Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-02-20
sclctt Gale.
A SCENE IN A JURY ROOM.
A Thrilling Story.

once had the extreme felicity of leaving
my business to serve upon "Me Jury" l
plead in all manner of ways fer release, but
to no effect.
| could not swear that / was deaf, nor
blind, nor yet noa cOmpos but did tell
that had already formed an opinion. They
asked me il my opinion would prevent me
from receiving the testimony in good faith.
aud rendering verdict according to it. !
replied that of course ! should weigh the
evidence carefully, and be governed by it.
was then informed that would do"
The case to be tried was one Of arson
then capital offence the prisoner at
the bar was young man, named Charles
Ambuld, whom l had known from boy hood,
aud who. was naturally one of the finest
youths of the town where he resided. He
had a widowed mother who depended upon
him for support; and his circle OF friends was
large and choice. / was morally certain that
he did not commit the crime; and hence,
am sure, those who were friendly to him got
me on tie panel, and had me retained.
The tria! commenced, and we twelve men
tool: our seats in the jury-box. l had very
res speetuble set With me-only there was one
mut whom | didut like to see there. This
was Mouton Warren. lie was dark faced
sinister looking fellow-ut least 20 me.
knew that young Anbold had one fault. lie
had recently been addicted to drink, and had
been known to visit dsreputab!e houses. II
was one Of those houses that had been burned
for setting ERE TO which he had been appre-
hended.
Now, had often tried to persuade Charles
Ambold from the course he was pursuing
| He had repeatedly promised me that ne would
reform, aud as repeatedly had he broken
away. bad often talked TO him Of his poor
mother, until he had wept like o child; out
the effect was not lasting. There was a power
of temptation more effective than any influ
ence | could WELD. lie world fall away into
this evil companiopsbip, and for while his
manhood was gone. One or two abandoned
women had gained great power over him
aud upon them he wasted much Of his sub
stance.
And knew that this very man who wa!
now upon the Jury-this Moulton Warren
was the one who had done more than al
Others to lead the poor youth away. 1t wa
| Warren who had drank with him, and WHIT
had led him away to those abominable hannt
of sin and pollution. Why was he upon The
jury 4? / could only account for it upon Thu
ground that Charley still supposed him to b'
| his friend. The poor scorched insect wa
still ignorant Of the fame that burned him
He really believed that Moulton Warren wa
| his friend.
| The trial commenced. The Indictment Sc
! forth that Charles Ambold had. with malic,
aforethought," aud with all sorts of wicket
and feonious inteut, set fire to certain
dweling.house, thereby endangering human
life. This dwelling, us have already iutiua
ted, was low siuk Of iniquity, where thu
abandoned of both sexes were wont TO con
gregste, and where the youthful prisoner ha'
spent much OF his time.
! The evidence for the prosecution came on
and was startled One after another gav'
in their testimony. some OF them very reluc
tuntly, and | was frightened when | saw bow
plainly 1t all pointed to the prisoner as th'
guilty party Several credible witnesse
swore that they had heard him threaten Il
| burn the house down, aud others had heari
him say repeatedly that he giShed it Wa
burned down! Then came several witnesses
three of the prominent citizens-who say
him lurking abou, the premises on the nigh
OF the fire.
With regard to the proyocaton on tn
prisoners part for such d deed, IL was prove
upon his own admission that he had been IL
treated there, and he had sworn to hay
revenge. Aud furthermore, il was pIove'
that lie had been heard to say that his saliva
tion Of soul and body depended upon In
destruction Of that house. Next came NOR
testimony stronger still.
The fire had been set in a back basemen
room where shavihgs and other stuff 70
kindlng we're kept. Entrance had bee
gained through u back window. which ha
been partly pried open with stout knlf,
This basement wall was OF brick, and beDeat
the sash was found the blade Of a knife whic
had been broken off in Trying 10 raise il, tth
SASH 1t was recognized as belonging TO th
prisoners kuiie. A maker Of cutlery ha
made knife to order for Ambold only
month previous, and he knew the blade {
once, aud swore TO it.
But this was not all. The fre had bee
evidently set first 10 the shayings which Ia
upon the stone floor. but piled up against
wooden partition. This floor was damp. al
some of the outer shayngs even were n
burned up But just at the edge, where u
fire commenced. lay piece OF paper, roll,
up. aud about half burned, aud IRON u
manner in which it lay, it was very eyide
that the FIRE had been set with II, ~
, piece of rolled paper had been ignited by
, match-a number of which were scatter'
around-and us soon as it was on hire It b
been laid upon the floor with the ourni
/. end lust in the shavings. or course, the
3 shayings we're ip blaze instantly out !
paper torch beiug upon the damp ston'
had not burned wholly up.