Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-06-11

est touch, Detokened recent frlgnt.
On re-entering the house found the
stranger was no. there. His absence ex-
cited no surprise, he would doubtless
soon return. 1t was a little singular,
however, that he should have left his
watch lying on the table.
At the end of half an hour, my guest
not returning, / went again to the stable,
thinking he might have found his way
thither to give personal attention to the
wants of his horse.
Before going out, from mere force of
habit-for we were as yet uninfested by
thieves or policemen took the precau-
tion of putting the strangers watch in
the drawer with my own valuables.
found the horse as / had left him,
and gave him the food which he was now
sufficiently cooled to be allowed to eat,
but his master was nowhere to be seen.
As l approached the house, crowd of
men on horseback dashed up, and I was
commanded, in no gentle tones to stand
in another moment was in the clutches
of those who claimed me as their prisoner.
was too much stupeied at first to ask
what it all meant, | did so at last, and
the explanation came, it was terrible!
My friend, wiah whom had so lately
set out in company, had been murdered
and robbed near the spot at which l, but
/ alone knew we had separated. / was
the last person known to be with him,
and was now arrested on suspicion of
his murder.
A search of the premises was immedi-
ately instituted. The watch was found
in the drawer in which l had placed it
and was identified as the property of the
murdered man. His horse, too, was
found in my stable, for the animal | had
Just put there was none other. ! recog-
nized him myself when | saw him in the
light.
What l said, l know not. My confu-
sion was taken as additional evidence.
And when at length did command Ian
guage to give an Ineligible statement,
it was received with sneers of incredulity.
The mob spirit is inherent in man-at
least in crowds of men. 1t may not al.
ways manifest itself with linching char
acter. But whatever its form, it is al
ways relentless, pitiless, cruel.
AS the proofs of my guilt, one aftcl
another, came to light, low mutterings
gradually grew into clamor for ven
geance and but for the firmness of one
man-the officer who had me in charge
/ would doubtless have paid the penalty
, of my supposed guilt on the spot.
1t was not sympathy for me that actu
ated my protector. His heart was a
hard as his Office, but he represented thu
majesty of the law, and took sort o
grim pride in the position.
= As much under the glance of his eye
u as before the muzzle Of his pistol, tn
. cowardly clamorers drew back. Perhap
IS they were not sufficiently numerous t
q feel the full effect of that mysterious re
- fex influence which makes crowd G
men SO much worse, and at times so muc
- better, than any one of thom singly.
d AT the end of some months my tria
II came. 1t could have but one result. Gil
II cumstances too plainly declared my gull
'e l alone knew they had lied.
The absence of the jury was very brie
g To their verdict l paid but little hee(
l 1t was single hideous word, but ha
y long anticipated it and it made no in
lie preston.
rs As little impression was made by ii
'y words of the judge which followed ii
and his solmn invocation that God migf
x have that mercy upon me which ma
ge was to Just to vouchsafe, sounded like I'll
r. hollowest of hollow moekeries.
le- 1t may be hard for the condemne
mt criminal to meet death it is still hard
ch for him who is innocent. The one, whe
1t the first shock is over, aequiesces in h
doom, and gives himself to repentance
i'm the heart of the other, filled with rebe
lal lion against mans injustice, can scar
w. bring itself to ask pardon of God.
re had gradually overcome this feelin
VI in spite of the good clergyman's irrita
ing efforts, which were mainly direct'
nut towards extracting confession, witho
ny which, he assured me, he had no hope
ed offer.
: a On the morning of the day fixed f
Id my execution, l felt measurably resigne
W. / had SO long stood face to face wi
death, had so accustomed myself to loo
not upon it as merely momentary pan
Try that no longer felt solicitous save tn
J to my memory should one day be vindica
ard ed.
She for whom l had gone to prepare
the home had already found one in heave
ons The tidings of my calamity had brok