The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-11-03
ge1ett gtnrw.
A JURYMAN'S STORY,

We had been out twenty-four hours
and stood eleven to one. The cas-
was very plain one-at least we
eleven thought so. ...,...-.-.
A murder of. peculiar atrocity hac
been committed, and though no ey'
mad witnessed the deed, circumstan
ces pointed to the prisoners guilt Will
unfailing certainty. ......l.' .-..-
r The recusant juror had st-od out
from,the first. lie acknowl edged til,
cogency OF proofs, confessed his ina
bility to reconcile the facts with de
| fendant's innocence, and yet, on eve
ry vote, wcn' steadily for acquittal.
His conduct was inexplicable. II
could not result from q lack of intel
ligence; for while he spoke but little.
his words were well chosen, and evin-
ced a. thorough understanding of thi;
/ Case. .......... .........-. ...-.
Though still in the prime of mail.
hood, his. locks were .prematurely
white, and his face wore singularly
sad and thoughtful expression. .-.-
He might be one of those who en-
tertained scruples as to the right OF
society to infict the death penalty.
But, no, it wus not that for, in re-
ply to such "a suggestion, he frankly
admitted that brutal men, like the
vicious brutes they resemble, must
be controlled through fear, and that
dread of death, the. supreme terror, is,
in many cases, the only adequate re-
straint. ... -....- t.- ....-...
AT the prospect of another night
of uitless imprisonment we began to
grow impatient, and .expostulated
against what seemed an unreasonable
captiousness, and some not over kind
remarks were indulged in as TO the
propriety of trifiing with an oath
like that under which we were acting,
And yet" the man answered, as
though communing with himseli
ratiier than repelling the imputation,
sit is conscience that hinders my con,
currence in a verdict approved by my
judgment, .. r.::-,.. III. -. ~ .-
How can that be ?" queried sever
al at ence. ..... .....s ...-.. p. ...
Conscience may not always dale
to follow judgement" ~.
"But here she can know no other
guide !" ... .....
81 would have said the same"
"And what has changed your opin-
;on p ~ ,.-..., 81 .,-," -...-' -.
''Experience."n ....... .... ..... .....
'seThe speakers manner was visibly
agitated, and we waited in 81 ence
the explanation which he seemed
ready to give. .,. .....r........
Mastering his emotion, as if in an
swer to our looks of inquiry, he con
Twenty years ago I was a young
man just beginning life. Few had
brighter prospects, and none brighter
hopes. o.. .....-
IAN attachment, dating from
childhood, had ripened with its object
There had been no verbal declaration
and acceptance of love-,io pligh ing
of lroth, but when | took my depart
ure TO. seek home in the distant
West, it was understood that when l
had found it, aud put it in order, she
was to share it. a..
Life in the forest, though solitary,
is not necessarially lonesome. The
kind of society afforded by nature de
pends much on ones self. As for
me, I lived more in the future than
in the present, and hope is an ever
cheerful companion. .. I..........
cat length the time came for max
ing the final payment on the house
which 1 bought. 1t would henceiorth
be my own and in a few months
my simple dwelling, which l had
spared no pains to render inviting,
would be graced by its mistress.
''At the land office, which was some
sixty miles of, I met my old friend,
George c.. He, too, had come
to seek his fortune in the West, We
were both delighted at the meeting
He had brought with him, he said,
a sum of money which he desired to
invest in land. on which it was his
purpose to settle. ..r ..., ..... .....
81 expressed a strong wish to have
him for a neighbor, and gave him a
cordial invitation to accompany me
home, giving it as my belief that he
could nowhere make better selection
than in that Yicini y. -a.'# ..al.
t'He readily consented, and we set
out together. We had not ridden
many miles, when George suddenly
recollected a commission he had un--
dertaken for n friend, which would
require his attendance at a public land
sale on the following day. J.s.5tai. 4
"Exacting promise that he would
not delay his,xisit longer than neces,
sary and having given minute direct
ions as to the route, continued my
way hemewaFd, while he TUNED back.
81 was about retiring toI'bed on
the night of my return, when sum-,
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