Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-11-22


of the court, by stern order of "silence,
could scarcely repress from swelling into
deafening cheer. The judge turned to
the prisoner and said
"Emilie Glyden, the court has been in
formed that your counsel are sick and
absent. Do you wish to employ any 9th
err"
She answered in voice as sweet as the
nightingale, and clear as the song of the
skylark
"My enemies seem to have bribed all
the lawyers; but God will be both coun-
sci and defence for the innocent"
At this response, SO touching in its
simple pathos, portion of the audience
murmured their appreciation, and some
wept. At the same moment the stranger
from whom attention had been diverted
by the entrance of the fair prisoner, arose
to his feet. AS he did so, there was a sti
fed shrek from the dock, and the one on
trial seemed for a m oment about to faint,
but he who had caused her unaccount table
emotion, even without glancing at her,
addressed the court in clear, ringing
voice, sonorous and manly:
"May it please your honor, l will as
sume the task of defending this case"
"Wbatl" exclaimed the judge, "are you
licensed Attorney"
"The question is prevalent and imme-
terial;' replied the stranger, with a sneer,
"since by the recent statute any person
may act as counsel at the request of a
party"
"But does the prisoner request it2" in
quired the judge.
"Let her speak for herself," be an
swered.
81 do was the answer, as loud drawn
sigh escaped that seemed to reud her heart
strings.
The trial was then commenced. The
man Pedro was FIRST examined, and sworo
to long tissue of falsehood with q very
slight coloring of truth. This was fol-
lowed by the evidence of those who heard
the report Of the revolver and witnessed
the terrible scene. The evidence for the
prosecution was closed, and as the defence
had none TO offer. the pleading began.
Three advocates spoke in succession for
the government, but their arguments are
not worth recording. Assuming at once
the guilt and malice prepense of the pris-
oner, they about equally divided their
bowling eloquence between her and her
counsel, as if in doubt as to which Of them
was on trial.
AS for the stranger, he seemed not to
pay the slightest attention to his oppo-
nents, but remained mOtionless, with his
forehead bowed in his hands, like ono in
deep thought or slumber.
When the counsel for the prosecution
closed, however, he sprsng to his feet, and,
crossing the bar, took position almost
touching the jury. he then ommenced
in low voice, almost whisper, but it was
a whisper so wild and clear, so ringing and
distinct, as to fill the hall from floor to
ceiling. At the outset, he dealt in pure
logic, separating and combining the whole
mass of evidence from deceptive and in
tangible conclusions to clear and obvious
proof, through which natures great law of
self defence, the want of malice, and the
justification Of the act, shone with the
clearness of an oriental sun. But when
he came to speak of the letter, which EN-
ilie had written and addressed TO another,
being opened and detained by the duelist,
and the inference TO be drawn therefrom,
jurors nodded to each other signs Of thor.
ough conviction.
Changing his position so as to sweep the
bar at glance, ne began to examine the
arguments of his sdversaries. His face
glowed like heated furnace his ewes re :
ssmbled living Goals, and his voice rang
like clarion.
Seldom, indeed never, had they listened
to such fierce denunciations. 1t was like
an eagle charging flock Of crow s; like
Jove hurting rcd-hot thunderbolts among
the quaking ranks of conspiracy of in .,
feriOr gods. And yet, in the whirlwind Of
his fury he seemed calm, employing no
gesture save the movement of his bony
fore6nger, objected at his antagonists. He
pictured their venalily and unmanliness in
coalescing for gold to hunt down friend
less orphan girl, until a shout of stihed
rage arose from the multitude.
Once more he changed his theme, and
his voice grew mournful as funeral song,
and his eyes filled with tears, as he traced
Il vivid picture of mans cruelty and wo-
mans wrongs, with special illustration in
the case Of his client, until one-half the
audience wept like children.
But it was in peroration that he reached
the elimination at once of terror and sub.
Unity. With features as lived as those OF
a corpse, hair waving back, as if in hor.
ror, nerves shaking as with a palsy-he
lifted his hands wildly towards the heav-
ems, and with each extended finger quiv-
ering like an aspen leaf, he closed with the
last words of the duelist
"Ralph Ruritan foiled by a womanl No
nor by the fiends of hell |"
His emphasis upon the last four words
seemed the embodied ideal Of all horror
it was wall of unreasonable despair.
Its effects on those Who heard it would
be impossible to describe. Men groaned
women screamed, and one poor woman was
borne out in oonvulsions, The strange
counsel took his scat, having spoken one