The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-04-09

second childhoud--hcr infant m the ter
ror Of hclplcssne,s her friends. in the
dread Of shame stood alone. until that
humble but upright man hra,cd the
worlds wi,hcriog scorn, and dared the
coniemmuous laughter Of his fellows
10 silence one ihrob Of her bursting
heart.
The last witness had been heard and
the counsel rose for the defence. lie
had no doubt felt that he had undertaken
not only difficult, but an ouerous task
for at The commencement of his speech
be was ,sibly agilatcd he pcrpciually
repeated himself and, instead OF plung-
ing boldly into the heart Of the subject,
and at once graphing with the charges
brought against his client, be dwelI upon
her youth on the agony Of mind aud
body which she had undergone for so
many months, and on the misery which
she must have undergone when she gave
birth TO her last infant in distress and
tears. Suddenly, however, he rallied,
and declared, with an energy, as start
ling rs it was unexpected, that, although
the suiIcrings which he had enumerated
were of themselves almost of a sufficient
punishment for the crimes of which she
wa. accused, lac had no intention Of ask
ing an ncquiral upon such grounds.
"No gentlemen of the jury" he ex.
claimed, vehemcn,ly. "ve seek no such
subteringe-w desire no impunity that
does not restore our honor We have
already endured enough, more than e.
nough; we care not longer 10 remain a
mark for the finger of scorn and sus-
| picion We must leave this court not on
ly free but justified. maintain gentle
men of the jury, that we have n right
to demand this and | have no fear but
that you will feel rs | do. What has
been proved against the accused |
will tell you in a few words
And the advocate from this point pro-
cecded to make a searching and skilIful
examination Of the testimony giving Il
reasonable explanation of all the cir
cumstances that seemed 10 bear against
the accused, His argument was elo-
quent and convincing. When he sat
down, low murmur Of applause which.
however, was instantly checked, WAS
heard throughout the court. Silence
was no sooner restored than the Procu-
rator once more arose. lie dissccied.
with great forensic eloqucnce, the adj
dress Of the counsel, and alluded with
keen aud even indicate sarcasm, to
the youth and good looks Of the prison
cr, which had, as he asserted, answered
her instead of innocence. He comment
ed upon the want of experience Of her
advocate, who had, as he asserted, sac
rificed his Judgment TO his enthusiasm,
and where he should have convinced,
only dazzled his hearers. He even APP
pealcd to the prisoner herself, whether,
had an acquittal been possible, she could
have desired il, when, "a she must be
well aware, It could but entail upon hcl
an existence of obloquy and suspicion
and finally, he called upon the jury iC
deliver society from woman, who's,
after career shonld she leave the cour
absolved, might be readily prophesicC
I Tr,u, lie op,nandonts
! confess that as ! eagerly watched
the countenances Of the jury, entertain
ed little hope for the wretched woman
who sat with claspcd hands and ben
, head, utterly moiionless, as though sh'
were counting the brief moments Of he
forfeited existence until, as the jur,
e were preparing to retire, one Of tn
=. guards laid his hand upon her shoude'
/. and whispered few words in h'' ear
j. upon which she passively "rose' an
5. disappeared with the '"o eendaF'nc
through the narrow door by which Sh
!. had entered Tbrnce' as ] was inform
~ cd. she was eopiucted to cell, where
alone and ~ darkness, all prisoner
81 await Tic verdict about TO be pronounC
- ed apon them a fearful ordeal to ihos
, apon whose guilt or innocence he arb
r. ters Of their fate were larly in decic
y ing.
q Aud while She was thus abIndcoc'
D. to all the agonics Of suspense the coul
.e itself became scene Of busilco aud "a
.e ciicmenL The President the Procnri
"A tor, and half dozen Of their friend
had retired TO the apartments Of The 70
of mer 10 pariake Of refreshments m
re- they had no sooner Withdrawn than
"a group Of some twenty or thirty pririle
err ed individual. gathered together on Il
or platform, some of whom were engage
nj 10 dc,ourns ban bans, ani 10 eKchan
iug iokcs which elieiied hearty, allh0u.
ye suppressed aDpkieri Hhile other DIRE
A. lhe daily paprr from lheir pockets ai
be we're soon absorbed in poiilics, total
.s foreeiful Of ihe wrriched woman eho
,. fate was even then under discussion
b. the jury room
nj 10 myseIf tha appeared to bee .
al most paiafa feature Of lhc trial :
~ careless minh anl hearle,s indif'
q euco 10 the agou.rs q fellow creaiu
s- ~ rerkIesAy exhibited ni such q
mrni. fc,olt.ng me bat happily, D
A.. suffering va. brief Tea minutes o'
,,l had riapsee vhsn ihe bell once mi
.r. iollel every one resumed his sesi. a
al. DE Officials returned 70 their plar
elo.elg folloaei BY the jury WI
,.. order Lad been rv.tofrd, he Preside
81, 90 lone u more .oirmniiy iaan BE-
hitherto Deed. pat lhs supreme quest.
4 "A a. l.. q.