The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-26
81 MARTELLOUS STORY.
Am innocent Convict Predicts that Grass
VIII not Grow Ovcr His Grave.

In the year 1919 there was, in the neighbor-
hood OF montgomery, an ancient mapor-house
called Oakheld, which, like many OF those old
81 structures. losing it's original Importance from
buildings, had been converted into farm
house. The late occupant, one James Morris,
mad been an 1ndolent and somewhat dissipated
man; the form consequently fell into neglect
and became Improbable, and he died in debt,
leaving his wife aud only daughter in posses.
sion OF the place. Shortly after his death the
widow took INTO her employment q young man
lrom StattOrdshire, Of the lame of John New
ton. the hero of this little story, who had been
strongly recOmme nded to her by her brother:
ana we'll and faithfully did he discharge his du-
recommendations sho received with him. He
was an utter stranger in that part of the coun-
try, seemed studiously to shun all acqua,nt-
c,, ance With MS neghbors, and to devote himself
home but to visit the .nelghboring faire and
markets, and to attend the parish church,
where his presence was regular and his con-
duct devout. In short, though highly circum-
spect in his behavior on all occasions, he was
a melancholy, reserved man, and even the
clergyman OF the parish. to whom he was al
ways most respectful in his demeanor, en-
tirely failed IN making, acquaintance with
HIM. The farm under his management had
improved. and became profitable; and the
circumstances Of Mrs. Morris were by his
assdulty and skill. both prosperous and -four
,sh,ng. In this manner more than two years
had passed, and the widow began to re-
gard him more as friend and benefactor
than . servant, and was not sorry to OBJ
which appeared to be reciprocated. One eve
ming in November, 1921 being detained longer
than usual by business at Welshpool, Newton
get out about six O'Clock to walk homo to
and he never reached home again. His family
became very anxious, and upon inquiring early
the. following morning at Welshpool, they as
certaned that he had been brought back to
not InptCr fforI 1io
by two men named Parker and Pearce, who
charge d him with hshighway robbery. accompa-
ned by violence, an offence then punishable
with death. At the trisl OF the next assize he
was pronounced guilty on the testimony OF
these two men, which vas clear, positive and
consistent throughout, was sentenced to be
hanged, and left for execution. He employed
fence; but upon being asked by the Judge,
in the usual form, If he had ANYTHING to
say why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him." he made, in substance,
lord, it is evident all I could say in oppo-
sitiOn to such testimony would be in vain aud
hopeless. The witnesses are men Of respecta-
bility. and their evidence has appeared plain
tions Of innocence would avail me nothing.
have called no witnesses to character, and upon
such evidence the jury could pronounce no other
forgive those men upon whose false testimony
have been convicted. But, my lord, ] protest
most solemnly before this court, before your
lordship, and above al, before that God in
entirely euiltIess OF the crime for which am
about to suffer. have produced no one to
speak in my behalf. Two years have scarcely
passed since came to this country an utter
stranger. have made no acquaintance here
beyond the household in which have been
employed, and where I have endeavored to
discharge my duties faithfully, honestly and
wen, AT tAie4noug,n, f., care nos nope, ana 40 not
davont and earnest desire that the stain OF this
crime may not rest upon my name, deyout,
y g hope that. that my good mistress and her kind
that they have not nourished and befriended
highway robber. have, therefore, in humble
devotion. offered prayer to Heaven. and be-
to assert that If am innocent for the crime for
which suffer, the grass, for one generation. at
least, will not cover my grave. My lord, await
your sentence without q murmur. without sor-
now may repent OF their sins, and meet me
again in Heaven The unfortunate man was
condemned and executed. and was buried in
Montgomery church-yard. Thirty years had
poor Eliot Warburton, and the grass had not
then covered his grave. It is situated in q re-
mote corner OF the church-yard, far removed
from all other graves. 1t is not q raised mound
of earth, but is even with the surrounding
ground. which is, for some distance, especially
luxuriant, the herbage beng rich and abundant.
Numerous attempts have nom time to tune
been made by some who are still alive, and
others who have passed away. to oring grass
upon that bare spot. Fresh soil has been fre-
quently spread upon it, and seeds of various
kinds have been sown. but not blade has there
ever been known to spring from them and the
soil soon became q smooth, cold and stubborn
clay. With respect to the unhappy Witnesses,
it appears that Parker's ancestors had once
owned Oakfeld, and that he had hoped by
getting rid Of Newton, to remove the main OBJ
stacle there was to his repossessing it, and
that Pearce had, at the time Of Mr. Morris
death, aspired to the hand of his daughter, in
whose affections he felt he had been supplanted
by poor Newton. The former soon left the
neighborhood, became drunken and dissolute
man, and was ultimately killed in some lime
works. while in the ac:: Of blasting roo' !
Pearco grew sullen and dispirited, his veryf A..
istence seemed burden TO him, and, as the
old sexton Of Montgomery expressed it. the
wasted away from the face Of the earth ."-ssIHe
Season Ticket. !" in the Dublin Uniuers.y Mdga-
zine. M
Spefial 1lotiefs.
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