New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-03
Translated from the German of Paul Klob.l
THE ADVANTAGE OF LEGAL FORMS.

In a small town of Saxony lived three young
men, whom we will call George, Ernest and
Lewis, and who from their infancy were strongly
attached to one another. George and Ernest
were merchants Lewis studied the law, and
practiced in his native place.
One summers day Ernest and George set out
| on horseback for town about thirty miles off,
where they had business to transact. Ernest
was weak enough to be fond of discoursing with
| his friend on religious subjects, on which they
were of different opinions, and had often had
warm disputes. though George was as irritable
and passionate as he himself was obstinate in
maintaining his notions During the journey
| Ernest led the conversation to this unlucky
topic They fell as usual into alteration, which
was kept up till they reached the inn where they
| had agreed to dine. The dispute was continued
| over bottle of wine, but with temper on both
sides; and the travellers pursued their journey
| Ernest renewed the subject Of their former
| conversation, and both being rather elevated
| with the wine they had taken, the dispute be-
| came more and more violent as they proceeded ];
so that by the time they had entered wood
i through which their road led, it had degenera-
/ ted into downright personality and abuse.
Georges passion knew no bounds; uncon-
scious Of what he did, he pulled out pistol, and
H presented it at his companion. The pistol went
off and Ernest fell from his horse, which, fright
ened by the report and relieved from his rider,
scampered away into the wood.
George, pale as death, Immediately alighted
to assist his friend, who was weltering in his
blood; the paroxysm of passion was over, and
!, had given place to bitterest repentance. He
stopped trembling to Ernest, who just then
| breathed his last sigh,
Overwhelmed with despair and anguish, he
i tore his hair, and afterwards galloped back to
the village, to surrender himself into the hands
of justice as the murderer of his FRIEND that he
+ might rut a speedy end to a life which was now
f the most oppressive burden to him The officer
o to whom he delivered himself up sent him under
a guard to the town where the friends resided
The body of Ernest, whose pockets were found
: ri1ed, was also conveyed thither and Inferred.
The legal proceedings against George COM
menced He repeated his confession before the
= Judges, and implored speedy death. His ex-
n animation was closed, and he was informed that
. he was at liberty to choose advocate to defend
l. him, as the law requires; but he declined tt
It avail himself of this privilege, and with tears
d besought the Court to hasten his execution.
e Being, however, again urged to appoint an
S advocate to conduct his defence, he named hi
+ friend Lewis, &c At the same time,'' said HI
lie still, ssthere needs no defence; wish only TO
J. death but submit to the required formality
NV friend may undertake the bootless task
Sc and thus show his attachment to me for the las
N time
With profound emotion, Lewis entered upo
t. the most painful duty that had ever fallen
his lot in his whole professional career. Thong
he despaired of being able TO save his nnhapp
5h FRIEND he determined of course to make ever
or possible effort to accomplish this end.
y With this view he objected that Ernest
re body had been committed to the earth withou
O. any previous judicial examination and dissec
ton the judges replied that this ceremon
seemed unnecessary and superhuous, as til
be murderer had voluntarily confessed the deed
ly but if he the adyocate) insisted on the examine
Mt ton of the body, it should be taken up B
se the desire of Lewis, this was accordingly don
u The town surgeon attended, and declared tn,
ty as the ball had passed right through the hear
ay death must naturally ensue Lewis wished
G. know if the bail were still in the body; IL
he surgeon sought for and found it; upon whie
ed the advocate sent for the pistol with which Il
Of deed had been perpetrated, and tried to dr.
Up, the ball into the barrel. 1t seemed too large
He he accordingly tried it in all possible ways
IS, still it would not go in That this ball cou
not be fred by that pistol was evident to ever
ng observer; the judges looked at one another al
Z" shook their heads. There was not person b
lt- had completely made up his mind respecting t
ms. guilt of the prisoner; but this cireumstan
Sc. quite COMPOUNDED them all The confession
pa the prisoner, made without the employment
the slightest fear or force, was corroborated
no every circumstance that had previously come
in light the ball alone seemed to proclaim his
cd. nocence.
the Lewis began to conceive the strongest hop
me and was nearly overpowered with the excess
de. his joy ibis Judgment He proposed that
proceedings, together with the ball and pist
should be sent to the supreme tribunal, that
r Of might decide in this extraordinary affair, i
late proposal was the more readily accepted, as
and local court was puzzled how to act, and ab
9th lutely unable to pronounce any Judgment VIII
ever. T{Et zze "A .4.,FEF.sf3
while the papers were in the hands Of
inn supreme tribunal in the metropolis, highW
at man, who had shot and robbed traveller on
road not far from the birthplace OF the frlen
was brought to that town, Convicted by 81
lat cient evidence, he acknowledged his crime
ma !. this was not all he confessed, on further
animation, that. two months before, he had m
tter dered another man on the same road. TINS
thsr cumstance had excited suspicion, and being
further questioned he related the following
bv n tieulars: l' slsE Sag ~
';1e % About that time happened to be in a
that lage public. house. Two men on horseback 6
y 1I"S in after me; / remarked that one Of them HI