the Jury in returning verdict Of
Guilty When called upon for defence, Mon
tague arose, and addressed the court as follows
aisnttlemfn,v have no. defence in this case,
yon Alright Of the charge laid against Inc, am
perfectly innocent, and am willing to trust my
self in the hands of wise and just God, know
ing he will not let the guilty 60 unpunshed.
Sitting alone in my room, upon that evening"
the events of which have placed me before you,
a low whisper in an adjoining room attracted my
attention. Curiosity prompted me to llsten.-
Placing myself near the door, which was partly
open soon caught the theme of their conver-
sation, which was no less than plot, the effect
of which you have witnessed. L had not heard
enough Of their plans to take any ettectual meas
ures for their defeat ere the persons left the room
and disappeared; but not till marked them both.
The love of adventure has been implanted in my
breast from my early youth, and the only reason
can offer for keeping what |, overheard Sc
cret was the novelty of the adventure which l
anticipated, and the fear of its icing overthrown.
Determined, however to prevent the designs OF
those plotters, Immediately repaired to the
house of which had heard them speak, and re-
mained in its vicinity till long past midnight,
without hearing anything from the Williams | wan
dered some distance from the house and had just
returned and stood opposite the door of the
shed which has been described to you, when l
perceived light near the inner edge. Stopping
to make of the fact, caught glimpse of fig
are behind me, and before could turn was
struck down by the william who must at that
time have taken the book from my pocket, ei-
ther for the purpose of duplicating me in the
crime, or for the supposition that it might be OF
value. | soon recovered from the blow sufficient
ly to rise and walk to my lodgings where soon
recovered entirely. then hastened back to the
burning building, where I arrived just in season
to hear the appeal of father for the preserva-
ton of his daughter. How we'll my heart an
swered to that appeal will refer you to this =
raising his arm, which he had barred, and disclo-
sing to his asst nished hearers the identical spot
which many of them had witnessed upon the night
Of the fire. and which now seemed to appeal to
every heart and disclose the innocence of the pri
oner.
A joyful cry here burst from the crowd Of Ia
dies and the words, 1T is hen burst from the lips
of the sweetest maiden present. Memory had
done its work, and Emeine Lester in magna'
ton, again stood within the burning building;
AGAIN the shadow of rescue burst upon her
closing eyes as she swooned away in his arms
and in Montague she now recognized that shad
ow which had so long slumbered in herbreast:
Nothing could exceed the excitement caused
by his words, and fthere was person who was
before convinced of his guilt that same person