Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-27

1ftts'Ns W" Jt@o~s
"Let her speak for herself"
IL do" was tho answer as long drawn
sigh escaped, that seemed 10 rend her very
heart strings.
The case immediately progressed, aud
as it had lingo Of romantic mystery, we
will cptomiso tho substance Of the evil
dcnce. About twelve months before, the
defendant had arrived in the village and
opened an establishment OF millinery
Residing In room connecting with her
shop, and all alone, she prepared tho arti-
cles Of her trade with unwearicd labor and
consummate taste. Her habits werc soclu-
ded, modest and retiring, and hence she
might have hoped to avoid notoriety, but
for the perilous gift Of that extraordinary
beauty, which too often, and to tho poor
and friendless always, proves curse. She
was soon sought after by all those glitter
ing dre-flies Of passion, tho profession Of
whose life, everywhere, Is seduction and
ruin. But the beautiful stranger rejected
them all with unuttcrablo scorn and loath-
ing Among these rejected admirers was
one Of character from which the fair mil
liner had everything to fear. Hiram Shore
belonged to family at oncc opulent, influ-
cntial and dissipated. He was hims,lf H.
ccntious, brave, and ferociously revongcful
the most famous duolist In the South
West II was most generally known that
he had mado advances 10 win tho favor
Of the lovely Emma-and had shared the
fate Of oil other wooers--a disdainful re-
pulse.
At nine O'Clock on Christmas night, is-
81, the people Of Lewisburg were startled
by loud scream, as Of one In mortal ter
ror; while following that, with scarcely an
interval, eamo successive reports Of FIRE
arms, ne-two--thrce--a dozen deafen-
ing roars. They few to the shop Of the
millincr from whence tho sounds proceed
cd, pushed back tho unfastcned door, und
a scene Of horror was presented. There
she stood in tho centre Of the room, with q
revolver In each hand, every barrel dis-
charged, her features pale, her eyes fash
ing wildly, but her lips parted with fear
ful smile. And there ut her feet, welter-
ing in his warm blood, his bosom literally
riddlcd with bullets, lay the all.drcadcd
duelist, Hiram Shore, gasping in tho last
agony. Before hc died, ho.articulated but
single sentence:
"Tell my mother / am dead and gone to
hell !"
"Tn the name Of God who did this?" OK.
claimed tho appalled, spectators.
"I did H." said the beautiful millincr; II
did IL to save my honor"
As may bo readily imagined, tho deed
caused intense excitement Public opin-
ion, however, was divided. The poorer
class crediting tho girls version Of the facts,
lauded her heroism in terms Of measure
less eulogy. But the friends Of tho do
ceased, and Of his wealthy family. gave a
different and darker color To the affair, and
denounced the lovely homicide as an atro-
cious criminal. Unfortunately for her,
the officers Of tho law, especially tho Judge
and the sheriff, wcro devoted comrades Of
the slain, and displayed their feelings In a
revolving partialIty. The judge commit
ted her wilhoutthe privilege OF bail, and
the sheriff chained her In tho felon's dun
geon. Such Is brief abstract Of the cir
cumstances developed in tho examination
of witnesses. Tho testimony closed, and
tho pleading began.
First OF all, threo advocates spoke In
succession for the prosecution; but neither
their names nor their arguments are worth
preserving Orators OF the blood and
thunder genius. they about equally rparti-
toned. their bowling cloqucnco betwixi
tho prisoner and her leathcr-robcd counsel.
as II In doubt which Of tho twain was
then on trial. As for tho stranger, he
seemed not to pay tho slightest attention
to his opponents, but remained motionlcss
with his forehead bowed on his hands,
like one buried In deep thought or slum.
Der.
When tho proper time came, however
he suddenly sprang TO bis feet, crossed the
bar, and took his position almost touching
the jury. IIo then commenced In a whis'
per, but II was whisper so wild, so clear
unutterably ringing aud distinct, as to al
the hall from floor to galleries. At the
outset, he dwelt in pure logic, separating
and combining the proven facts, till tho
whole mass Of confused evidence looked
transparent Ms globe OF glass, through
which the innocence Of tho client shons
brilliant as n sunbeam; and the jurors nod
dcd to each othcr signs Of thorough con
viction; that thrilling whisper. and fixed
concentration, and the language, simple Al
child's, had convinced all.
He then changed his posture. so as L
sweep the bar with his glance, and begar
to tear and rend his legal adversaries. Hi
sallow face glowed like heated furnace
his eyes resemblcd living Goals. and hi
voice became the clangor Of the trumpet
/ have never, before or since, listened 4
such murderous denunciations. II wa
like Jovo's eagle charging flock ofcrows
II was like himself, hurling rcd-hot thun
der bolts among the quaking ranks Of
conspiracy Of inferior gods. And yet il
tho highest temper Of bis fury, he seemed
calm; no employed no gesture save one
the fash Of long, bony fore-hnger, direc
in the eyes Of his foes. He painted thei
vcnality and unmanly mcanness in coales
cling for money TO hunt down a poor, friend
less woman, till shout Of stifed rag