The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-10-22
A JURYMAN'S STORY.
by JUDGE CLARK.

We had bern out t7SGuTy Ty-ftOUr h0urs
and steed. eleven ter eHe.-Fhe-- -east
was a very plain one-at least clever
thought so.
A murder Of peculiar atrocity had
been committed, and though no eye
witnessed the deed, circumstance
pointed to the prisoner guilt witt
unfaili8g certainty.
The recusant juror had stood out
from the first. He acknowledged the
ccgency cf the proofs, confessed his
inability to reconcile the facts will
the defendants innocence, and yet, on
every vote went steadily for acquital
His conduct was inexplicable. Il
could not result from lack of intel.
Ggence for while he spoke but little
his words were well chosen, and
evinced d thorough understanding Of
the case.
Though still in the prime of man
hood. his locks were reprematurely white
and his face wore siagularly sad
and thoughtful expression.
He might be one of those who en-
tertained scruples as to the right oi
society to inAict death penalty. But
no, it was not that for in reply tc
such a suggestion, he frankly admit
ted that brutal men, like the vicious
brutes they resemble, must be con-
trOlled through fear, aud that dread
of death the supreme terror, is, il
many cases, the only adequate re.
straint.
At the prospect Of another night c
frnitiess imprisonment, We began t
grow impatient. and expostulatec
warmly against what seemed an un
warrantable captiousness and SOM
not over kind remarks were indulgeC
in as to the prcpriety of triAing will
an oath like that under which W
we're acting.
"And yet," the man answered, a
though communiDg with himselfrath
er than reDelling the accusation, 81
Is conscience that hinders my concur
renee in a verdict approved by m
judgement"
"How can that bet" querred sever
al at once.
"COnscieuce may not always dar
to follow Judgement
"But here she can know no othe
guide" :"
"I once would have said the same.
And what has changed your opir
ion ?"
Experience
The speakers manner was visibl
agitated, and we waited in silence tt
explanation he seemed ready to Civ
Mastering his emotion, as if in al
swer to our looks Of inquiry, he col
tinued:
Twenty years ago l was a yeur
man Just beginning life. Few hi
brighter prospects, and none bright
hopes.
IAN attachment, dating from chill
hood. had ripened with It's objeC
There had been no verbal declaratiC
and acceptance Of love-no form
plighting of troth but when l too
= my departure for my home in the di
:ant West, it was a thing uDderstor
; that when had found it, and put
in order. she was to share it.
9 Life Ia the forest, though so
tary, is not necessarily lOnesOn
The kind of society afforded by y
ture depends much on ones self. .
for me 1 lived more ia future th
n in present, and Hope is an ever che
= fnl companion.
AT length the time came for ms
ing the final payment On the hoi
which had bought. 1t would hen'
. forth be my own and in a few M
u. months, my simple dwelling, whiol
"a had spared no pains to render inv
to to ing, would be graced by its mistre
"At the land Office, which was so
sixty miles off, 1 met my old frieI
is George c.. He, too, had co
n to seek his fortune in the West; :
il We were both delighted at the ME
ing. He had brought with him,
- said, a sum Of money which he
Rs sired to inVest'in land, on which
ng was his purpose to settle.
e. 81 expressed strong wish to b
bin for q neighbor, aud gave him