Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-03-11

hence she might have hoped to avoid
notoriety. but for the perilous gift Of that
extraordinary beauty, which, Too often.
and 10 the poor and fiendless always.
proves curse. She Was soon sought
after By all those fire flies OF fashion, the
profession of whose life. everywhere, is
seduction and ruin. But the beautiful
stranger rejected them all with unutter-
able scorn and loathiDg. Among these
rejected admirers was one of a charac-
ter from which the fair milliner had
everything to fear Hiram Shore be-
longed 10 family. at once opuleni, in
Huen;ial and dissipated. He was him
self licentious. brave, and ferociously
reyengeful-the most famous duelist OF
the Southwest. Itwas generally known
tLat he had made advances to win the
favor of the lovely Emma, and had
shared the fate of all other wooers "a
disdainfnl repulse.
At nine o'clock on Christmas night,
1887. the people of Lewisburg were
Startled by loud scream, as of one in
mortal terror; while following that, with
scarcely an interval, came successive
reports of firearms. They flew to the
shop of the milliner, whence the sound
proceeded. pushed back the unfastened
door, and a scene Of horror was present.
ed. There she stood in the centre Of the
room, with a rev Oliver in each hand,
every barrel discharged, her features
pale, her eyes flashing wildly, but her
lips parted with fearful smile. And
there at her feet. weltering in his warm
blood, his bosom literally ri1dled With
bullets. lay the all dreaded duelist, HI
ram Shore, gasping in the last agony
He articulated but single sentence -
" Tell my mother that | am dead and
gone TO he'll - and instantly expired.
lin the name OF God. who di | this?"
exclaimed the appalled, spectators.
Il did it. said the beautiful milliner,
81 did it TO save my honor !''
As may readily be imagined, the deed
caused an intense sensation. Public
opinion, however. was divided. The
poorer classes, crediiing the girls ver-
sion Of the facts, lauded her in terms of
measureless eulogy. But the friends of
the deceased, and of his wealthy family
gave different and darker colciing to
the affair. and denounced the lovely
homicide as an atiocious criminal. Un-
fortunately for her, the officers OF the
law, especially The judge and sheriff,
were devoted comrades OF the slain. and
displayed their feelings in revolving
partially. The judge committed her
without the privilege of bail. and the
sheriff chained her 10 the felon's dun
geon
Such is brief abstract of the circum-
stances developed in the examination of
witnesses. The testimony closed and
the pleading began.
First of all. three advocates spoke in
succession for the prosecution but nei-
ther their names nor their arguments
are worth preserving Orators of the
blood and thunder genus, they about
equally parttioned their bowling elo-
quenee betwixt the prisoner and her
leathered robed counsel, as If in doubt
who of the twain was then on trial.
As for the stranger, he seemed to pay
not the slightest attention to the oppo-
nents, but remained molionless, with his
forehead bowed on his hand. like one
buried in deep thought or slumber.
AT the proper time. however. he sud-
denly sprang 10 his feet. crossed the bar,
and took his place almost touching The
jury. He then commenced in a whis
per, but II was a whispsSs so mild, so
clear, 50 -gsu,tsrabt ssiag and dis
tines 4ssi the hall from aeor to gal
leries. sat this outset he deah in pure
logic, separating and combining the
proven facts. till the whole mass of COM
posed evidence locked transparent as
globe of glass, through Which ssise inno-
cence of tbs.sljensSvh6ne, brilliant as
sunbeam; add. the jurors nodded to each
other signs of Conviction; that thrilling
whisper, and 6xed'scsJiicentratiou, and
the language, simple as child's, had
all.
He then changed his posture, so as to
sweep the bar with his glance, and be-
gan 10 tear and rend his legal adversa-
ries. His sallow face g!owed as heat.
ed furnace: his eyes resembled living
Goals, and bis voice became the clangor
Of trumpet. l have never, before or
since. listened to such murderous denun-
Citations. Itwas like Jove's eagle charg-
ing flock of crows; it was like Jove
himself hurling redhot thunder bolts
among the quaking ranks of a conspira-
~ of inferior gods And yet in the
highest temper of his fury. he seemed
calm; he employed no gesture save one
the flash of a long, bony fore6nger
iirect in the eyes of bis foes. He painted
heir venaliiy and uumanly meanness,
n coalescing for money to hunt down a
poor. iriendless womsn, TIL a shout of
'tiHed rage arose from the multitude,
md even some of the Jury cried
Shame !