Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1853-07-07


superior officer, Col. Layilier said the advO
cate.
Where is the aceuser % continued n,
court.
Here, may il please your excellency, re
Pned the colonel, whose arm was bound u,
with sling.
How came NJ to attempt your life q
4 know not, said Iayillier.
What provoked the insult p
a conversation with a young girl, with
whom the prisoner is acquainted
1T is your excellency.'
After short consultation with the other
officers the judge turned to the prisoner and
thus addressed him
Anthony &artel, you have been found
guilty OF an attempt to murder superior off.
Ger OF the French army, the punishment for
which crime is death. What have you to say
why you should not suffer the extreme penalty
Of the law which you have offended .
Martel, who stood as though unconcious un-
I'll now, raised his manly form standing erect
he bent his searching eyes upon the Colonel,
and said in firm voice
Your excellency am aware that any vim
dication which | may make would be of no A.
vail but being thus permitted, will speak the
truth, that my fellow soldiers may know that
am innocent of the charge which has been
brought against me. did not fire upon Col.
Lavier, and had no weapon when arrested
AT the moment l entered the dwelling of Cade-
line found her struggling in his arms stop-
ped not 10 inquire his rank but struck him with
my clenched fist to the floor This is all |
have done, and had it been the Emperor him
self in his own palace, would have done like
wise, for the duty of a true soldier is to pro-
tect the innocent and defenceleSs, | am will
ling to die, but my death will not be unavenred.
for the grass will not have covered my grave
before the weapons of my comrades shall have
found the heart Of my murderer, for there is
not one who will shrink when the hour comes.
am ready-pass your sentence
'Martel your language does not become
man who is on The threshold of eternity
Truth becomes man at all times replied
Anthony.
Colonel Lavier, during the time the pris-
oner was speaking, seemed greatly excited, and
turned pale, for he knew Martel was a great
favorite in the regiment and feared that his
own life was in danger
Anthony Martel, said the Judge, the SEN
tence of the court is that you die tomorrow
at sunrise and that you be shot by twelve of
your comrades
Again the roll of the drum told chat the case
had been decided and they We're about to con-
duct the prisoner to his prison when young girl
rushed pasI the guards into the tent and pros
trating herself at the feet of the presiding off,
Ger exclaimed
He is innocent spare him he is not
guilty and did not shoot Colonel Layilier'
AS the tears flowed down her beautiful face
every heart was touched with pity save one
He stood unmoved by her supplicatons. The
Judge informed her that it was impossible for
him to alter the sentence of the court, aud that
the only hope that was left her was with Col. !
Lavilier, who was the injured party, and who
alone had power 10 ask for his pardon or rec
ommend him TO mercy. In vain Cadelne
pleaded with him ; he was inexorable, and she
was borne senseless from the tent.
On the following morning a little before sun
rise some soldiers were busily engaged in plac
ing red flags at short intervals on beautiful plain
not far from the camp. No sooner had this been
accomplished, than the muff1ed drum and band
playing dead march was heard. A company
Of soldiers now drew near accompanied by a
arge number of officers, who came to witness
,he punishment of Deah-Anthony Martel
was walking with firm step to meet bis
doom ; arriving on the ground he took his
place on the spot designated for him to die he
was calm and unmoved at the approaching cri-
lis. Twelve of his fellow soldiers were brought
up into line every movement told their un-
willingness to perform the odiouS duty which
lad been assigned them.
All being arranged, the commandant walked
Up to Martel, and taking him by the hand,
shook it manipulating him farewell, he
gave him permission to address his companions
n arms This mark of kindness moved the
man, and tear started to his eye
but quickly regaining his composure he brush
I'd it away and addressed those who were to
ay him low in death. Comrades, have come
here to die like a man and soldier am
guilty of no crime; l have never dishonored
my country or regiment; have fought by
your side in the thickest of battle when the
guns of the enemy poured hot lead into our
ranks and swept our countrymen down like
chaff before the whirlwind. Butyou can affirm
that did not quail or falter when the grim
monster stared me in the face, and should
tremble now when am to die by the hands of
nv loved comrades? No, consider it an hoG-
or and the last sound that will ever greet my
ears will be the glorious dying music of your
own true guns as l fall. know that you
will not suffer my ashes to rest unavenged.-
Let not your hands tremble, but with a firm,
steady aim level your pieces at my breast,
when give the word fire, for / would have
the mark of every man if you love me. Com
rades, farewell, and may we all meet where
the warrior rests from his battles and his vic
tories
The soldiers brought their pieces to their
but stopped suddenly as the frantic
Cadeline rushed into the arms of her lover.
Oh, Anthony; Anthony, you must not die
Col. Lavilier will have mercy he cannot be
so cruel as to murder you
'Cadeline, there is no hope. I had prepar-
ed to die but this meeting unnerves me. Il
could have wished you had been spared this