Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-09-26

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to make every possible effort to accomplish
this end.
With this view he objected that Ernest's
body had been committed to the earth with
out any previous judicial examination and
discussion. The judges replied that this
ceremony was unnecessary and suTerluous,
~ the murderer had voluntarily confessed
tho deed but If he (,hc advocats) insisted
on the examination Of the body, IL should DO
taken up. IIy the dcslre Of Lewis, this was
accordingly done. The town surgeon at
tended, and declared that, as the ball had
passed right through the heart, death mus,
naturally cnsue. Lewis wished to know If
the hall were still in the body; the surgeon
sought for and found il upon which tho
advocate sent for the pistol with which the
deed had been pcrpetntcd, and tried to drop
the ball into the barrel. ltsccmcd to large
he accordingly tried it in all possible ways
still /, would not 60 in. That this ball
could not be fired by that pistol was evident
70 every observer, the judges looked at one
another anl shook their heads. There was
not person but had completely made up
his mini respecting thcguilt Of the prisoner,
but this circums,ancc quite conioundci them
all. The confession Of the prisoner, made
without the employment OF tho slightest
fear or force, was corroborn,ei by every cir.
cutnsAncc tha, had previously come to light
the ball alone seemed to proclaim his limo.
c,ncc.
Lewis br-an to conceive the strongest
hops, and was nearly oycrpowcrsi with the
excess OF bis extreme joy. lIcrroPo,cd that
the proceedings, together with the ball and
pistol, should he sent to the supfemo tribunal
that il might decide in this extraordinary
affair. This proposal was the more readily
accepted, As the local court was puzzled how
to act, and absolutely unable to pronounce
any Judgment whatever.
While the papers were in tho hands Of
the supreme tribunal in the metropolis,
hishwayman, who had shot and robbed
traveller on the road not far from the birth
place Of tho friends, was brought To that
town. Convicted by sufficient evidence, he
ACKNOWLEDGED his crime; but this was not all;
he confessed, on further examination, that
two month. before be bad murlcrclanothcr
man on the same road. This circumstance
had excited suspicion, and being s.ill further
questioned, he related the following pariicu-
lars
" About that time ! happened to bo in a
village public house. Two men on horse.
hack came in altcr me | remarked that one
of them had a heavy sirdlo filled with money
fastened around hi, body underneath his
wais,coat. began to consider whether it
was not possible to possess myself of This
rich Lo,ty; but then, how was this 10 be
done, as ha had companion? However,
thought 70 myself, have brace of good
pistols. II | .hoo, one, the other will prob
ably run away in a fright, AMI before be can
give the alarm and fetch witnesses to the
spot, my lcct horse will have carried me Gar
enough out Of their reach II. contrary 10
expectation. the survivor should stand by
his companion, what hinirrs me from giving
him the pthcr ball Such was my deter.
mina;ion, which resolved Immediately 10
execute. | had overheard them talking Of
the way they should take. rode oil before,
and having tied nv horse 10 tree, conceal
ell myself in thickct hy the roadside. No
sooner had taken my station than the
travellers approached. They were quarrel
ing violently. I had already taken aim Of
thc man with the grille, when the other
took out a pistol and discharged it at his
companion. | iircl at the same moment.
Nv man frll just as the Others hall whizzed
past my ear; be then sprung from his horse.
was engaged for a short time with his dying
fellow.trlyeler, and at the instant when !
was going to fire at him, he mounted again
and sallopcl away. had now time to ride
the pockets Of the deceased, and having done
this, rode ofras fast as could"
lie doscribcl the time, the place, and the
two travellers 50 minutely, that there re-
maincd not the slichtrs, doubt ofhis having
actually committed the murder Of which
George accused himself. The latter, trcm.
bling with rage, had fired at random, and
was innocent Of The death OF his friend.
The local tribunal transmitted all these
particulars to the supreme court; the pro-
cccdingS, with accompanimcnts, were re-
turned, and the hall exactly fitted the pistols
which were found upon the murderer at the
time Of his apprehension.
let the sympathizing rsalcrnow cndcavor
to form some conception of the transport Of
Lewis on having saved his friend. Let him
figure to himsclftho JOY Of George, when the
painful Consciousness OF an attroclous crime
was thus removed from his bosom. he was
unanimously declared innocent Of the mur-
der, hi' passion cost him two months Inn
prisonmcnt and twas long before his tears
ceased to low for his departed friend. Lewis
begged the ball, the instrument Of Georges
deliycrance, a. memorial Of this cNtraor-
dinary event.
The forms OF legal proccclngs may often
seem troublesome or useless, but let them
not 10 arraisncl on that account Now
and then, indeed a criminal may through
their means escape the punishment to his
guilt; but If in the course Of a century they