The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-10-13


pf temptation more effective than | could
WELD. He would fail away il this evil com
panionsh,p. and for awhile his manhood was
gone. One or two abandoned women hal
gained great power over him, and upon them
he had wasted much Of his substance.
And knew that this very man who was
now upon the jury--this Moulton Warren
was the one who had done more than all 9th.
ers to lead the pnor youth away. II was
Warren who had drank with him, and wbu
had led him away 10 those abonnable hauni-
Of sin aud pnIluton. Why was he upon the
Jury? | could only account for il on the
ground that Charley still supposed him to be
HI, friend.
The trial .,mmencel. The indictment
ST forth that Charles Ambnld had, !" with
malice aforethougi. aud with all sorts ol
wicked and ieioniou, atents. set fire to a
certain dwelling house, thereby en,laagcring
b imam life. rhis dwelling. as have before
in'lmated, was los sink ot Iniqulty, where
the abandoned Of bnth sexes were won't Ia
congregate; AM where the youthful prisoner
had spent most Of his time.
| The evidence for the prosecution cane nn
land was startled. One alter another gave
in their testimony, snme Of them very relue-
family, and was frightened when saw hos
plainly il all painted to the prisoner as The
guilty party. Several creditable witnesses
swore that they hal heard him threaten II
burn the honse dawn; and others had heal,l
hun say repeatedly that he wl,hed it was
burnt dawn! Then came several witnesses
three uf them prsn,nent c,tizeas---who "a "
him lurking about the premises on the night
Of the fire.
With regard to the proyocation on the
prisoners part for such a deed. it was prov
led upon his own admission, that he had been
| i'll treated there. and that he had sworn t,
have revenge. And, Furthermore, il wa.
proved that he had been heard TO say that his
salvation Of soul and body depended upon the
destruction Of that house. Next came testi.
mony stronger still
The fire had been set in back basement
room. where shayings and other stuff for
klndling we're kept. Entrance had been
gained through a back window. which had
EN- partly pred open with strong knle.
This basement wall was Of brick, snd beneath
the sash was found the blade Of knife which
had been broken OF in trying 10 raise il (the
sash.) This blade was recognized as belong
ing to the prisoners knife Amaker Of cut
lery had made knife to mder for Ambnl,l
snly ,l A mo- month previous. and he knew the blade
But this was not all. The fire had been
evidently set first TO the shavings wl,icl, lay
upon the stone floor, but piled up against a
wooden partition.
This hoor was damp. and some Of the onter
shavings, even, were not wholly burnt up,
But Just al the edge. where the lire COM
menced. lay a piece Of paper. rolled up
and abuut half burnt. and from the manner
in which il lay. il uas yerv evident that the
fire had been set with it. The piece Of roll
ed paper had been ignited By match. a
numler Of which had been scattered around
and as suon as it WAS on fire It had been laid
upon the floor, with the burning end jus, il
the shayings. OF course thrse shaungs wer,
in blaze instantly but the paper torcn. be
ing upon the damp stones, had not burn
wholly up.
Ani this paper was found TO be . part o
letter belonging TO the prisoner! A lettel
which he had received from friend of hi
(and friend Of mine) only a week before
This friend had to come forward aHd ssea
tha, piece Of chaIred paper was piece "t
letter he had written tn the prisoner fhn
lrieul's name Was Stephen Grant. lie wa
a young merchant, and the letter had beef
written fur the purpose of inducing yann.
Ambold 10 reinr,n. Stephen tned hard 4
avoid testify Ing, fur he knew, as did others
that the fire must have been set with tia
identical paper; but he was summoned, an,
he could not deny bis nwn chifography.
4 The case Iuuked dark. Many witnesse
were willing to testify TO the prisoners gno,
qualities, but no one cnuld swear that he wa
not disapated and degraded. That hous,
had been 10 him. indeed, region internal
It's destruction cried nut Tor us bodily Lille
and us existence had long been eating ava!
Ills soul. Poor Charley! had before bee
sure OF his Innocence, but nov could Unl.
shake NV head aud pity him.
j, Finaliy he was allowed to speak Tor him
self. lie said he was innocent uf the crin
imputed uppn him. IL said that ne ha
threatened to burn the hoGse dnwn-tnat b.
had said all that had been swarm To-. An
furthermore, he was around the house on ibt
night Of the FIRE. lie was not ten rOl. n
~hrn tile flames burst firth, aud he was on
uf th- first 10 give the alarm. tie had utter
ell one cry 81 lire when he noticed where hi
flames must have originated. aud the though
came TO him il be were found there, he ngl
be suspected Of having set the lire; 80 he raI
away. lie also sad that three nights belnt,
the conilagratioa he hal been robbed 10 lhs
huus-. HIS packets hal been empiiei o
. every thing 10 them, and his pocket bD,'k con
, tainIng fotty dullars 10 money, aud some salu
able papers. had hren taken. nc had c,n
. there on the night uf the IRE TO try ainl per
saade them to give him back his money an
papers--or at least to get back what he conld
, When he got there. be saw a rnan 81 10 shar
he did not wish TO see, 80 he had huh
! around, waiting for him to depart. lie wa
! around by the back part Of the building ono
and that was an hour beiore the fire bruk
. out. He knew nothing Of it-nothing. II
{ clasped his hands. aud With his fearless eys
A tats.,I tnyartIs heaven. he called on Isrl