The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-06-12
A Marvellous ssorv.

\
a 9Ieryslous Story.
In the year fs1S ,sya 90 s -
neighborhood Of oS fonasiv - - ON on
Client mahof. house csIfad 0ak kAg id y1liieb.
hkh many 0f those cid d:structuress losing
its original Importance fron, tie IN
cfgesed size and CON senjence Of mosieIs,
Buildings, haa betE con Sfted into &, farm
house. The lgsSs o. SGbsnt. one Jaraeg
Morris, had been an indolent and some.
what dissipated man; the farm conse-
quently fellinto neglect. and became nm
profitable, and he died in debt, leaving
his wife and only daughter in possession
OF the place. Shortly after his death the
widow took into her employment. q
young man from Staffordshire, Of the
name OF John Newton, the hero of this
little story, who had been strongly re-
commended to her by her brother; and
well and faithfully did he discharge his
duties as bailiff, fully justifying the
praise and recommendations she received
with him. He was an utter stranger in
that part OF the country. seemed studi-
ously to shun all acquaintanoes with his
neighbors, and to devote himself exclu-
sively to his employer. He never left
home but to visit the neighboring fairs
and markets, and to attend the parish
church, where his presence was regular
and his conduct devout. In short,
though circumspect in his behavior on
all occssione,' he was q melancholy, re-
served man, and even the clergyman of
the parish, to whom he was always most
respectful'inehis demeanor, entirely fail
ed In making acquaintance with him.
The farm under his management had i'm
proved. and became profitable; and the
circumstances of Mrs. Morris we're by
his assiduity and skill, both prosperous
and fourishing, In this manner more
than two years had passed, and the
widow began Ito regard him more rs q
friend and benefactor than servant, and
was not sorry to observe her daughters
growing affection for him, which appear
ed to be reciprocated. One evening in
November. 1921, being detained. longer
than usual by business at Welshpool,
Newton set out about 6 o'clock to walk
home to Oakfield. Itwss an exceedingly
dark night, and he never reached home
again. His'family became very anxious,
and upon inquiry early the following
morning, at Welshpool, they ascertained
thae ne had been brought back to that
1t, by two men named Parker md Pearce.
who charged him with highway robbery
accompanied by violence, an offence
then punishable with death. At the trial
Of the next assize he was pronounced
guilty on the testimony of these two
men, which was clear, positive and con-
sistent throughout, was sentenced to be
hanged, and left for execution. He en-
ployed no counsel, and called no wit.
nesses III his defence; but upon being
asked by the judge, in the usual form,
III he had anything to say why sentence
OF death should not be passed upon
MIN, he made, in substance, tho follow
Ing extraordinary speech:
My lord, 1t is evident all could say
III opposition to such testimony would
be in vain and hopeless. The witnesses
are men of respectability, and their evil
dence has appeared plain and conclusive,
and my most solemn protes ,ations of, in
nocence would avail me nothing I
have called no witnesses to character.
md upon such evidence the jury could
pronounce no other verdict. I blame
them not. From my soul I forgive those
men upon whose false testimony have
been convicted. But, my lord, I protest
most solemnly before this court, before
your lordship, and above all, before that
zoo In whose presence I must shortly
appear, 1 am entirely guiltless of the
crime of which am about to suffer. I
have produced no one to speak in nv
behalf. Two years have scarcely passed
since l. came to this country, an utter
stranger. I have made no acquaintance
here beyond the household in which 7
have been employed, and where have
endeavored to discharge my duties faith
fully, honestly and we'll. Although I
dare not hope, and do not wish, that NV
life should be spared, yet it is my devout
and earnest desire that the stain of this
crime may not rest upon my name. I
devoutly hope that my good mistress and
her kind and excellent daughter may vet
be convinced that they have not nour.
lshed and befriended highway robber.
l have, therefore, in humble devotion.
offered o prayer to Heaven. and believe
1t has been heard and accepted. I ven
taFe to assert that if L am. innocent of
the crime for which I suffer, the grass.
Tor pne generation. at least win not
cover my grave. Ny lord, I await your
sentence. without murmur, without a
sorrow; Rhd I devoutly; pray that all who
hear me now may repent Of their sins,
,apa~meetg me iagqin. in Heaven The