The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-09-16
An Incident of Early Mining Times i'm
California.

! SdlliOTIlhs
| The wind walled like homeless wan
derer, through the tall pines that sur
rounded the st. Charles Hotel at the little
| mining camp of Alta, and the rain pat
tered upon a crowd of miners that were
fastening with loud OutcrieS towards a
| large log house that stood close to the
hotel.
Hang him Hang the murderer of
Ella, the Prairie Flower" were the
shouts that mingled with the meanings
OF the wind, and were family echoed
back from the high, bleak cliffs that arose
near by.
| Herbert Tudor, the supposed murderer
OF Ella Tracy, was sitting upon bench
within the large room of the log house,
| awaiting his trial Around him crowded
more than hundred miners with scowl-
ing faces-the Vigilance Committee of
| Alta. lie was bound hand and foot, and
he looked pale and careworn. Every
man among the crowd believed him
guilty. Yet Herbert Tudor was an innO-
cent man. A chain of circumstantial
evidence had woven its iron links around
him. a chain which he was pOwerless to
| break.
The facts of the case were as follows
Herbert Tudor and John Clements were
warm friends until Miss Ella Tracy ar
rived in the camp She was fair girl of
| eighteen, full of life, fresh and glowing,
with ripping golden hair, and large,
blue eyes, from which beamed light
that rivaled the glory of the summer
sun. The miners called her the Prairie
Flower" Herbert became acquainted
with her at her fathers house He was
well received by the parent and his
| daughter, and upon each visit was asked
to call again. He became frequent Wis
itOr at the house, and soon it was report
ed throughout the camp that he was en-
gagged to be married to the Prairie
Flower"
John Clements often accompanied Her
bert, whom he hated, because he, too, had
aspired to the hand of the fair Ella When
it became known that Herbert was about
to lead Ella to the marriage altar his rage
knew no bounds He went to Elias
house, and unfortunately found her alone.
With passionate vehemence he poured his
| tale OF love into the ears of the shrinking
maiden. He swOre to kill herif she would
not consent to be his wife. She said that
she would rather die than wed him, and
he was about to Law violent hands upon
L,
who at that moment had entered the ROOM
Although nearly blinded with rage, John
saw the silver sheen of a knife handle that
protruded from the belt of Herbert, who
was bending over the fainting maiden.
Quick as thought he snatchcd the knife
from the belt and buried it in the bosom
of Ella. The next moment he withdrew
it, and the blood of the dying girl Grim
soned the garments of the terror stricken
lover. A few seconds afterward Herbert
dropped the form of his betrothed and
sprang to his feet. He felt for his knife
1t was gone. Looking up he saw the muir
derer advancing towards him with uplifted
weapon.
81 know shall hang for the murder of
Ella, but it won't make bit of difference
if | kill you too cried John.
Herbert was defenceless. The only way
to save his life was instant flight Dashing
past his assailant, he rushed out of the
hn"so followed by the murderer. At the
threshold the latter stopped and threw the
knife at Herbert, who was rushing down
the only street of Alta.
A devilsh thought rushed through the
mind of the murderer.
"Stop him, stop hint" cried he to some
miners that stood in front of the hotel
stop him, he has killed the Prairie
FlOwerl"
The miners saw the lood-stained man
rushing down the street, and they instantly
rushed after him. Herbert had also heard
these words of fearful import He turned
and gave himself up to the miners.
a am innocent" was all that he said.
"Wcll see about that, my good looking
fellow" cried one of the miners, named
George Hosmer, who was Herbert's enemy,
drawing Il pistol. I'VE belong to the
Committee, and we'll make short work of
such coveys as you are. Come, Jim, run
down to the flat and call a miners meet
ing" continued he, turning to his COM
panion, who instantly Obeyed the COM
mand.
81 want fair trial, George Hosmeri"
said Herbert, holding out his hands to be
bound.
"All o. X you bet" replied his captor,
with sneer, as he bound the hands of
Herbert with handkerchief.
1t was noon on the following day. The
trial was over, and the jury had retired to
a back room of the log house. An Omi
nous silence prevailed in the large room;
there was no doubt in the minds of the
miners but that the jury would bring in
verdict of guilty.
Soon the jury returned.
"Do you find Herbert Tudor guilty or
not guilty." asked the chief of the Nigi-
lance Committee.
Guilty came like death knell from
the lips of the foreman.
Herbert had bowed his head, and a few
hot tears stole over his cheek-he was
L.. Il Of tatn
of his parents and brothers and sisters,
who would mourn his untimely end. The
voice of the Judge reused him from his
painful thoughts.
Herbert Tudor, prisoner of the Com
mittee of Safety and Vigilance if you
have anything to say against the verdict
of your fellow miners, say it now"
Herbert rose with calm face and said
"They have given the verdict according
to their own honest conviction. l do not
blame them for finding me guilty of MUIR
der. Everything was against me. Yet
repeat again that am an innocent man !"
He paused and wiped away the mois-
ture that had started into his eyes.
Have you anything more to say?"
asked the Judge.
Eyes" replied Herbert, in firmer tone
"Will you allow me to address few words
to the principal witness against mey"
The Judge nodded his head in the
| affirmative.
"John Clements" began the prisoner,
turning to his former friend and com
panion; "John Clements you have done
deed which only our Father in Heaven
can pardon. Do not look at me with
such a scowling face ard vengeful eyes.
/ am now. beyond your vengeance. l
know that | must die an ignominiOus
death. l know that within few moments
l will stand before the judgment seat OF
the Almighty, and with these thoughts on
my mind freely and fully forgive you fol
what you have done to me. / do not
care to live, for you have robbed me o
the dearest treasure that have on earth
God says: Forgive thine enemies It's
a hard, hard command to obey. / ought
not to have said that you have robbed mt