The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-03-29
SEEfI!4EGIl STORY, /,
A STRANGE STORY.

| Ernest and Lewis, and who, from their
infancy, were strongly attached TO one
another. George and Ernest were mer-
chants; Lewis studied law, and practsed
in his native place.
One summers day Ernest and George
set out on horseback for town about 80
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 oi
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 cor
versatlOn to this unlucky topic. They
fell, as usual, into alteration, which was
kept up till they reached the inn at which
they had agreed to dine. The dispute
was contnucd over botte'of wine, but
with temper on both sides; and tie traye:
lers pursued their journey, Ernest re.
newed the subject Of their former con.
verSaiion, and both rather elevated with
the vine they had taken, the dispute be-
came more and more violent as they pro,
ceeded, SO that by the time they had EN-,
tered wood through which their road
He'd, it had degeneraled into downright
personality and abuse. y
Georges passion knew no bounds; un.
conscious OF whatihe did, De pulled oui
a pistol and presented it at bis cotnpan.
tiop. The pistol went off, and Ernest fell
from his horse, which, trgtttened5by The
report, and relieyedfrom his rider, scam.
pered away into the wood.
George, pale as death, Immediately
alighted 10 assist his friend ,who was wei.
lering in his blood; the paroxysm of pas
sion was over, and had given place to
btterest repentance. lie stood trem
bling over Ernest who then breatbed his
last sigh '.'a
Overwhelmed with despair and an,
guish he tore his hair, and alter~ ards
galloped back to the villageito surrender
himself into the hads of justice, as the
murderer of his friend. thathe might put
a speedy end 10 a life which was now the
most oppressive burden to him. !Fhe Of,
icer to whom he delivered himself up,
sent him under guard to the town where
the friends resided. The body Of Ernest,
whose pockets were found riaed, was
also conveyed lhilher and Inferred.
Thelegal proceedings against George
l,commenoeat. He repeated his confession
before the Judges, and implored aspeedy
death. His examination was closed, and
he was informed that he was at liberty lo
choose an advocate to defend him, as the
law requires; but he declined 10 avail
himself of this privilege, and with tears
besought the court to hasten his execu.
lion.
| Being, however, again urgedto appoint
an advocate TO conduct his defence, he
named his friend Lewis "At the same
time" said helstill, "there needs no de.
fense; wish only for death; but submit
to the required formality, My friend may
undertake Tie boot'eSs task. and thus
show his attachment TO me for the last
time
With profound emotion Lewis entered
tupon the most painful duty that had ever
fallen 10 his lot in his whole professional
career. Though he despaired Of being
able TO save his unhappy friend, he deter
mined, of course, to make every posi-.
BILE effort TO accomplish this end.
With this view he Of jected tharErhes S
body had been committed 10 the earth
without any previous judicial exanaina
Etion and discussion. The judges replied
that diis ceremony seemed unnecessary
and superauous, as the murderer had vol
unlafiIy confessed the deed; but if he
| headvocatc) insisted on the examina'
ton fof the body, it should be taken up
TBy Che desire OF Lewis, this was accor.
dinay done The town surgeon attend
ed !, and decared that as the ball had
passed right through the heart, death mus
NATURALLY ensue. Lewis wished to know
Iifhhe ball was still in the body;lhe sur
geon sought for and found It; upon which
lhe advocate sent for the pistol with
which the deed had been perpetraled
and tried to drop the bullet into the bar
| rel Ii seemed too large; he accordingly
A tried it in oil possible ways-tll il would
not go in. That this ball could not be
fred by that pistol was evident to every
observer; the judges looked at one an
other and shook their heads. There wa'
not person but had completely made
Iup his mind respecting the guilt Of th'
prisoner; bntthis circumstance quite con
, founded them ALL The confession Of th'
prisoner, made without the employmen
of the slightest fear or force, was corrob
Grated by every circumstance that hat
previously come 10 light; the ball alone
seemed toproclaim his innocence.
Lewis began to conceive the stronges
hopes, and was nearly oyelpowered will
the excess of his extremejoy. He pro
posed that the proceedings, together will
The ball and pistol, should be sent to th'
supreme tribunal. that it might decide il
this extraordinary affair he propose
i was the more readily accepted, as the 10
cal court was puzzled how TO act, and alb
solutely unable to pronounce any judg
ment whatever.
b While the papers were in the hands Q
the supreme tribunal in the metropolis,
highwayman, who had shot and robbie
a traveller not far from the birthplace {
] 1.-The friends. was BROUGHT into that towr