The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-05-10
A STRANGE STORY.
The Advantage of Legal Forms.

In small town In Saxony, lived three
young men, whom we will call George
, Erne st, and Lewis, and whom from their
E infancy were strongly attached to eacf
other. George and Ernest we're merchants
Lewis studied law, and practiced in hi:
native place.
One summers day Ernest and George
set out on horseback for town about
thirty miles of, where they had business
to transact. Ernest was weak enough to
be fond of discoursing with his friend on
religious subjects, of which they were OF
different opinions, and had warm disputes,
though George was as irritable and pas
sionate as himself was obstinate in main
tanning his notions. During the journey
Ernest led the conversation to this unluck y
topic. They fell as usual, into dispute
which was kept up till they reached the
inn where they agreed to dine. The dis
pute was continued over bottle of wine,
but with temper on both sides; and the
travellers pursued their journey. Ernest
renewed the subject of the former CONVEX
sation, and both rather elevated with the
wine they had taken, the dispute became
more and more violent as they proceeded,
so that by the time they had entered a
wood throug h which their road led, it had
degenerated into downright personality
and abuse.
Georges passion knew no bounds; un-
conscious of what he did, he pulled out a
pistol and presented it at his companion.
The pistol went off and Ernest fell from his
horse, which, frightened BY the report and
relieved of his rider, scampered away in
to the wood.
George pale as death, Immediately a.
lighted to assist bis friend, who was well
tering in his blood; the paroxyism of pas
sion was over, and had given place to Bit
ter repentance. He stopped trembling to
Ernest, who just then breathed his last
sigh.
Overwhelmed with despair and anguish
he 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 put speedy
end to his life which was now the most
oppressive burden to him. The officer 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 rifed was also
conveyed thither and inferred.
The legal proceedings against George
commenced. He repeated his confession
before the Judges, and implored speedy
death. His examination was closed and
he was informed that he was at liberty
to choose an advocate to defend him, as
the law;requires but he declined to avail
himself of the privilege, and with tears
besought the court to hasten bis execution.
Being, however, again urged to appoint
an advocate to conduct his defence. he
named his friend Lewis. DAT the same"
said be still, "there needs no defence l
wish only for death but l submit to the
required formality. My friend may un-
dertake the bootless task, and thus show
his attachment to me for the last time"
With profound emotion, Lewis entered
upon the most painful duty that had ever
fallen to his lot in his whole professional
career. Though he despaired of being
able to save bis unhappy friend, be de-
termined, of course, to make every posi-
bic effort to accomplish this end,
With this view he objected that Ernest 5
body had been committed to the earth
without any previous judicial examination
and dissection. The judges replied that
this ceremony seemed unnecessary and su-
perfuous, as the murderer had voluntari-
ly confessed the deed; if he (the advocate)
insisted on the examination of the body,
it should be taken up. By the desire of
Lewis this was accordingly done.
The town surgeon attended, and de-
clared that as the ball had passed right
through the heart, death must naturally
ensue. Lewis wished to know if the ball
was still in the body; the surgeon sought
for and found it; upon which the advo-
cate sent for the pistol with which the
deed had been perpetrated, and tried to
drop the ball into the barrel. 1t seemed
too large, be accordingly tried it in all
possible ways, still it would not 60 in.
This ball could not be fred by that pis-
tol, was evident to every observer the
judges looked at one another and shook
their heads. There was not person
but had completely made up his mind
respecting the guilt of the prisoner but
this circumstance quite confounded them
all. The confession of the prisoner, made
without the employment of the slightest
fear or force was corroborated by every
circumstance that had previously come to
light the ball alone seemed to proclaim
his innocence.
Lewis began to conceive the strongest
hopes, and was nearly overpowered with
the excess of his extreme JOY. He pro-
posed the proceedings, together with the
ball and pistol, should be sent to the su-
preme tribunal, and that it might decide
| in this extraordinary affair. This propo'
sal was the more readily accepted, as the
local court was puzzled how to act, and
absolutely unable to pronounce any judg'
ment whatever.
While the papers were in the hands Of
the supreme tribunal in the metropolis,