The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-20
A SCENE IN A JURY ROOM.
4 THRILLING STORY.


that l was deaf, nor blind, nor non COM
formed an opinion. They asked me If
my opinion would prevent me from 10
ceiving the testimony in good faith, and
rendering a verdict according to it. l
replied that of course I should weigh
the evidence carefully, and be governed
by it. | was then informed that
would do"
The case to be tried was one of arson
then capital offence-and the prisoner
at the bar was q young man named
Charles Ambold, whom l had known
from childhood, and who was naturally
one o, the finest youths in the town
where he resided. He had widowed
mother, who depended upon him for
support; and his circle of friends was
large and choice 1t was morally certain
that he did not commit the crime, and
hence, ana sure, those who were friendly
TO him got me upon the panel, and had
me retained.
The trial commenced, and we twelve
men took our seats in the jury box. |
had very respectable set with me-only
there was one man whom I didn't like
to see there. This man was Moulton
Warren. He was dark faced, sinister
looking fellow-at least to me- l knew
that young Ambold had one fault. He
had recently been addicted to drink, and
had been known to visit disreputable
houses.
1t was one of those houses that had
been burnt, for setting fire to which he
had been apprehended.
Now l had often persuaded Charles
Ambold from the course he was pursuing.
He had repeatedly promised me that he
would reform, and as repeatedly he had
broken away. l had often talked to
him of his poor mother, until he wcpt
like child; but the effect was not last
ing There was power of temptation
more effective than could WELD. He
would fall away i'll his civil companions
ship, and for awhile his manhood was
gone. One or two abandoned women
had 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 one who had done more |
than all others to lead the poor youth !
away. 1t was Warren who had drank
with him, and who had led him away to
those abOminable haunts of sin and pol
linton. Why was he one Of the juryi
could only account forit on the ground
that Charley still supposed him to be his
TREND. The poor scOrched insect was
still ignorant of the flame that scorched
him He really believed that Moulton
Warren was his friend
The trial commenced The Indictment |
set forth that Charles Ambold had, with
malice aforethought," and with all sorts
of wicked and felonious intents. set fire
to certain Westinghouse, thereby en-.
human life. This 1wel(;p-
as | have before intimated. ~-,s Z,
sink of iniQuity, wheY- as low
of both sexes wsr- the ~pa' ldoned
and wher~ -. wont IL cor .gregate;
sr"- the youthful pris oner had
III most of his time.
"'rho evidence for the prose cutiOn came
49,, and was starMed. One after another
,ars in their testimony, Some of them
,.srv reluctantly, and l was frightened
chen | saw how plainly it all pointed to
tbe prisoner as the guilty party. Sew
oral credible witnesses swOre that they
had heard him threaten to burn the
Lnnsc down: aud others had heard him
COW reluctantly that he acished it was
hnrned down! Then came several wit
nesscs-three of them prominent citizens
who saw him lurking about the prem
ises on the night of the fire.
With regard to the prOvocation on the
prisoners part for such deed, it was
moved upon his own admission, that he
had been illtreated there, and that he
had sworn to have revenge. And furth-
ermore it was proved that he had been
heard to say that his salvation of soul
and body depended upon the destruction
of that house. Next came testimony
stronger still.
The fire had been set in back base
rnent room, where shavings and other
stuff for kindliDg were kept. Entrance
had been gained through back window,
which had been partly pried open with a
stout knife. This basement wall was of
brick, and beneath the sash was found
the blade of knife which had been
broken off in trying to raise ii (the sash. }
This blade was recognized as belonging
TO the prisoners knife. maker of cut
lery had made knife to order for AM
bold only a month previous, and he knew
the blade and swore it.
But this was not all. The fire had
been evidently set first to the shavings
which lay upon the stone floor, but piled
up against a wooden partition.
This floor was damp, and some of the
outer shavlngs, even, were not wholly
burnt'up But just at the edge, where
the fire commenced, lay piece of paper,
rolled up, and about half burnt and from
the manner i'll which it lay, il was very
evident that the fire had been set with it
The piece of rolled paper had been ig-
nited with q match, a number of which
were scattered around, and as soon as it
was on fire it had been laid upon the
floor, with the burning end Just in the
shavings. OF course these shavings were
in blaze Instantly; but the paper torch,
being npor the damp stones, had not
burnt wholly up. s.
And this paper was found to be part
Of letter belonging to the prisoner A
letter which he had received from a
friend Of his (and friend of mine) only
week before! This friend had to come
forward and swear that piece Of charred
paper was Q piece Of q letter hs had