The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-04

excitement Of the moment, he raised hii
hand to strike the officers Of the law.
" You are only making things worse, =
said one Of them and he reluctantly sub
mitted to have handouts placed upon hi:
wrists. -....
Fanny sprang into the room, frantically
exclaming-
MY father my father y and fingine
her arms around his neck; oh, what is it!
what is it - she continued, breathless, and
her voice choked with sobbing-" what dc
they say you have done ?"
" Nothing, love. nothing" said he, en-.
deavoring to appear calm; it is some mis-
take, but some one shall yet answer for the
transaction"
His daughters arms were forcibly torn
from around his neck and he was taken
before neighboring magistrate, by whom
the deposition of Capt. Hartley had been
received. Harry was that morning COM
mitted to the county Jail on charge Of
murder.
shall neither attempt to describe his
feelings, nor will | dwell upon the agony
which was worse than death to his poor
daughter. She knew her father innocent !;
but she knew not bis accusers nor the ma
ture of the evidence which they would bring
forward to prove him guilty of the crime
they imputed to him.
But the fearful day Of trial came. Harry
Teasdale was placed at the bar. The prin-
cipal witness against him was Capt. Hartley.
The color came and went upon the prison.
er's cheeks, as his eyes fell upon the face of
bis accuser. lie seemed struggling with
sudden emotion and many who observed
it took it as testimony Of bis guilt.
In his evidence Capt. Hartley deposed,
that he and part Of bis crew came upon
the smugglers on the beach, while in the
act of concealing their goods, that he and
the seaman who was murdered by his side,
having attacked three Of the smugglers, the
tallest Of the three, whom he believed to be
the prisoner, with knife gave the mortal
stab to the deceased that he raised the
weapon also against him, and that he only
escaped the fate of his companion by strik
ing down the arm Of the smuggler, and
wrenchiug the knife from his hand, when be
made his escape.
He also stated that on examining the
knife. which was Of great length, he read
the words " Harry Teasdale," which were
deeply burned into its bone handle, and
which led to the apprehension of the prison
er. The knife was then produced in court,
and murmur Of horror ran through the
multitude.
Other witnesses were examined, ahO
proved that, on the day of the murder, they
lad seen the knife in the hands of the pri-
soner, and the counsel for the prosecution,
in remarking on the evidence, pronounced
it to be : Confirmation strong as holy
writ"
The judge inquired Of the prisoner if
he had anything to say, or aught to bring
forward in bis defence.
Il have only this to say, my lord" said
Harry, firmly, " that l am as innocent O.
the crime laid to my charge as the child un-
born. My poor daughter and my servant
can prove that, on the night when the deed
was committed, | never was across my own
door. and, added be, firmly, and in
louder tone, and pointing to Capt Hartley
as he spoke. " | can only say that he whose
life | have saved, at the peril of my own,
has, through some mistake, endeavored to
take away mine, and bis conscience will
carry his punishment, when be discovers
his error
Capt. Hartley started quickly to his feet,
bis checks became pale; he inquired in an
eager tone, have you seen me before -
The prisoner returned no answer and at
that moment the officer Of the court called
the name Of
Fanny Teosdal-.''
Ha = exclaimed the Captain, con
vulsively, and suddenly striking his hand
upon bis breast is it so p
The prisoner bowed his head and wept
The court were stricken with astonshment.
Fanny was led towards the witness-box
there was buzz Of admiration and Of pity,
as she passed along. Capt, Hartley beheld
her-he clasped bis hands together. ezra
cious heavens! my own Fanny he ex-
claimed aloud
I lie sprang forward-he stood by her
side-her head fell on his bosom.
my lord O, my lord II lie cried,
wildly, addressing the judge, Il Doubt
disbeleve my own, evidence. There must
be mistake. I cannot be the murderer of
the man Who saved me-of my Fanny S
father y
The most anxious excitement prevailed
through the court: every individual was
moved, and, on the bench, faces were turn
ed aside to conceal tear.
The judge endeavored to restore order.
The shock of meeting with Augstus, in
such place and in such an hour, though
she knew not that be was her fathers accu-
ser, added to her agony, was too much for
Fanny, and in state of nsensibiity, she
was carried out Of the court.
Harry's servant-girl was examined and
although she swore thai, on the night on
which the murder was committed, he had
not been out of his own house, yet, in her
cross-examination, she admitted that be fire.
quently was out during the night without
her nowledge, and that be migtt have been
50 on the night in question.
Other witnesses were called, who spoke
to the excellent character of the prisoner
and to his often proved courage and hu
manity but they could rot prove that he
bad not been engaged in the affray in whicI
the murder had been committed.
Captain Hartley strOve anziously t
undo the damaging impression which BIZ
testimony had already produced but it wa
too late.
The Judge addressed the jury, and begar
/ to sum up the evidence. He remarked upor
the knife with which the deed was pcrpe
trated, being proved and acknowledged t
he the property Of the prisoner-of its be
ing seen in bis hand On the same day, ant
Of his admitting the fact-on the resem
blance of the figure to that of the individual
. Al Ilo,r ov1 h