The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-07-15
A JURYMAN'S STORY.
BY JUDGE CLARK

we Hiu bttI OUT lNcHlN -loul ll)ulS, anu
stood eleven TO one. The case was 4 very
plain one-at least we eleven thought so
A murder of peculiar atrocity had been COM
mitted, and though no eye had witnessed the
deed, circumstances pointed to the prisoners
guilt with unfailing certainty.
The recusant Juror had stood out from the
first He acknowledged the cogencv of the
proofs, confessed his inability to reconcile the
facts with defendants innocence, and vet, on
every vote, went steadily for acquittal.
His conduct was inexplicable. 1t could not
result from a lack of intelligence for while
he spoke but little, his words were we'll
chosen, and eyinccd thorough understanding
of this case
Though still in the prime of manhood, his
locks were prematurely white, and his face
wore a singularly sad and Thoughtful express
| sisn.
| He might be one Of those who entertained
scruples as to right of society to intlict the
death penalty. But no, il was not that for,
in reply to such a suggestion he frankly ad-
mitted that brutal men, like the vicious brutes
they resemble, must be controlled through
fear, and that dread of death, the. supreme
terror, is, in many cases. the oulv adequate
restraint
| AT the prospect of another night of fruitless
| imprisonment we began to grow impatient,
and cxpostulated warmly against what SEEM
ed an unreasonable captiousness and some
not over kind remarks were indulged in as to
the improperly of trihing with an oath like
that under which we We're acting.
"And yet" the man answered, as though
communing with himself rather than repell-
ing the imputation, at is conscience that
! hinders my concurrence in a verdict approv-
ed by my Judgment"
| How can that be?' queried several al once
! 'Conscience may not always dare to follow
| Judgment
"But here she can know no other guide. r
II once would have said the same"
And what has changed your opinion9''
| "Experience?
The speakers manner was visibly agitated,
and we waited in silence the explanation
which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion, as if in answer to
our looks of inquiry, he continued:
Twenty years ago Twas young man Just
beginning life. Few had brighter prospects.
and none brighter hopes.
"An attachment, dating from childhood,
had ripened with its object. There had been
no verbal declaration and acceptance of love
no formal plighting Of troth; but when I
took my departure to seek a home in the dis
tant West, it was a thing understood, that
when / had found it and put ii in order, she
was to share it,
Life in the forest, though solitary, is not
necessarily lonesome. The kind Of society
afforded by Nature depends much on ones
self AS for me, | lived more in the future
than in the present and Hope is an cvercheer-
lul companion.
"At length the time came for making the
final payment on the home which | had
bought. 1t would henceforward be my own
,p1 IN fau- p,onf.. ii, ,1, lu-o -on
ing, which l had spared no pains to render
inviting, would be oraced by its mistress
al the land office, which was some sixty
miles OF, | met my old friend George c.
| Hc too had come to seek his fortune in the
West; and we were both delighted at the
meeting He had brought with him, he said
q sum of money which he desired to invest in
land, on which it was his purpose to settle
II expressed strong wish to have him for
4 neighbor, and gave him cordial invitation
to accompany me home, giving it as my be-
lief, that he could nowhere make better
selection than in that vicinity.
'He readily consented, and we set out to-
gether. We had not ridden many miles, when
George suddenly recollected a commission he
had undertaken for a friend, which would re-
quire his attendance at Il public land-sale on
the following day.
''EXacting promise that he would not de-
lay his visit longer than necessary, and hav-
ing given minute directions asto the route |
continued my way homeward, while he turn
ed back.
81 was about retiring to bed on the NIGHT
of my return, when summons from without
called me to the door A stranger asked shell
ter for himself and horse for the night.
Il invited him iii. Though stranger his
face seemed not unfamiliar. He was proba-
bly, one Of the men | had seen at the land
Office, a place, at the time, very much fire.
quented.
Offering him a seat. | went to see his
horse. The poor animal, as well as | could
see by the dim starlight, seemed to have been
hardly used. His painting sides bore witness
Of merciess riding, and tremulous shrink
ing, al the slightest touch, betokened recent
fright
"On returning to the house. | found the
stranger was not there. His absence excited
no SURPRISE he would doubtless soon return.
1t was little singular, however that he should
have left his watch lying on the table
AT the end Of an hour, my guest not re-
turning | went again to the stable, thinking
he might have found his way thither to give
his personal attention to the wants of his
! horse.
Before going out, from mere force of hab-
it-for we were as yet uninfested by either
thieves or policemen-I took the precaution