Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-10-14
AJURYMAN'S STORY.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

w Z Hdt Deeu out I'"cnlt lOuI
hours. and stood eleven to one
he case was a very plain one-;,t
least we eleven thought SO
A murder of peculiar atrocity had
had witnessed the deed. circum-
stances pointed to the prisoners
guilt with unfailing certainty
The recusant juror had stood out
from the first. He acknowledged
the c~grncy of tie proofs, confessed
his inability to reconcile the facts
with the defendants innocence, and
vet. on every vote went steadily for
acquittal.
His conduct was inexplicable I,
could not result from lack of intel
Iigence: for while he spoke but lit
tie, his words were well chosen, and
evinced thorough understanding
of the case.
Though still in his prime of man
hood, his locks were permatnrel,
white. and his face wore singu
larlv sad and ,hougtful expression
He might be one Of those who
entertained scruples as to the right
Of society to inf1ict the death penal
ty. But no; it WAS not that; for
III reply to such a suggestion, he
frankly admitted that brutal men
like the vicious brutes they resem
hIe, must be controlled through
'ear and that dread Of death the su
Ireme terror, is, in many cases, the
olly adequate restraint.
At the prospect OF another nigh
of fruitIess Imprisonment We begaI
to grow impatient, and expostu
lated warmly against what seemed
an unreasonable captioness anC
some not over kind remarks wer,
INDUCED in as to the impropritv a
trifling with an oath ike that under
which we were acting.
And yet" the man answered, a.
though communing with himsel
rather than repelling the imputation
1T is conscience that hinders my
concurrence in a verdict approve {
by my judgment"
How can that be p queried sew
cral at once.
..Conscience may not always da,,
to follow judgment"
.'But here you can know no othe
guide"
II once could have SAID thu
same"
''And what has changed you
opinion5''
Experience!
The speakers manner was visihl,
| aeitated. and we waited in silenc,
the explanation which he SCENE,
ready to give.
| Mastering his emotion, as if il
answer to our looks of inquiry, Ia
continued:
Twenty years ago was youn:
man just beginning life. Few ha,
brighter prospects, and none bright
er hopes.
| An attachment, dating from
childhood. had ripened witt, it
object There had been no verha
declaration and acceptance OF low
no fotaai piigi'ting ot troth; bu
when took my departure to seek
home in the distant West, l. was
thing understood. that wher | ha
found it and put it in order. she wa
to share it.
Life in the forest, though sol
tarv, is not necessarily lOnesOm,
The kind of society afforded b
nature, depends much on ones sci
| AS for me, / lived more in the fl
ture than in the present, and Hop
is al ever cheerful companion.
| ''At length scame the time fc
making the final payment on tn
home which had bought. 1t woule
henceforward, be my own; and i
few more months, my simpl
dwelling, which l had spared II
pains to render inviting, would |
graced by its mistress.
''At the land office, which VIZ
some sixty miles off. l met my oi
friend, George c. He, too. ha
come to seek his fortune in til
West and we were delighted at I'll
meeting. He had money which /
desired to invest in land, on whic
twas his purpose to settle.
II expressed strong wisn to ha,
him for neighbor, and gave him
cordial invitation to acco pany II
, home, giving it as my belief, that |
could nowhere make a better sele
ton than in that vicinity.
He readily consented, and v
set out together. We had riddle
many miles, when George sudden
recollected a commission he h;
undertaken for a friend. whit
would require his attendance at
public land sale on the followiI
day.
e .'Exacting a promise that
wonld not delay his visit long
than was necessary, and llavir
y given minute directions as to ii