Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-01-15

am ceau ditu SOhC W hoiA' anu iiisliulll
expired.
In the name of God who did this?' ex-
claimed the appalled, spectators.
L did it, said the beautiful milliner, TO
save my honor
As may be imagined, the deed caused
an intense excitement.
Public opinion was however divided
The poorer classes, crediting the girls ver-
sion of the facts, lauded her heroism in
terms of measureless eulogy. But the
friends of the deceased, and of his wealthy
family gave a different and darker color to
the affair, and denounced the lovely homi-
eide as an atrocious criminal. Unfortu-
nately for her, the officers of the law, es-
pecially the Judge and Sheriff, were devo-
ted friends ofthe slain, and displayed their
feeling in revolving partially. The Judge
committed her without the privilege Of
bail, and the Sheriff chained her in the fel-
ons den.
Such is brief abstract Of the circum-
stances developed in tie examination of
witnesses. The testimony closed and the
pleading began.
First ofall, three advocates spoke in sue
.cession for the prosecutions; but neither
their names or their arguments are worth
preserving. Orators Of the blood and
thunder genius; they about equally parti
toned their bowling eloquence between
the prisoner and her leather robed counsel,
as if in doubt who Of the twain were on tri-
al. AS for the stranger, he seemed not to
pay the slightest attention to his opponents,
but remained motionless, with his forehead
bowed on his hands like one buried in
deep thought
When the proper time came, however,
he suddenly sprang 10 his feet crossed the
bar, and took his position almost touching
the jury. He then commenced in whis-
per, so clear, so unutterably ringing and
distinct as to fill the hall from floor to the
galleries.
At the onset he dealt his pure logic, sep
arating and combining the proven facts, till
the whole mass of confused evidence look
ed transparent as globe of glass, through
which the innocence of his client shone
] brilliant as a sunbeam: and the Jurors nod
ded to each other signs of thorough con-
viction; that thrilling whisper, fixed con
centration, and the language, simple as a
child had convinced all.
He then changed his posture, so as tc
sweep the bar with glance, and began to
tear and rend his legal adversaries. His
sallow face glowed as a heated furnace; his
eyes resembled living Goals, and his voice
became the clangor of trumpet. l have
never befole or since, listened to such MUIR
derous denunciatiCns 1t was like Jove's
eagle charging a flock of crows, it was like
Jove himself hurting red hot thunderbolts
among the quaking ranks of inferior Gods
And yet, in the highest tempest of his fury
he seemed calm, he employed no gesture
save one--the flash ofa long bony forefnger
directly in the eyes of his foes. He paint.
ed the venality and unmanly meanness, in
coalescing for money to hunt down a poor
friendless woman till shout of stihed rage
arose from the multitude, and even some
of the jurors cried
'Shamep
4 He changed his theme once more. His
voice grew mournful, as is eyes filled with
tears, as he traced a vivid picture of mans
cruelties and woman's wrongs, with parti-
cular illustrations till one half the au-
dience weptlike children. But it was all
in the peroration that he reached his zenith,
at once of terror and sublinity. His
features were as livid as those of a
corpse; his hair appeared to stand on end,
his nerves shook as with the palsy; he toss
ed bis hands wildly towards heaven, each
finger stretched apart and quivering like
the fame of candle, as he closed with the
words of the deceased, Hiram Shorc--'Tell
my mother. that | am dead and gone to
hell!'
!. His emphasis on the word HE'LL embodi-
ed in the acme and ideal of allhorror; it was
the..wail of unmeasureable despair. No Ian
guage can depict the effect on those who
heard it. Men groaned, females screamed
land one mother tainted and was borne
away in commissions.
TIE whole speech occupied but one hour
The jury rendered the verdict of mot gull
ty,' without leaving the box, three cheers
: like the successive roars of an earthquake,
} shook the old Court House from dome tc
corner stone, testifymg the JOY Of the peo-
: pie.
After the adjournment, which occurred
near sunset, the triumphant advocate arose
and gave out an appointment: will preach
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