The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-10-29

| otloTe IUe magistrate, VINO LOOK upon MINI
self the responsibility of final jurisdic
lion in the case-the knapsack found in
the squatter's cabin, and shown to be the
property Of Mercer; the body which was
instantly recognized--and above all, the
knife found near the remains Of the muir
dered man, and identified as the property
of Sherman; all went without one mitiga
ting circumstance 10 establish the priso-
ner's guilt.
Suffice it to say, that after very brief
investigation, poor Sherman was found
guilty of murder in the first degree. Pale
as death the prisoner arose. and explain
ed to the court the circumstance of his
having given the knife to Mercer; but he
could offer no explanations regarding the
subsequent horrible tragedy, and smile
of malignant incredibly settled upon the
faces of all present. Not one in all the
multitude, save his wife and children,
believed him innocent Already the crowd
had become excited to the highest degree,
and -fercely insisted on his immediate ex
ecution. The magistrate, pcrceiving the
direction that public sympathy had taken,
and being as irresolute Of principle as he
was ignorant of the commoneSt features
of criminal jurisprudence, arose in half
bullying attitude, and coolly informed the
prisoner that he would be allowed two
hours time TO make his peace with God,
after which he would be taken to a place
provided by the sheriff, and there hung
by The neck till he was dead. Poor fel-
low! his head dropped despairingly upon
his hands, his wife and children clung
sobbing to his knees, while Simultaneous
ly arose around them wild and jubilant
shout of satisfactory triumph. The alb
solute want of sympathy and pity which
it expressed. awakened in the prisoners
soul a sudden thrill Of indignation. and
springing to his feet he shouted to the ex.
cited mob to listen And then in voice
made eloquent by despair, he proclaimed
once more his innocence, begged upon
the magistrate as ho felt his responsibility
before God to give him time-to clear up
the mystery which involved him. He
called upon the people to behold the suf-
ferings of his wife and chldren--the ago
ny. the terrible loneliness of their situa-
lion if he was to be torn from them.
There were symptoms now of a waver.
ing in the crowd; but the magistrate, en-
Irenched in his high Office, and like most
gnorant men doggedly opposed to the
dea of recalling even for moment the
fat of their judgment, remained inexors-
bic to every appeal of humanity. till
superior brute force was brought into the
.rena to conquer the supreme objection.
That power was already at hand in the
person Of Tom thinker, mammoth bee
lunter, standing six feet and ten inches
n his moccaSns, who had suddenly ell ,
bowed his may through the crowd. AS
,e approached the magistrates chair,
sherman reached out his hands eagerly
owards him, and exclaimed:
o, Hinninker, for the love of Heaven, S
ave me--saYe mel
But the bee hunter walked straight up !
o the magistrates desk without noticing
he prisoners appeal, and said, in one of a
hose great strong voices, before which /
owards instinCtively shrink away: +
Look ye here, old gentleman, wish to 4
'e civil, do, and obey law; and if Sher-
nan has killed the man, why l want to
&c him strung, ofcOurse; but | aint sat a
SIZED yet I've gottse go over the track
s far as Snyder's ant. back agan before q
can make up my mindl'
what odds does it make to u.s. cried t.
be magistrate with bullying swagger, a
whether yonlare satisfied or no& "
Look cried Hipniker, bringing e
is kogetlfef with sound re- b
= y explosion of a pistol, 1T D
his difference: Bob Sherman '
y life. and do you suppose h
here and see him hung 4