Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-02-26

It die; but keep up a good heart u
Q have some friends about you, and
3 have some at work who are not su
Ipected."
; "AhT' uttered Masters interrog
f lively.
''Yes, sir" returned Prentiss, wit
a smile; Il have some perfect villial
at work. One of your friends place
a thousand dollars in my hands, an
| shall pay it out to these very gan
1 iblers-that is, to such as. suit me.
: 'But the thousand dollars, sir?''
4 elias been raised by your friend.
So rest easy on that scere."
After chatting awhile on variou
topics, Plentiss took bis leave.
The court house was filled witt
eager people, Charles Masters was il
the prisoner box, and old Nash wa
upon tie Judges bench. This judge
was a stout, heavily framed man
somewhat over forty years of age
with dark, lowering face and fall
grey eyes. He looked more like
some burly landlord than Judge :
He gazed wickediy upon the priso-
ner when he entered; but his counte-
nance changed when he saw the small,
lean man come in. With the short
halting limp, and the regular tap OF
the heavy cane, Seargeant S. Prentiss
entered the room. He took his seat
Gloss to the prisoner. and then cast
his eyes over the scene.
First came the selecting of the Ju-
ry.
You may challenge whom you
will" Prentiss whispered, shut it viii
make no difference. They won't pre-
sent disinterested man here. and |
think you might as wellssaccept .he
first one that is called. They will
all be bribed--eyery one of them
do you think SOP returned Mas
ters, turning pale.
Il am sure Of it; but don't let
that trouble you"
At length twelve men were called
up, and as Prentiss ran his eye over
them be understood the game at once.
They were pror miserable fellows =
hangers on about the different gaming
houses-and the Court supposed they
would every one be challenged, and
in reserve were held the bold, reck-'
less men who were to follow. The
prisoner accepted the jury rs it was
presented. much to the astonishment
of the spectators, and ehargin Of the
court.
This arranged, the trial proceeded.
The Indictment was read, and the
prisoner plead not guilty. The pros
ecution opened the case, and then
the witnesses were called up. When
Nathaniel Knox took the stand, the
people weIe eager. He was the man
who had made his escape after Mas
LerS had hot bis two companions.--I
He swore that he and the two men
who were now dead, had met the |
prisoner the night in question, and
that they stopped him and asked
what he would give them if they
would put him in the way of clear
Ing out some ofthe gambling houses
He told them to get cut of his way i
This rather offended them, and they
told him that he had better keep cool
# he knew when be was we'll oil; and
Ihereupon he drew double barrelled
pistol and shot his two companions
dead. !
Look ye, sir" uttered Prentiss,
when be came to cross-examIne this
witness. ''Now mind that you. an
swer me truly, for if you speak one
single falsehood TO me, You do it at
your peril.
The fellow started at this, for
there was something in the fire Of
those dark. eyes of Prentiss that
Knox was not used to. But he had |
30 time for thought.
"Ncw, why were you and your
two companions concealed in that
narrow passage?"
"We want concealed"
"What! Beware, sir. Not con-
,eaIed? What do you mean by that?
Why, my good man, you are giving
The lie to all you have sad. Now
tell me whyyou went into that dark |
passage and staid there until the
prisoner came along? Tell me!'
ssWe may have turned in there,
sir, bat we want hid We Just turn-I