Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-02-06


the evidence careful. "o su,etic's ny Ii;
| was then informed that would do.
The case to be tried was one of nrson--tl en-
u capital offence, and the prisoner at the bar
was !; Young man, named Charles Amhuld,
whom had known from boyhoUr, and VIII"
was naturally one the finest youths of the
town where he resided. He had Il Widowed
mother who dcprn'ed upon him for support /;
ard his circl" ofir;ends WAS la'ge and choice
was morally certain that he did nnt commit
tie crime, and hence. AIN sure, those who
were friendly to him got me on the panncl,
and had me retained.
The trial commenced and we twelve men
took our seats in the jury box. hud a very
respectable set with me-on!y there was one
man whom ] didn't like to see there. This
man was Moulton Warren. He was II dark
faced, sinister 10 king felow-at least 10 me.
knew that young Ambold had one fault.
He had recently been addicted to drink. and
had been known to visit lisreputaLle houses. Il
is one of those houses that had Eeen burn"'
for setting 20 which he had been apprehen
Now had often tried TO dissuade Char.cs
Ambold from the course he was pursuing.
He hal repeatedly y promised me that he would
reform, and ns repeatedly had he broken away.
l had often talked to him Of his poor mother.
until he had wept like child: but the effect
was not lasting. There was power OF temp.
tation more effective than any influence
could wicld. He would fall away into his evil
compauionshir, and for Il while lis manhood
was gone. One or two abandoned women had
gaired great power over him, and upon them
he had wasted much of his substance.
And ! knew that this very man who was
now upon tile jury-,hls Moult II Warren
wus the one who lad done more than all theoth.
ers to lead the POOR youth AWAY. 1t was War.
rem who had drank with him, and who had
led him away to those most abomnable haunts
of sin and pollation. Why was he upon the
jury? | could only account for it upon the
ground hat Charley still supposed him to BE-
his friend. The poor scorched insect was still
ignorant Of the flame that scorched him. Tic
really believed that Moulton Warren was his
friend
The trial commenced The Indictment set
forth that Charles Ambold had, with malice
afurethougnt,' and with all sorts of wicked and
fciunious inlents, set fire to a certain dwelling
house, thereby endangering human life. This
dwelling as have already ntimated, was a
low sink of iniquty, where the abandoned oI
both sexes were wont to eongregate; and
where the youthful prisoner had spent much
of bis time.
The evidence for the prosecution came on,
sud | was startled. One after another gave III
their testimony, some Of them very reluctant
", aud was frightened when saw how plain
" il all pointed to the prisoner as the guilty
party. Several credible witnesses swure that
they had heard him threaten to burn the house
down: and others had heard him say that he
wished it was burned down Then came sev
eral witneSseS--thrce Of the prominent citi
zens-who saw him lurking about the premi
scs on the nskt Of the fire.
With regard TO the proyocation on the pris
oners part for such u deed it was proved, up
on his own admission, that he had been III
treated there, and that lie had sworn to have
revenge. And furthermore, it was provct
that he had been heard to say that his saliva
ton of soul and body depended upon the de
struction Of that house. Next came more tes
timony stronger still.
The FIRE had been set in back basement
room, where shavings and other stuff for kind
ling we're kept. Entrance had been gainec
through back window, which had been part
ly pried open with stout knife. This base
ment wall was of brick, and beneath the sasl
was found the blade of knife which had becr
broken of in trying to raise it, the sash. \
The blade was recognised as belonging to tn
prisoners knife. a maker Of cutlery had mad
knife to order for Amboll ouly month pre-
vous, and he knew the blade at once, an
| swore to it.
But this was not ali. The fire had eviden