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


Moulton Warren engaged that LAWYER
for the youthful prisoner! The govern
ment attorney made his plea. 1t was
plain, straight forward and very concu-
sive.
The judge finally gave his charge. lie
was fair and candid He reviewed the
evidence carefully, and pointed out such
as bore heavily upon the case. He told
US if there was lingering doubt in onr
minds we must give the prisoner the ben
eff of it. But | could plainly see there
was no donbt in his mind.
We-the jnry--were conducted TO our
room by an officer, and there locked up.
A silence of some minutes ensued. Moul-
ton Warren was the first to speak:
"WeIl," he said 81 s'pose there's no
need of our bein' here great while. OF
course we all know that the prisoaer must
have set fire to the house"
There was something in the manner of
that man as he said this that excited my
curloslty-l wont say it was suspicion
then-only curiosity. He spoke with
forced effort at calmness, which | at once
perceived. The more looked at him the
more | became strangely nervous and
uneasy, wondered why he should be so
anxious to be rid of the case and have
Ambold convicted. | knew that he had
frequented that evil house, aud that he
had done much towards tempting Charley
to dissipation. knew that he was in that
house on the ight on which the prisoner
was robbed, for Charley told me so when
| visited him in his cell. then asked the
unfortunate youth if he was sure that
Warren was his friend. Oh, he was sure
Of it. He should have hunted him up on !
the night of his robbery, only they had
told him Warren was goue.
BY and by the foreman proposed that we
should each take up piece of paper and !
write down our opinion and then compare
notes. | went TO my hat, which | had |
placed upon table with a number Of
others, and took out sheet of paper.
was about to turn back when the name of
the wrl'er of the letter arrested my atten-
ton. looked more closely and read
Stephen Grant.-Next | caught this
'And now, dear Charles, if not for your
own yet for your mothers sake, let me
hope you will do better
| started as though shot had struck me |
held in my hat the other half of the sheet which
had been used to fire the burned house!
went to the table and found that had taken il
from Mouhon Warren's bat! looked 10 see
It had been o6serVtd--and had not. put
I,.t - a. I. q
1wn hat which was of the same pattern as The
,tter and placed it by my side.
returned to the table and set down. Wars
en- was BY my side He had written his opin>
on, and took knife from his pocket to cut it
rom the large sheet.
'Let me take your knife moment if you :
please" remarked to him.
Without hesitation he did so. took it--i !,
ras Charles Ambold's knife-he large blade
vGs gone! With all the power | possessed
eslfalned my deep emotions, and having cut I
ny paper, handed back the knife. I
Why should he have the knife SO boldly !;
bout! | learned afterwards He had not
,orn those panlaloons before since the night
[ the fire: and now he used the knife probably {
,iIhout The least remembrance of The loss it
ad sustained, during very peculiar piece of +
=
ubservient.
We talked for some ten minutes, and found y
lat eleven of the jury were bent on rendering a
verdict of guilty; though most of them were |
] favor Of recommending the prisoner to mer-
y. MouIlon Warren was decided. He had no
leFcy at ALL
Presently started up and pretended to be
lint | kicked at the door and the Deputy +
hcriff came He heard my plea and lei ME 5
ut. As soon as we had gained safe distance 4
told him all. He was astonished. ! told him :,
hat had seen-that it wasno more suspicion. =
nd explained, too, Warren's behaviotin in the a
ry room, his former connection with the priss a
1er, and his known character. F
The officers went away, and at the end Of Il
N minutes, they returned with constable /
lded to their number, and this constable had
freshly written instrument in his hand. The
herif bade me point ont the hat to them as d
'on as we entered the room. fe
The door of the room vas opened. and | a
,inted them to the hat. The Sheriff took ii :
ID asked whose hat it was. Warren eaped
his feet and seized it, but was held back. O
Word was instantly sent TO the judge that ST
e jury could not agree They were dis n
arged, and then Moulton WarreHWas search
|. The knife was found upon him, and his
hayior at once exposed bis guilt. The press =
ce of that letter was accounted for by him in nj
iozen different ways within an hour. n
A new jury waa empanelIed, and Charles cl
nbold was acquitted. Shortly afterwards. !,
arren was tried, and it was plainly proved
At be had set FIRE to the house and that the al
,man who kept il was TO have been burned W
it, as he had eontriyed 10 lock her into her dl
om shortly after setting the fire, She had in
:urred his displeasure in various ways, and i
$ was his revenge. Not only she, but two - =
her girls had suspected bin from the first. 10
/ they dared not complain, forfear be would m
. ~ and uto51id Ihan hE s9fra IA 4c.