Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-08-27

uuuStHey morse pa'A icftShlD, and gave
him the food which he was now sufficiently
cooled to take, but his master waB nowhere to
be seen. R3h p ~
Gas / approached the house q crowd Of
men on horseback dashedlup, ahd'I was com.
mapded, in no gentle tones, to "standP'' In
another moment I was in the clutches of
those who claimed inc as their prisoner"
~ was too much stupefed at first t. nsk
what it all meant. I did SO at last, and the
explanation oamo, it was terrible.
SHY friend, with whom l had SO lately set
out in company, had been found murdered
and robbed near tho spot OF which I, but I
alone, knew we had separated. I was tho
last person known to be with him, andaT was
now arrested on suspicion of his murder.
"a search of the premises was Immediately
instituted. Tho watch was found in the
drawer in which I placed it and was identified
as the property Of the murdered man. His
horse, too, was found iddSeay stable for tho au.
imal I had just put there was mono other. I
recognized him myself when I saw him III She
light.
"What ! said, ] know not. My confusion
was taken as additional evidenS}}5e And when
at length | did command Language to give
an Ineligible statement, it was received with
sneers Of ~incredulity.
"Thc mob spirit is inherent in man-at
Toast in crowds Of mcu. II may not always
manifest itself in physical violence. It some.
times contents itself with lynching o char
actcr. But whatever its form, it is always
relentless, pitilcss, cruel.
"As the proofs Of my guilt, ono after an
other came to light; low muttcrings gradual.
ly grew into q olamor for Vengeance and
but for the frmncss of ono man-thc officer
who had me in charge, I would doubtless
have paid the penalty of my supposed offence
on the spot.
"It was not sympathy for mo that actuatcd
my protector. His heart was as hard as his
office; but le represented the majesty of tho
law, and took a sort of grim pride in his pc.
sition.
1As much undor the glance Of his ego as
before the muzzlc Of his pistol, the cowarily
clamercrs drew back. Perhaps they were
not sufficiently numerous to feel tho full effect
of that mysterious reflex influence which
makes a crowd of men so much worse, and at
times SO much better than any Of them sing.
ly.
eat tho end Of som mouths my trial came.
It could have but one result. Circumstances
tooplainly declared my guilt. I alono knew
they lied.
"The absence Of tho jury was brief. To
their verdict I paid but littlo heed. It was
a single hdeous word; but I had long antio-
ipated it, and it made no impression. @
Gas little impression was made by the
words of tho Judge which followed it and
his solemn invocation that God might have
that mcrcySuponsme which man was t6os usi
TO- vouchsafe, saouinded like tho hollowcst OF
hollow mockeriessN
sit may beF l,ard4for the condemned crimi-
nal to moot death but it is still harder for
him who is innocent. Tho one, when the
first shock is over, acquicsccs in his doom
and gives himsclftc repentance the heart Of
the other filled with rebellion against mans
njustioeS; can scarce bring itself to ask pardon
of God.
II had gradually overcome this feeling in
spite of the good %clcrgyman's irritating efforts,
which worc mainly directed towards extrac.
Ling Is confession, without which, lie assured
me, he had no hope to offer.
S"On tho morning Of tho day fixed for MY
Eexccution, I felt mcasurcably resigned. ]
1lsshad so long stood face to face with doath, had
alsso accustomed myself to look upon it as Q
II Merely momentary pang, that / no longer fell
Tsolicitous save that my memory should one
day be vindioated.
"shefossybop sasgone to prepare o
home hadsslrosddy ST fsayen. The
tidings}Sattm calamity hsl1 brokon hor heart
She alonoSsf ALL word beloved mo limo
cent and shstaad died with q prayer upon
hor psthpsEth as truth might yet be brough,
to lightss8
"Ai this l heard, and it had soothed AZ
with sweet incense my troubled spirit. Death.
however unwelcome the shape, was now q
portal beyond which I could see one anpe,
P'Taiting to receive me.
III heard the sound Of approaching foot