Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-07-03
CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCED

In the Democratic Review for ,Novem-
ber.s l842. there was, an account, OF the lrl-,
al of Harry Blake. for murder who was
convicted upon circunaStantiaI evidence and
hung About three months after his
death. the Judge who presided at the tri-
al, received a note fromla prisoner under
sentence OF notwithstanding 10 SEE him
without delay sas, hislsentence was to be
carried into effect the day following. On
his way ,thither heoveLtook an old man.
walking slowly, who accostee, him he
recoxnlzgd him TO be Caleb Grayson, who
had heen a witness at Blake's trial, aud
had q similar note as his own. but equal
ly ata loss to know the meaning of the
summons They both entered The cell
'togethsFs bThe lprisoner did not move
but only raised his head, when Grayson
'recollected having seen him at the tavern
the night before BIake'S execution, and
at the gaIlows. r. ...,-.t .,.r CO.. -..r...a
We'll Judge" said he," sent for you
'to see ii you cau't sc! me out of this
'>crnpe. Must hang Tomorrow ," ..
The Judge shook his head "lt is idle
fhGPe. nothing c''ni prevent your execu-
'finn." -sH#a#'a
"Au' application might be made TO the
'higLe$t nulhuriry." SAID the prisoner.
'''pardon< have come sometimes On the
Ecatfold'' ''ar-.. a.. .a'ra -e .--"..
None will come in your case" replied
the Judge" tts.lt is needless for me to
>Aiwell on your eHrnce now. but it was one
'that had no paiIiaiou. and you may rest
'asAEred, that whatever may have uc.
':urred ia. other cases, no pardun will
cune in Yours. In fact | understand
e.4,at'an application has been nude for one
'bv your council. aud has been refused. |
The features Vf the prisoner underwent
no. oschange nor did The expression Of his
face alter in ,herleast. i@nt after a mo-
ment's pause, he said. ''ls this true,
Judge-upon your honor ,"
cit is" replied the Judge, -,....
"Then Iknow the wors:." replied the
prisoner coldIy, land will now tell what
| have TO communicate, which l would
mot have done. while there was hope Of
escape, You," said he, turning to the
Judge" :" presided at the trial of young
Harry Blake. who was accused of mur~
der andTsentencedr him to death"
II did" ae'F-.
"Aud you" said he. turning to Gray
son. "were a witness against him. You
swore that YOU saw him stab Wicklitfe.
Ou your testimony, principally, he was
hung.''a '''a' a. .-.....
Il was" renplied the. old man, II saw
him with my own eyes,"
The prjsonnr uttered'n loud sneerlng
laugh, aud said, turning to the Judge {:
You, sir, sentenced an innocent man"
"Aad vou." said he,. turning to the
old unaa. ''swore to q falsehood. Harry
Blake dtd not XIII 'tNicGtiGeS He was as
innocent of murder as you were-more
innocens thHu you are n6w." 1-. 7-l 80 ~
The old man Staggered as if he had
been stuck and lsapel ag2lRst4the table
10 support himself, while the condemned
felon stood before him, and looked upon
him with i cold Indifferent air.
"Yessold man. said he. sIernly. "you
have blood and pergury up1n your soul,
tor I, said he. stepping forward SO that
the light of the lamp Tell strongly upon
his savage feattires,.'.1 murdered Wichllife
did It : THANH God I did it, for l had. a
long score to. settle with him, But Blake
had no hand sia at: = 1 rmetE'WickIiffe on
that afternoon. alone with none to inter.
fere between. as. l told him OF the ipiu-
ries lie had. doHe me. aud |! told him the
time had come for redress. He endeay-
0Ked to escape: bptI followed him up; l
ysappled,with him and stabbed him. q AS
did go 3heard the clatter Of horses
hoofs, and ,leapsd into 2 clumpr Of bushes
which grew atther road side.7 At tho mo-
ment Blake came up and found Wickli6e
lyiug. dead in the road. You know the
rest, ,fhe tale he, tod was true as .gos-
pei. - He. wasronlys attempting ,tosdraw
the iknifeifrom 1 the Lmau'sGbreaSsF wh en-
you came up and charged him with the
Good, Gdal Cad tbs be possible !,
.ejacqIa tSSd sths old, man. 1T canuos
Williams you area liar !'Sistan . "a 3D. 30