Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-12-21
CbuirR a,itPraturR.
THE TRIAL.

Minnie Hermon, or the Night and its lt
Morning" work now in press, by THUR
Low w. BRowN1 =
As the time approached for the trial of p
Kicks, the circumstances of his crime were W
again brought to the public attention with ii
an interest equal to that of their first de- b
velopement. His conviction and execution r
were looked upon as a matter of course.
Time had laid heavy hand upon the /
murderer during his Imprisonment, and the
days had been dark and dreary. There Il
we're none Of kin to befricnd bhim in this
great trouble, ana 'tnr1c-rerc few in the
community who gave thought to the pri-
soner in his cell Elder Snyder had not
yet seen Kicks since his confinement, but
had contentcd himself with laundering
wrath upon his head from the pulpit.
But there was one who visited him Of
ten. The penitent and humble criminal
had learned to listen to her football as that
Of an angel Of peace. To her he was in
dcbed for many a comfort, and for words
Of kindness aud consolation. Hers was the
only countenancc which had smiled upon
him in his solitude. Her womans heart
had sympathiscd with his, and her tears,
had mingled with his tears, while, with the
calm and cheering faith of the christian,
she pointed to One who could save to the
uttcrmost. There was Il sublimity in the
scene--thc red handed murderer bowling
aud weeping like child, as the gentle
friend plead in her sweet, low voice for one
so-decPFy-guFittyr--Mhen those who had
shared the prisoners too generous bounty
left him to his fate without word of COM
miseration, the daughter of the man who
had brought the ruin upon him, clung to
him like sister As Ricks thought Of
all she had done for him, he forgot much
Of his bitterness against the father.
So strong was the current against Kicks,
that none Of the lawyers would defend him.
The ruined man had no friends or money
with which to command aid. On the day
before the trial. the counsel at first retain
cd avowcd his determination to abandon the
case.
you are sensible man. responded
Hcrmon from his bar, his case Is hope
less. A man would gain neither credit OF
money in such a case. He must hang with.
out doubt
And he ought'r, if ever a man did,
continued several in the bar-room
There arc those who deserve the rope
more 7 Kissed the man in the tarpaulin.
'That may be, retorted Hermon, looking
mcauingly into the face of the speaker.
GAad pW hang yetP deliberately addeC
the latter as he rose to confront the land
lord, that wild eye kindling with uuwontet
glitter as it gazod into that of the shrink
inr proprietor Of the Home. The latte
turned away as from a reptiles spring, 70
there was something about the sailor whicI
always repelled too much license.
And why, may | ask, said DOcto
Howard, who had been listening to the con
yersttion, should not Kicks be defended
lie owns up, and what is the use ? an
swered IIcrmon, glad to get rid Of the sal
or.
But the worst men are entitled to cour
sci. Our laws guarantee it,
But he has nothing topay. Can't e.
poct people to defend a gone case for notI
ing
Perhaps cody remarked the Docto
some of his friends will aid him wit
means, ch?
What do you means, sir, by friends
angrily demanded Hermon.
Those who have his money in the
pockets replied Howard, looking the Ian
lord calmly in the eye.
sWhat do you mean by that that
have got any Of his money?
Il meant what | said continued t
Doctor, in defiance Of the angry advan
and menace of Hermon. 'Ricks once h
enough to employ able and honorable cou
sci, aud command the respect of those W
like towards heap their venom upon
name
The shot told, and there was brief
lence in the room. Colorng deeply, t
lawyer turned from the bar where he h
been taking dram, and enquired if
meant to insinuatc anything by the te
honorable.
yes, sir; and to make the matter l
derstood, now say that no honorable II
would desert client because his cause
bad aud his purse empty. trust there
no iuslnuation about that!
'Do you mean to say, sir
Just what did, NE. Skillott,' int
ruUJCI the bltJuE, dS ut saw 1hC AViL
move towards him with clenched fists
Men who ,cin money so easy, should
desert a client with an empty purse, sir
But said Skllott in softened t.
the man is a bad one. He acknowled
himself guilty of brutal murder, and
clarcs his determination to plead guilty
What is the use of defenceY
Every man, sir, is entitled to defer
Kicks is no more q murderer at heart t
you or l.
sHow can you make that out !?
The process is simple. He was n
denel with liquor When sober, hc lc
his family aud was kind
'Noboly was to blame but himself
his drinking, I'm sure. 1t was his
business.
'The man who sold to him, was mo
blame. He knew the appetite of RI
and how he used his family when in liz
and in rigid justice, is as much guilt
the crime as Kicks.
YOU'RE a rascal ! belched
mon, spriuging for the poker and brand
ing it over the Doctors head. There
crimson flush upon the face of the la
but it passed away and he eyed his en-
atcd enemy with countcnancc unmoy