The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-08-26
sAnd he lives to boast of it p

Robert, in hollow voice.
Dead! Colonel Heyland dead ar
you sure of it !
L myself saw him lying at the cross
road in the forest where they found hin
where he had fallen, stricken from hi
horse by the hand of the assassin
Aud no clue to the murderer 2
sYes-the murderer was arrested
near the spot p said he, in hollow
voice.
And who was it, Sir Robert? p
Farmer HortoD,' answered the baro
net
Farmer Horton ! exclaimed Martin
Impossible! I know his nature. He
has the heart of a soldier--you know
at he served in the Peninsular-hui
not that of an assassin
But remember that Heyland had
threatened to deprive him of his lease
had biackened his character-sworn bis
ruin-that fate had thrown him in his
path Let US ina CINE that hot words
passed between them perhaps even the
Colonel struck hin-you can then ae
count for the ready knife and the quick
blow
4 see-I see,' said Martin, sadly.
Even 1 could hardly have command
ed my temper under he circumstances.
I am sorry for poor Horton, but I can
not be TOO grateful for his detection, for
after what had passed between the Co.
lionel and myself, and particularly as 1
left the inn shortly after him, if the as.
sassin had cffcc;ed his fight, I--oren
might have been suspected.'
'You, sir o, uol' exclaimed Mar
tin. The widest imagination would
never have associated your name with
murder
Think you SO p said Sir Robert with
a grave smile.
No circumstantial evidence would
have convinced jury of your guilt
'All men are uot such partial judges
of my character as you are, Martin, re-
piled Sir Robert Aud now let US 60
to bed-it is waxing late, aad we both
have need of sleep
The trial of farmer Horton for the
murder of member of Parliament Gre
ated, of course, an Intense excitement
throughout the country, and the court
house was throDged during the progress
of the trial. Even ladies were seen
the spectators. The verdict sur
prised no one. it was guilty When
the prisoner was called on by the judge
to say whatever lie might have to offer
he rose, and in a firm voice addressed
the bench:
My lord said he, 4 have little to
say and that little, I am aware, will be
of no avail. The jury just pronounced
me guilty; TO that awful verdict 1 can
only reply, as L plead at the commence
ment of this trail am not guilty
Your verdict will be recorded here
my plea at the bar of higher tribunal
1 blame no one. Circumstances have
been too hard for me- My lord and
gentleman of the jury, Colonel Heyland
did not fall by my hand. have slain
men, but it was in the discharge of my
duty on the stricken field. 1 appeal to
my past character-there is nothing in
my whole life that shows me likely to
commit the crime. 1 threatened Colo,
mel Heyland with ven Ieance-but it was
such vengeance as British law accords
to men illegally oppressed, that l allude
to. On the night of the murder 1 lost
my knife. 1 was returning from the
villege a-foot and carrying lanter-,
fer it was quite dark, when I stumbled
on the dead body. 1 kneeled down and
recognized TO my horror a horn handled
.knife--the same 1 had lost, sticking il
the wound. I was engaged in withdraw
ing it when parties retuin mig from the
election found me in that fatal place anG
thus fatally engaged. l have done, my
my lord. Add my name to the long
list of victims of circumstantial evi
dence. Time will wash the stain O
blood from my memory. I can say nc
more
This speech made little impression
Sentence of death was passed and the
prisoner was remanded to his cell.
The evening before his execution the
prisoner sent message requesting to see
Sir Robert Ashland's private Secretary.
In obedience to the desire of the unfor'
tunate man, Martin repaired to tho goal
aud was usherod into the condemned
cell, where he was allowed a private in
terview.
Luke said the farmer, we have al
ways been good friends, and 1 could not
60 out of this world without a word of
| arting kindness. You do not believe
me guilty, am sure. 1 tell you boy,
said the farmer solemnly, 'as 1 told the
good rector this blessed afternoon, that
am guiltless of the murder
Can it be possible? Yet some one
did the decd
'Ay, Martin, some one whe had more
provocation than myself
A sudden Iioht Aasbad unon Martins