Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1858-01-20

With regard to the provocation on the
prisoners part for such deed, il was
proved upon his own admission that he
had been illtreated there, and that he had
sworn to have revenge. And furthermore,
1t was proved that he had been heard to
say that his salvation of soul and body
depended upon the destruction of that
house. And next came more testimony
stronger still.
The fire had been set in "a back base
ment room where shavings and other stuff
for kindling were kept. Entrance had
been gained by back window, which
had been partly pried open with stout
knife. The basement wall was of brick,
and beneath the sash was found the blade
OF knife which had been broken off in
trying to raise the sash. 1t was recog-
nized as belonging to the prisoners knife.
A maker of cutlery had made a knife to
order for Ambold only a month previous,
and he knew the blade at once and swore
| to it.
But this was not all, The fire had been
evidently set fire first to the shavings
which lay upon the stone floor, but piled
up against wooden partition. The door
was damp, and some of the outer shavings
even were not burned up. But just atthe
edge where the fire commenced, lay
piece Of paper, rolled up, and about half
burned, and from the manner in which it |
lay, it was very evident that the fire had !
been set with it. This piece of rolled pa
per had been iguited by match, nuns
Der of which had been scattered around,
and as soon Us it was on fire, it had been |
laid on the floor with the burning end
Just in the shavings. OF course these
sllavings were in a blaze instantly: but
the paper torch being upon the damp
stones had not burned wholly UP.
And this paper was found 10 be part
of letter belonging to The prisoner! A
letter which he had received from friend
of his land freud Of mine,) only week
beforel That friend had to come forward
and swear that piece of fcharred paper was
a part Of a letter he had written to the
prisoner. This friends name was Ste
phen Grant. lie was young merchant,
aud the letter was written for the purpose
of inducing AmboId TO REFORM Stephen
tried hard to avoid testifying, for he knew
as did Others, that the fire must have been
set with that identical paper; he was sum
moned and he could not deny his own
chirography.
The case looked dark. Many witnes-
ses were willing to testify to the prisoners
good qualities; but no one could swear
that he was not dissipated and degraded. ,
That house had heen to him indeed a re- {
gion Internal. It's destruction cried out
for his bodily life, aud its existence had
lang heen eating away his soul. Poor :
Charliel had before been sure of bis
hut now could only shake
my head and pity him.
Finally he was allowed to speak for q
limself He snid he was innocent of the a
rhine imputed TO him. He said that he r
threatened TO burn that house down-that
le said about all that had been sworn to.
And, furthermore, he was around the .
rouse on the night of the fire. He was 0
lot ten rods off when the flames burst v
orth. and he was one of the first 10 give b
he alarm. He had uttered one cry of "
ire when he noticed where the flames >
must have originated, and the thought !,
anne to him if he were found there, he 4
night be suspected of having set the fire, il
o he ran away. c.
He also said that three nights before the n
onf1agration, he had been robbed, in that
ouse. His pockets had been robbed Of = 3
verything in them, and his pocket-book = =
forty dollars iii money, and
ONE valuable papers had been taken. "
Ee had gone there on the night of the fire A
!, try and persuade them to give him back ju
is money and papers at least to get Of
ack what he could. When he got there, :.
e saw man go in whom he did not -
,ish to see, so he had hung around wait {
il for him to depart. He was around by 81
le back of the building uce-and that 50
as an hour before the fire broke out. He
new nothing nothing. He cIasped his pc
ands and with his fearless eyes raised 40 40
wards heaven, he called on God to wit :
ess that he was innocent! III
i hare told you that knew him well. / ca
new him so well, that from that momentI ed
new him to be Innocent knew his very be
lul--I knew how free and open it was en-
!, how sinfully so. knew there was no
lsehood in the story he had told us. !,
MY boy is innocent! My boy is in "
,centl'' tb,
heard the cry and saw an old woman We
ak back into the arms of male COM in
lnion, 1t was his poor old mother! Her roi
ART was nigh broken! Yet | saw that all ,,,s ~;
B had but little effect upon tile mass e't' #
spectators. The prisoners course Of bu
A;s ,as,,y, tltro,ts AGAINST fIlp -