Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-04-02

made his manner naughty or overbearing.
He was an orphan, of French descent, and
had been born and reared in New Orleans.
AS he sat in the prisoners box [ could see
him plainly. He was very pale, and seemed
to suffer much; yet he did not look like
guilty man. could not believe that he had
ever committed murder. He was too brave
and honorable for that.
At length the trial commenced. The wit
nesses came on and gave their testimony,
and my heart sank within me as found how
strongly the tide of circumstances set against
him. It was proved that he wished to mar
ry with Landor Wallace's niece, a young girl
named Isabel Wallace, and that the uncle
had objected From this quarrel had en-
sued, and the youth had left Wallace's SER
vice. It was proved furthermore that De-
marion had challenged Wallace to fight him
duel, and that the merchant had refused
on the ground that he could not consent to
meet one whom he still regarded in the light
of son. Then it was proved that the youth
was very wroth at this, and that he swore
Mr.. Wallace should sseither fight or suffer
the consequences" He was determined to
have satisfaction.
On the morning of the murder the mer-
chant started on horseback for Dantonville
and in half an hour afterwards the prisoner
mounted his horse and started after him, say
ing, as he leaped into the saddle, that he
sswould easily overtake Mr.. Wallace" And
then he added, in presence Of three witnesses,
who swore to the words u can settle our
trouble as well on the road to Dantonville as
anywhere p This was at six o'clock in the
evening. At nine o'clock, man named
Harold Harold, he was called
was coming from Dantonville, and in small
piece of wood through which the road ran, !,
he came upon the body of Landor Wallace,
and at the same time he saw Edward Demar-
ton riding away from the spot. The moon
was shining brightly and he recognised the
prisoner very plainly. He leaped from his
saddle, and found the merchant senseless,
and bleeding freely from severaldeep wounds.
Close by he found a silver-handled bowie
knife, which had been proved to be the pris-
oner's property. The knife was covered
with blood, and the physicians had decided
that the wounds had been made with it.
The murdered man had also.received a blow
upon the head which was nearly sufficient to
kill.
This Dunk Harold was a hard looking
customer. He was a stout, broad shoulder
ed man, somewhere about forty years of
age, with dark, coarse, animal features, and
looked the perfect villain. In defence it was
proved that Harold had some difficulty with
the prisoner, aad that he had sworn to have
but 4h;c o;,oo,,ptoJ &o h,,4 1,441o
Surely the case seemed very clear against
the prisoner. He had difficulty with the
murdered man, challenged him to mortal
combat-sworn to have revenge-followed
him on the road to Dantonville with the "a
vowed purpose of settling the touJze-been
seen to flee from the bleeding body-his
knife found all bloody by the murdered man s
side-and, when he was apprehended, his
own hands and clothes we're bespattered
with blood. Were not these circumstances
conclusive !? At all events, so they were
generally received.
At length Edward Demarton was permit
ted to tell his story. He arose, and although
he was pale and wan. yet his voice was firm
He first called upon God to witness that he
spoke the truth, and then went on. He
said on the afternoon before the murder he
had spent over two hours with Mr. Wal
lace and that the merchant had explained
to him that his only objection to the mar
riage of Isabel had been the fact that he had
promised her father on his dying bed, that
she should not be married until she was
twenty years Of age.
"We made our differences all up at that
time" continued Demarton, "and Mr. Wal
lace asked me if [ would come back into his
service. He said if [ had been willing to
have asked the reason of his refusal Of Isa-
bePs hand he would have given it, but I
was hot and impetuous, and he was little
nettled by it, so he resolved to tell me moth
ing. He had just asked me if I would come
back into his service, when some one enter
ed the store who wished to see him. told
him I had planned to 60 to Dantonville
that evening, but would call on him
when [ returned. He said he had to 60 to
Dantonville too, and bade me call on him in
that place, at the same time signifying that
we could arrange matters there. After that
went over by the lake, and when came
back [ learned that Mr.. Wallace had been
gone half an hour. I got my horse ready
at once, and when about to start made the
remarks which have been sworn to ; but I
made them jokingly, in view of the friend
ly meeting we were to have, little thinking
of what was to occur. I rode off, and at
the distance of some ten miles, in the little
wood, [ found Mr.. Wallaces horse stand
ing by the side of the road. A little fur
ther on found the merchant weltering in
his blood. [ leaped from my saddle and
knelt down by the side of the body.
turned his face up and called his name sew
eral times: The flesh was yet warm, but
life seemed extinct. I got my hands and