The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-28

counsel; but the facts and the incl
dents of that evening are still fresh in your
memory, are they not"
Wires assenled that they were.
Counsel: "Well, Mr.. Pearson. after
you left tie house Of Mrs. Fleming, which
1t appears you did, Immediately subse-
1ucnt to the happening of this little alter
cation, where did you 60 to-"
Witness couldn't recollect.
Counsel: Let me assist your memo
ry; dId you not go to place in this city
called the 'PbGniX,' and there meet with
your Head Clerk Mr.. Haskell 2"
Witness began to show evident symp.
toms of alarm but he assented that he
had gone to the "Phunix," and had met
Mr. Haskell.
Counsel: " Was that meeting accident
al, or was 1t by appointment p
Witness declared that it was accidental.
Counsel: did YOU have any CONVEX.
sation with Mr.. Haskell that evening 2,
HttneSs: We had some little"
Counsel: "Where did it occur; was i,
in the public bar, or was it in one ofthosc
little r. r'treshment rooms adjoining!"
Witness seemed unable to answer
Counsel: " Iou took drink together
in the front room, perhaps, and afterwards
adjourned to the rcfreshment room, did
YOU not! ?"
Witness, in tremulous voice, assented
that they had.
CounSot: Well, Mr.. Pearson, can
you tell us (and rccollect it is, perhaps, a
truthful saying, that walls have ears.( can
You tell us what was the subject of Your
conversation that night, with Mr.. Has
kelI 7"
Had the witness been disposed, he
could, probably, not have answered the
question. II was pitiable TO see the ter
ror and dSmay that was depicted in his
countcnance, and his limbs almos: ryfusinr
him a support.
Counsel: Go the Court, and pointing
to the witness ~ there, your Honor, and
gentlemen Of the Jury, is true evidence of
guilt. very proper study for our Police
officer. But, | do not wish TO make the
young man commit himself; YOU may
stand down, Mr.. Pearson"
The next witness was Jennie FIcminn
/,
who, in voice tremulous a, first, but rain
ing courage from the kind manner of the
counsel, stated infinitely, the startling
facts gained from Pearson the previous
evening, and which had given rise to the
questions propounded to that individual.
Not only were the Court and jury taken
by surprise, but even the prisoner and his
friends were astounded by the develop
menis. The trial soon came to n close +:
his lionor did not even sum up the ev-
dencc, and the Jury, without leaving their
box, returned IA verdict Of "not guilty"
Immense excitement prevailed in the
Court Room order, for n time, could not
he enforced, and as the prisoner descended
trcm the D2ck, the cheers Of the spec,a.
tors were loud and vehement. Ellen
clasped her brother around the neck, and
the Senator could scarcely restrain what he
would term, a womanly tear. Friends
| crowded around with their congratulations,
and the little party was escorted TO the
Hotel, by the first citizens of the Civ
Jennie, b. it remembered, was not forgot.
ten Ellen lavished upon her the. carcsses
Of a sister, and from all she received the
highest evidences Of gratitude and respect.
Some, no doubt, were disappointed at
the denouement; the long array of counsel
for The defence were deprived of the pleas
ure Of pouring their thunder into the ears
OF the Jury; but if they were disappont-
ed in showing off their eloquencc, they
were not mistaken in the weight, and am
pie proportions Of the Senator's well filed
purse.
Edward was free from the loathsome
prison cell, but the vacancy was filed by
those who had conspired 10 place him in
that horria situation. Haskell and Pear
go "ere bot '"stantly arrested but sub.
sequentiy the latter wal eIeased on con.
dition Of his appearing as States evidence
against Haskell, who was really the more
guilty party; he having made the check
which Pearson presented to the Bank.
In due course of time, Haskell was tried ::
was found guilty, and condemned to hard
labor in the States prison for term Of
ten years, the exact time that he had cal.
cuIated his victim would suffer.
CHAPTER XXI.
We bring you again to MalcolmyiIle,
gentle reader; and we ask you to ina
gine about one year to have passed since
the incidents recorded in the last chapter.
The walls Of the family mansion were
newiy decorated and tas,eiully embelish-
ed, as il in anticipation Of some great fete.
or important event. In every quarteF
could be seen evidences Of something ex-
pected the note Of preparation was
sounded from the hustle Of the kitchen 70
the halls fibe mansion; servants were
running TO aud fro in the former, and the
occupants OF the latter appeared eageT
ana exPectan'. The Senator walked up
and down the passage, and ever and
anon, his eyes were turned in the direc.
ti'o Of the Boat Landing; aud, perbaps
would wander along the. course of the
broad Hudson, whose waters sparkIed go
beautifully beneath the rays Of the declin.
ing sun,