Southern shield., 1857-01-24

| taVOrGDle lIHprGSSlCn on the lufN'
 could not see Randall He kept his face down.
 The colored man, JohnFon, was looking around him on the courtroom with wonder ment.
 He had now anticipated this day for months, and had supposed that to others 1t would have some of the sOlemnity 1t possess ed for him. He could not understand this strange callousness to his fate. Was that comfortable-loo man, who was 50 keen- l ly enjoying the passing joke, the judge who was to administer life or death to him? Was that the bar at which he waste stand, and from which he was to % to he bar of God l if the iurv should find hin }su Were 1 these men who were scattered around the room, talking, laughing, idling the golden moments of life, the men to inq7irc into his worthinesS to live yet longer in this sun- shine, and breathe, and move, and act as Q man on earth? This, certainly, was not what he had expected when the great ques- tion of life and death was to be decided. 1 At length the Judge went up to his seat. The county judge dropped his feet to the floor, and another associate, shock headed man of small mental caibre, as his bullet | ! ing judge and sat down to dOze by his side. The crier opened the court with his absurd "Oh ycs," and the jurors answered to their names. The preliminaries were all finished, and the court announced that no civil busi- ness would be taken up until the calendar of criminal causes was disposed of. But no one left the courtroom, which was now ] denselv crowded by the sudden influx of out siders, to whom the opening of court had been announced, for a murder trial was novelty in the county, and hundreds had i focked into the town to attend ol 1t. ! And now for the first time l lOoked with some degree of attention at tho prisoner ! Randall, who was charged with his terrible 0fense He was a young man. He might have been twenty-five or seven. His com l pleXion was exceedingly clear; his eyes were black and piercing. His air was calm and somewhat strange. He was vell-formed withal, and the impression which his ap- pearance created was far from unfavorablc. He had broad and well-buiit shoulders. @ i frmly-knit ani compact frame, a graceful waist, an upright carriage, and in general the beau ideaI of a romantic murderer. | His dress was of the toughest and most l with his face that you were startled. Doubt l less his own clothing had been taken from 1 him; perhaps to be used in evidence against him. Certainly that man was not used to wear that style of dress. He WAS not that i sort of person.
 l When the indictment was read, and he was called on to plead to it, hc answered ] E'Not guilty" in firm, clear volce. lean- ed forward to him with an involuntary feel t ing of sympathy that l coGld not restrain. ! "Have you counsel:o ed the Judge.
 ssT aaTc -.os-c',
 '.Why have yoE not employad any?'' l He looked up at the Jadgamith a sort of half-comical, half-sneering smile. and with out replying, glanced down at his clothing and back at the bench. l sat so close to 1 him that could see a smile, somewhat bit- ter, gradually coming over his face, and at length he spoke:
 Glad the authorities permitted me to re- tain'my own property, possibly knight have 1 seen fit to pay some one to see that was condemned in due form of law. 1 wish no counsel"
 "Are you a lawyer?''
 The question fell from the Judges lips as if involuntarily. Clearly he suspected, as did, that the man was more than he seemed.
 E'I am not"
 ''Tt is my duty to urge you take advice, and do so most sincerely. The court will i assign counsel to you if you are unable to 1 pay for it yourself"
 Fl have said that do not wish it." 1 The mans strange manner attracted my i interest more and more. There was a sort of determination about him that led me to think he was some one in a desperate humor, resolved on taking the chances of life or | death, with something of preference for l the more terrible fate had seen such ca ! ses before. It was not uncommon to find men thus reckless at the very moment when most of all they needed deiboration and i cool judgment.
 It was not that he sought fclon's doom. l It was not that he wished to die. Possibly l the near prospect of death would have ap- palled him. His plea of not guilty showed that he was no suicide.
 It was only that for some reason he was for the time utterly careless for the future, and was willing to stake his life on the toss of copper, or the decision of Q petit jury,
 
 ''Haye you TO friends?"
 There was a flash of light across his cOuntenance, and then gloom fell on 1t that was absolutely appalling in it's utter despair.
 q do not know that that concerns the matter now in hand.
 could stand it no longer, and while the Judge consulted moment with his associ- ates, spoke to the prisoner.
 "Wll you permit me to advise you, Sir?"
 "Do you ask as q lawyer, Sir?''
 GAS a lawyer or friend, whichever you i please.'
 ''I must decline your kindness, Sir.''
 FT appreciate your idea, but in this case you must forego it. The court will appoint some one to take care of your interests.- Is it not better to accept my offer than the tender mercies of the court, who will con- sider it's duty done by handing you over to some young attorney, who will make you ridiculous by his ignorance. Think quick, or shall be superseded. Come, man, 1 speak as a gentleman to gentleman. You cannot refuse me. will at least save you from the annoyance of a plea of insanity, or any other whim of hoy"
 A momentary hesitation gave place to a free assent, and he accepted my profier.- Stating to the court my intention to appear for the prisoner, Irequested few moments indulgence for conversation with him.
 l led him from the box to side window,