The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-03-28

consequences. Inc passengers Ill Uno
coach swore that harsh words passed be-
tween us, and that we quarreled. With
this array of testimony and bold glaring
circumstances against me, [ was bound
over court to await my trial.
In the mean time, dilligent search was
made for the body, but it was nowhere
to be found
Spring opened, and court time drew
near. When the ice left the creek, a body
y was found few miles below the inn,
with deep stab that penetrated the
heart. No one could identify the body,
but all supposed it was the man who L
was charged with having murdered, and
so the coroner's inquest found. The
wound correspondcd in size with my
knife blade, and the physician who made
the post mortem examination believed it
was done with that weapon.
The trial came on, and those circnm-
stances were clearly proven, to them L
had no defence, except my firm denial Of
their truth, aud my protest Of innocence.
By the prosecuting attorney they were
woven into such a perfect chain of guilt,
that while 1 listened to his argument, [
found myselfguilty of murderin in the first
degree. L almost began to believe [ had
murdered the man, and was in court try
ING to thwart the ends of justice. The
theory Of the prosecution was, that 1 had
murdered the man for his money, had
conveyed the body from the house, made a
hole in the ice, and thrust it under.
The trial was over, and the jury, after
a few hours dclibcration, found nc gull
ty of murder in the first degree. 1 be-
gan to wonder then whether l WAS gull
ty or not, and whether would be SEN
fenced to be hung. 5fy neck felt pcca-
liar and frequently [ put my hand to as
certain its size. l felt as though the
whole thing was farce, Or 1 wasin a long
and fearful dream. But it row seems to
me that reason was leaving me- and |
could not properly comprehend my per-
ilous situation.
After the verdict of guilty, l WAS con-
vcycd to prison, and in two weeks brought
out for sentence. The Judge delivered a
long and impressive speech, recommending
me to the mercy of Heaven, and senten-
ced me to be hung at about two months
from that date lie was just remanding
nc to prison to await my terrible doom,
when there was rustling at the door,
and a man in the highest state Of excite
ment rushed up the bar ! looked at the
excited individual a moment, and thought
| had seen him before. ] taxed my brain.
and all OF sudden tho truth flashed on
my mind lie lgas tie murdered mar! i
sank back in in my seat, exhausted and
overcome, ana for Il few moments was in
sensible. The man still stood at the bar
pale as death, but could not say q word
There WAS commotion in the court
house. but no one could tell thc cause
Every one knew there would be terri
bic revelation, and because tainted they
attributed it to the fact that | knew thai
he would only add to my guilt. Ht
turned and looked me full in the face
without saying word; and when [ hal
properly recovered, J. rose up, and signi
fed my desire to speak. Then all wa:
still; a pin could have been heard drop
"That is the man l am charged will
having murdcred!" I said, pointing to
ward him. The court started, the lawyer
sprung to his feet and the whole audience
was in the greatest CONSERVATION.
"I am the man =" said he; !"and yol
sec I am not murdered. 1 will cxplail
the mystery rode in the coach Will
the man in the dock, on such q day; W.
stopped at certain inn; he went to bed
1 was put to sleep in the same room
During our ride in the coach, L borrowed
his knife to cut tobacco, and forgot to re
turn it. I was fleeing from some porsc
cutting relations, and in the night though
they had ovcrtalsen me, and | determined
to escape. I took his knife from my
pocket, and in cutting strap cut my
hand severely. The blood flowed;
threw the knife in my rage in the corner
1 stopped at the creek, made q hole il
the ice, to wash my hand, and that is how
the blood got there"
The landlord and passengers tcstitiet
HI l. - ,,-,. +Lo MOI, on1 r yyos released