Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-08-27
"a JURYMAN's R

pIalu one--at Icast we eteVen nOught 30.
A murder Of peculiar atrooity had been
committed, and though no eye had witnessed
the deed, circumstances polluted to the prise.
ner's guilt with unfailing certainty.
The resonant juror had stood out from the
tlrst. He acknowledged to cogency Of proofs,
confessed his inability to reconcile the facts
with defendants Innocence, aud yet, on cve-
ry vote, went steadily for acquittal.
His conduct was inexplioablo. It could
not result form n lack of Intelligence; for,
while he spoke but little, his words were we'll
chosen, and evinoed q thorough understand
Ing,
Though in tho prime of manhood, his locks
were prematurely white, md his face wore q
singularly sud aud thoughtful expression.
He might be one Of those who entertained
s%scruples as to the right to inaict the death
penalty. But, no, it was not that for, in
replyEt to such q suggestion, ho frankly admit
ted that brutal mon, like the vicious brutes
they resemble, must be controlled through
sSsal,, md that dread Of dcath, the supreme
terror, il, in many cases, theonly adequate
rcstrai'.t.
At the prospect of another night Of fruit
less imprisonment, he began to grow impa-
ticnt, and cxpostulatcd against what seemed
an unreasonable captiousness, and some not
over kind remarks were INDUCED in as to the
impropriety Of triding with ON oath like that
under which 80 wore acting.
"And yet" tho man answered as though
%oommuning with himself rather than rcpell-
ing the imputntion, cit is conscience that
hinders my concurrence in q verdict APPROX
cd by my judgment"
elbow can that b. 2 qucricd several at
once.
Conscience may not always dare to follow
judgment"
"But here she can know no other guide"
1T once would have said tho same"
"And what has changed your opinion Z"
Experience"
Tho speakers manner WIS yisibly agitated,
and we waited in silence tho explanation
which lie seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion as if in answer to
our looks of inquiry, he continued:
"T~wcntY,years ago'I was a young man just
beginning ffc. Few had brighter prospects,
and none brighter hopes.
"An attachment, dating from childhood.
had ripened with it's object. There had
been no verbal declaration and acceptance of
lovc-no plighting of troth but when Itook
my departure to seek q homo in the distant
West, it was understood, that when I had
found it and put it in order, She was to share
II. ~
"Lifo in tho forest, though solitary, is not
lonesome. The kind Of society afforded by
Nature depends much on ono's self. AS for
me, I lived more in tho future than in tho
present, and hope is nm ever cheerful com.
panion. N
DAT length the time came for making the
final payment on tho house which 1 had
bought. 1t would hcnccforth be my own f;
and, in q few more months, my simple dwell
ling, which I had spared no pains to render
inviting, would be graccd by its mistress.
cat the land Office, which was someSaixty
miles off, l met my old friend, George Co.
Hc, too, had como to seek his fortune in tho
West md NO were both delighted at the
meeting. lie had brought with him, he said.
q sum Of money which he des~irsasEEss S8.ssifn
in land, on which it was his purpose to set
tie. 4s
ri expressed a strong wish Is hsye himifor
a neighbor, and gave him a cordial ingitaftio0In
to accompany me home, giving it os my be:
lief that he could nowhere mako better SCI
lection than in that vicinity.
"He readily consented, and we set out to.
gethcr. We had not ridd.n many miles,
when George suddenly rccollectcd a commits.
sion he had undertaken for a friend, which
would require his uttapdancaaSnt a publisland
sale on tho following d~asasS
"Exacting promise that he would not de-
lay his visit longer than necessary, and hav.
ing given minute directions as to tho route,
l continued my way homcward, while he
turned back.
81 was about retiring to bed on tho might
OF my return, whom a summons from without
T'oatteao pdoAo the door. A stranger asked
shelter for ntstos1 Mi and horse for tho night.
~ invited him in. Though a stranger,
his face seemed not unfamiliar. He was
~~nbob1,. 49, 90 H. -. l III.