The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-09

EARLY, SIR, answered he IN somewhat
grnmbling tone eyes, it is carly, sir, and
| have been waiting here for you this two
hours or more"
Waiting for me, my friend-how so 2
"Yes. sir, have; for they seemed SC
very anxious that you should not be kept
waiting; they have been down from the
farm twice this blessed night, telling III,
that you would want to cross the ferry
I very early this morning."
answered the man not word, and
getting into his boat, was quickly put
across the water. AS walked rapidly ~
towards the town, | endeavored to per
suade myself that somebody was endea'
voring to play silly hoax upon me. Al
last, stopping at gate through which
had to pnss, | determined upon proceed
ing no further. As turned to rctracc my
steps, suddenly the same slivering scnsa
ton passed over mc-I can only describe
it as a'cold damp blast of air meeting me
in the face, and then, stealing round and
behind me, envcloping me in its icy folds
distinctly heard the words, "Gcorgc
George" uttered in my very car, in Il
somewhat plaintivc and most cntrcating
tone.
shuddered with craven fear, and
turning hastily round hurried on towards
the town.
y few minutes walking brought me into
the markct-placc. 1t was evidently mar.
ket day, for in spite OF the carly hour there
was already q considerable hustle going
on. Shops were being opened, aud the
country people exposing their butter,
poultry aud eggs, for sale, and for about
two hours | wandered amongst the busy
and constantly increasing crowd, listening
to every scrap Of conversation that reach.
cd my ear, and vainly cadcavoring to con.
meet them with the strange summons that
had reused me from my bed, and led me,
noItHs roIcnS, TO the town.
could hear nothing that interested mC
in any way, and feeling tired and hungry,
decided on brcakiasting at the inn, which
overlooked the market place, and then Ia.
king myself back to the cottage, in spite
Of the mysterious voice.
The cheerful and nuisy hustle Of the
market had indeed partly dSsipated the
morbid turn which my fancy had taken.
After had blcaklasted lit my cigar,
aud strOllcd into the bar, where ! talked
for ten minutes with the landlord without
Calculating anything Of greater moment
than that it was his (the landlOrd'S) opin.
ion that things were bad-oh, very; that
Squire Thornbury was going TO give a
great ball ON the occasion Of his daughters
approaching marriage and that Mr.. Wcs
tons OK was certain to carry off the prizI
at the next Agricultural Meeting.
badc him good morning, aud turned
my steps homeward. was checked on
my way down High Street by II consider.
able crowd, and upon inquilihg what was
the matter, was informed that ASSizrS were
being held, and that an interesting muir
der case" was going on. My curiosity wa,
reused, | turned into the court house, and
meeting an acquaintance who fortunately
happened to bc II man in authority, was
Introduced into the court, and accommo
dated with seat.
The prisoner at the bar, who was ac
cused Of robbing and numbering pooi
country girl, was man Of low slight sta
ture, with II coarse brutal cast Of features
rendered peculiarly striking by their sin
gular sinister expression.
AS his small bright eyes wandered fur
lively round the court they met mine, ant
for an instant rested upon me. ] shranl
involuntarily from his gaze, as woult
from that of some loathSOmc reptile, ant
kept my eyes steadily avcrted from hin
till the end Of the trial, which had beel
nearly concluded the previous eveniFf. =
The evidence as summed up by the Judge
was principally circumstantial, though ap
parcntly overwhelming in its nature. II
spite of his counsel's really excellent dc
fence, the jury, unhcsitatingly, found hin
guilty"
The judge, before passing sentence
asked the prisoner, as usual, If he hat
anything further to urge why sentence .
death should not be passed upon him.
The unfortunate man, in an eager, cX
cited manner, emphatically denied hi
guilt,-declared that he was an honest
hard working, travelling glazier-that h
was at Bristol, many miles from the seen
of murder on the day ot its commission
and that he knew no more about 1t thai
a babe unborn. When asked why he ha,
not brought forward this line of defenc
during the trial, he declared that he ha
wished it, but, that the gentleman VIII
had conducted his defence had refused
do so.
His counsel, in few words Of explana
ton, stated that, although he had ever
reason to believe the story told by til
prisoner, he had been forced to conlinc hi
endravors in his behalf to breaking dow
the circumstantial evidence for the pros,
cution--that most minute and searchin
inquiries had been made at Bristol, bu
that from the short time the prisoner la
passed in that town (Some three or fou
hours), and from the heightened pcrio
which had elapsed since the murder, h
had been unable to find witnesses VIII
could satisfactorily have proved an alb
and had therefore been forced to rely upo
the weakness Of the evidence produced b
, the prosecution. Sentence of death wa
passed upon the prisoner, who was remoN
cd from the bar loudly and persistent
declaring his innocence.
left the court painfully impressed wit
the conviction that he was innocent. I'll
passionate CarncstncSs with which he In
, pleaded his cause, the fearless, haught
, expression that crossed his ill.omencd f.;
lures, when, finding his assertions cntirel
valueless, he exclaimed with an impress
ton, "Well, then, do your worst, but
am innocent. lnever saw the poor girl
my life, much less murdered her" cause
the whole court, at least the unproicssioI
, al part Of it, to feel that there was son
! doubt about the case, and that circumstal
a tial evidence, however strong, should rar
ly be permitted to carry verdict
guilty" am sure that the ferven
; though unsupported assertions made b
|, tho prisoner, affected the jury fur mo-
than tho tlorid defence made for him |
, his counsel.
: The painful scene that had just wi
q messed entirely put the events of the NOR
. ing out Of my head, and walked hon
\ with my thoughts fully occupied with Il
4 trial.
y The earnest protcstation Of the unfCrt