The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-12-12
A Scene in d Jury Room.
A THRILLING STORY.

u
my business to serve upon "Ac Jmy."
plead in all manner of ways for release. bu,
to no effect. l could not swear that was
deaf, nor blind, nor vet non compos bu,
did tell them | had already formed an
opinion. They asked me if my opinion
would prevent me from receiving the tcsti-
lnony in good faith, and rendering verdict
according to it. replied that of course |
should weigh the evidence carefully, and be
governed by it. / was then informed that l
"would do"
The case to be tried was one cf arson
then capital offence-and the prisoner at
the bar was yong man, named Charles
Ambold, whom had known from bovhood.
and who was naturally one Of the finest
youths of the town where he resided. He
had widowed mother who depended upon
him for support; and his circle offricnds was
large and choice. was morally certain that
he did not commit the crime, and hence, am
sure, those who were friendly to him got me
on the panel, and had me retained
The trial commenced and We twelve men
took our seats in the jury box. Eat, a very
respectable set with me-onlv there was one
man whom didn't like to see there. This
man was Moulton Warren lie was dark
faced, sinister looking fcllow-at least to me-
| knew that young .Ambold had one fault
He had recently been addicted to drink. and
been known to visit disrcputablc houses. 1t
was one ofthcse houses that had been burned.
for setting fire to which he had been apprc-
hcndcd
Now had often tried to dissuadc Charles
,Ambold from the course he was pursuing
He had repeatedly promised me that he
would reform. and as repeatedly had he
broken away. had often talked to him of
his poor mother. until he had wcpt like Il
child but the effect was not lasting. There
was power of temptation more effective
than any influence could wicll. He would
fall away into this evil companionship. and
for while his manhood was gone. One or
two ahanGo ed women had gained great POW
cr over him and upon them llc wasted much
of his substance
And knew this very man who was Upon
the jury-thi> Mouton Warren-was the
one who had done more than all others to
lead the poor youth away. II was Warren
who had drank with him. and who had led
him away to those most ahomirable hauuis
Of sin and pollution. Why was he upon tic
jury could only account for i, upon the
ground that Charley still supposed him to be
his friend. The poor scorchcd insect was
still ignorant Of the flame that scorchcl
him. He really believed that Moulton War
rcn was hi, friend.
The trial commenced. The Indictment set
forth that Charles Amboll had. with malice
aforcthOuSht" and with all sorts of wicked
and tclonous intcntS. set fire to certain,
dwelling house. thereby cndangerins human
life. This dwelling. as | have already intima-
ted. was a low sink of iniquty. where the
abandoned of both sexes were wont to con-
Srcgatc; and where the youthful prisoner
had spent much of his time.
The evidence for the prosecution came ON,
and ! was startled. One after another gave
III their testimony. some of them very rcluc-
tantly " and was frightened when saw how
plainly it all pointed to the prisoner as the
guilty party. Several credible witnesses
sworc that they had heard him threaten to
burn the house down: and others had heard
him say that he miShed it was burned down
Then came several witncsses-thrcc of the
prominent cltlzcnS-who saw him lurking
about the premises on The night of the fire
With regard to the provocation on the
prisoners part for such decd it was proved
upon his own admission. that he had been i'll
treated there. and that he had sworn to have
revenge. And furthermore. it was proved
that he had been heard to say that the saliva
ton of soul and body depended upon the de-
struction of that house Next came more
testimony stronger still.
The fire had been set in a back bascmcn;
room where shavings and other stuff for kin
ding were kept. Entrance had been gair Cd
through back window. which had been part
ly pried open with stout knife This base
mcnt wall was of brick, and beneath the sasl
was found the blade of knife which had
been broken off in trying to raise it (the sash.
The blade was recognized as belonging tc
the prisoners knife! A maker of cutler,
had made knife to order for Ambold onl,
a month previous, and he knew the blade
at ance, and sworc to it
But this was not ALL The fire had evident
ly set first to the shavinSs which lay upo1
the stone floor, but piled up against woodcl
partition. This floor was damp, and som,
of the outer shavings, even, were not who'll,
burned up. But just at the edge, where tn,
fire commenced, lay piece of paper, rollet
:; up, and about half burned, and from tn,
manner i'll which it lay. 1t was very eviden
that the fire had been set with it. This piec
of rolled paper had been ignited by match
number of which were scattered around,an,
as soon as it was on fire, it had been laid o,
the floor, with the burning end just in tn
shavinss. Of course, these shavings were i,
:, hlaze INSTANTLY hut the nancr torch ln;,,.