Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-01-05
Advantages Of Legal Forms.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN.

y
Ernest and Lewis, and who, from their in
fancy, were strongly attached to one an
other. George and Ernest were merchants,
Lewis studied law and practisedi in his ma
tive place.
One summers day Ernest and George
set out on horseback for a town about 30
miles of, where they had business to
transact. Ernest was weak enough to
be fond of discoursing with his friend on
rolisioas sabiSots, on which they were of
different opinions, and had often had warm
disputes, though George was as irritable
and passionate as he was himself 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 jour
ney. Ernest renewed the subject of their
former conversation, and, both rather ele
waited with the wine they had taken, the
dispute became more violent as they pro-
ceeded; so that by the time they had en-
tered wood through which their road led
it had degencrated into downright per-
sonal abuse.
Georges passion knew no bounds. I'm
conscious of what he did, he pulled out
pistol and presented it at his companion.
The pistol went off, and Ernest fell from
his horse, which, frightened by the report,
and relieved from his rider, scampered off
into the wood.
George, pale as death, Immediately
alighted to assist his friend, who was wei
tcriug in his blood. The paroxysm of
passion was over, and had given place to
bitterest repentance. He stopped tremb-
ling to Ernest, who just then brcathed his
last sigh.
Overwhelmed with despair and anguish
he tore his hair, and afterwards galloped
back to the village to surrender himselfin-
to the hands of justice, as the murderer Of
his friend, that he might put speedy end
to life which was now the most opprcs-
. sive burden to him.
The officer to whom he delivered HIM
f self up sent him, under guard, to the
town where the friends resided. The body
of Ernest, whose pockets were found ii
fled, was also conveyed thither and inter-
red.
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
f law requires; but he declined to avail him
r self Of this privilege, and with tears bo-
, sought the court to hasten his execution.
Being, however, again urged to appoint
: an advocate to conduct tho defence, ht
, named his friend Lewis.
t At the same time" said he still
h ''therc needs no defence. | wish only fol
5 death, but I submit to the required form
: ality. My friend may undertake the boot
J., less task, and thus show his attachmcn
S to me for the last time"
With profound emotion Lewis, entered
upon the most painful duty that had eve
q fallen to his lot in his whole professional
4 career. Though he despaired of being
II able to save his unhappy friend, he deter
mined, of course, to make every possible
n effort to accomplish this end.
: With this view, he objected that Earn
: est's body had been committed to the cartl
# without any previous judicial examina
ton and dissection. The judges reptile,
:. that this ceremony seemed unnecessary ant
a supcrtluous, as the murderer had volunta
, rily confessed the deed; but if he (the al
vocate insisted on the examination of th
:, body, it should be taken up.
BY the desire ofLewis, this was accord
ingly done. The town surgeon attended
0 and declared that, as the ball had passe,
right through the heart, death must natur
ally ensue. Lewis wished to know if tn
|. ball was still in the body. The surgeon
l. sought for and found it; upon which tn
e advocate sent for the pistol with whic]
y the deed had been perpetrated, and trie'
i to drop the ball into the pistol barrel l
= seemed to large; it would not go i'll. Tha
o this ball could not be fired by that pistol
" was evident to every observer The Judge
l. looked at one another, and shook thei
J. heads. There was not person presen
'e but had completely made up their mind
l. respecting the guilt of the prisoner; bu
II this circumstance quite confounded then
IS all. The confession of the prisoner, mad
o without the employment of the slightes
'e fear or force, was corroborated by cvor.
|, circumstance that had previously come t
Of light. The ball alone seemed to proclaim
his innocence.
u Lewis began to conceive the stronges
t. hopes. and was nearly overpowered wit
g the excess of extreme joy. He propose
Is that the proceedings, together with the ba
!; and pistol, should be sent to the Suprem
e Tribunal that itmight decide in this extra
d, ordinary affair. This proposal was tn
II more readily accepted, as the local cou
s. was puzzled how to act, and absolutel
IN unable to pronounce any Judgment wha
ever.
n while the papers were in the hant
I'd of the Supreme Tribunal in the mi
tropolis, a highwayman, who had shot an
v, robbed traveller on the road not far frol
it, the birth place ofthe friends, was brougl
Up to that town. Convicted by sufficient G,
: idence, he acknowledged his crime. B,
p this was not all--he confessed, on furth
, examination, that two months before,
had murdered another man on the san