The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-20
An Unexpected Witness.

and learned that the circlit court was in ses
sion there. At the suppr table found th
judge and some half-dozen lawyers besides til
county officers and numerous visitors who ha
come to attend the trials. L had some busi
ness to transact with mefchant of that place
whose name was Landor Wallace, and | mad
up my mind to call upon aim during the eve
ming. [ knew where his sore was, and afte
tea walked down to- the pllee. The buildin.
was however all fast, and turned my step
towards his dwelling. | Knocked at the door
and my summons was answered by blacl
woman I asked her if Ir Wallace was a
home. She look into face few moments
and then burst into tears. s~.r. " -t>
Hes to hum, but he'sldead," she sobbee
with much effort. t,.z. r-.4... ......s
managed to learn fron the Enegroes tina
Mr.. Wallace had been Murdered three day.
before, and that his murdaer would be triet
on tomorrow. Under slch circumstances
could not disturb any cher member of the
family, and having learnd from the slave the
leading particulars, [ left the door and return
ed to the inn. There leaned some further
matters touching the murdel but those who
understood the subject were busy, and I was
knowledge of the case.
Though the murder had ben committed sc
recently, the body having no yet been buried
yet as the court was in sessbn,, and the accus-
ed and witnesses on hand, tie trial was to take
place Immediately. --.
On the following morning entered the court
house with the crowd, and he first case which
came was that of the murdr of Landor Wal
lace. The accused was a yung man, not over
five and twenty, named EDWARD Demartin.-
He had been employed seeral years as Wal
lace's chief clerk and was)ne of the most ca
pable youth in the country. | had some deal
ings with him; and had Termed to love and
respect him. He was lighly built with ma
tive pride, which, while it gave him frmness
and dignity, never made hismanner naughty
or overbearing. He was anorphan, of French
descent,sa had been bor1 and bred in New
Orleans. AS he sat in the prisoners box I
could see him plainly. Hewas very pale and
seemed to be suffering muc; yet he did not
look like a guilty man. l Loud not believe
he had ever committed a mtrder. He was too
brave and honorable for tht.
Atlength the trial commenced. The wit
nesses came on and gave heir testimony, and
my heart sank within me as [ found how
strongly the tide of circumstances sat against
him. 1t was proved he Wished to marry with
WalIace's niece, yourg girl named Isabel
Wallace, and that the ucle objected. From
this quarrel had ensuet, and the youth left
Wallace's service. 1t WIS proved furthermore
that Demartin had chalhnged Wallace to fight
duel, and that the mechant had refused on
the ground that he coul not consent to meet
one whom he still continued to look upon in
the light Of son. Then it was proved that
the youth was very wroth at this, and that he
swore Mr.. Wallace should either fight or suffer
the conse quences. He was determined to
have satisfaction.
On the morningo of he murder the merchant
started on horseback or DatonvIe, and in
half an hour afterwards the prisoner mounted
his horse and started aier him, saying as he
eaped into the saddle, bat he would easily
oyertake Mr.. Wallace And then he added
in the presence of three Witnesses, who swore
to the words-''l can settle our trouble as well
on the road to Datonville as any where!''-
This was at six O'Clock in he evening. At mine
O'Clock, a man named Dunk Harold was COM
ing from Datonville andtin small piece of
woods through which the road ran, he came
upon the body of Landon Wallace, and at The
same time he saw Edward Demartin riding
away from the spot The moon was shining
brig ghtly and he recognised the prisoner very
plainly. He leaped fromthe saddle, and found
the merchant senseless, and bleeding freely
from several deep woun6. Close by he found
silver handled bowie knife, which had been
proved to be the prlsner's property. The
knife was covered with Hood, and the pRys-
clans had decided that tie wounds had been
done with it. The murdered man had also re-
ceived a blow upon the had which was nearly
sufficient to kill.
This Dunk Harold ws a hard looking Gus
toner. He was stout, Iroad shouIdered man
somewhere about forty yars of age, with dark
coarse animal features, aid looked the perfect
villain. In defence was proved that Harold
had some difficulty withthe prisoner, and that
he had sworn to have revenge, but this
amounted to but little.
Surely the case seemel very clear against
the prisoner. He had /. difficulty with the
murdered man, challenged him to mortal com
bat-sworn to have rev0ge-tollowed him to
Datonville with the avowtd purpose Of settling
the trouble-been seen t, flee from the bleed
ing body-his knife found all bloody by the
mans side-aad, when he was ap-
his own hands and clothes were
despatched with blood. Were not these cir
cumstances conclusive? At all events, SO they
were generally received, -...-..
At length Edward Demartln was permitted
to tell his story. He arose, and although he
was plale 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
that on the afternoon before the murder he had
spent over. two hours with Mr.. Wallace; and
that all their difficulties had been settled, and
that the merchant had explained to, him that
his only objection to the marriage of Isabel
had been the fact that he had promised her fa-
ther 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 Demartln, 'tand Mr.. Wallace
asked me if | would come back into his service.
He said if | had beer willing to have asked
he reason of his refusal of Isabel's hand he
would have given it, but | was hot and impet-
lous, and he was a little nettled by it, SO he
.esolved to tell me nothing. He had just ask
ID me if | would come back into his service,
v hen some one entered the store who wished
Q see him. | told him that | had planned to
20 to Datonyille that evening, but would call
IN him when l returned. He said be had to