The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-03-18
Circumstantial Evidence.


Condemned to bid disgraceful adieu to
wife, II other, children and friends.
The poor man wept aloud in the ex-
trenity of his anguish. His trembling
lips could frame no PRAYER, and thus the
last avenue of comfort was closed
against him. The most direct and I'M
equivocal circumstantial evidence sur,
rounded this doomed man--Lioyeo
Fletcher by name,--and the Jury IN
bringing their verdict of Guilty III the
first degree" had only acted upon SOBER
conviction of the mans guilt, drawn
from overwhelming evidence
Charles Lancaster, an Engllshman, ana
nieghbor of Fletchers had been found
brutality murdered, in lone spot In the
suburbs of London. Fletcher's pistol
was picked up near Kim, thrown aside as
he found himself pursued.
Footpr nts in the mud correspondent
exactly to the boots the prisoner wore,
and TO crown all, they had been the most
bitter and inveterate enemies for months
previous. Fletcher had been heard to
say, on several occasions, that nothing but
the mans death could satisfy his own i'm
placable vengeance; and then, again, he
could produce no one to assist him to es
tablsh an alibi. Lloyd was a man very
domestic in his habits, and very devoted
" attached to his family. He was never
known to be away from home in the eve
ming, and yet, on that particular night
Mrs. Fletcher waited up until daylight
for his return, expecting every moment,
on account of the circumstance being SO
unprecedented, to have him brought to
her corpse.
He seemed to be recovering from the
deep stupor Of intoxication as he entered
his wife's presence on the morning des-
crlbed, and only knew just enough to find
the bed, and sleep profoundly.
At the time of his arrest his hands were
found bruised and lame; so this, with the
rest, made sum total too crushing for
the skii,fll counsel he had employed, and
the result was Hanged by the neck,
Fletcher, till you are dead and may God
have mercy on your soul"
It lacked now three days to the time OF
execution, and there he sat in lonely I'M
washed cell, with his head bowed upon
his hands
"Can nothing be done: Must l die
thus, poor miserble dog, that l am? On,
oh, God! where art Thou? Will ON
impotence allow an innocent man to per
ishr Out upon such God as thatl and
the poor fellow struck wildly at his pris.
on door grooming SO deeply that he arous-
ed the attention of the turnkey who was
passing the cell.
The iron door swung back upon its
creaking hinges, and the stalwart form of
the keeper stood before him.
"Come, come, Fletcher, less noise here !
Be man! You amt the first fellar that
has had to swing, not by long shot.
You wont get much sympathy here if you
act like nursellng infant, | can tell you'
Die game. Fletcher, die game"
"But am innocent, I tell you, you old
wretch, Tn as innocent of the crime as
my little irl-baby at home. Oh, my wife
my children!"
"Oh, shut up! here's your old woman,
now"
The hardened turnkey waited mo-
ment to witness the meeting Of this suffer
ing couple, and then muttering curses
withdrew.
But the condemned man and his loving
wife took no notice of his departure, but
clasped in each others arms, waited for
calmness to speak.
ooh, Sarah"
ooh Lloyd God have mercy on us
all, my husband And now listen. Lie
down here; place your head on my lap.
I have something to say to you
TELL me, Sarah, did they search you
this time?' he asked, grasping her hands
eagerly.
eyes, Lloyd, and they found nothing.
repented my rash promise to you before
I reached home. Come what may suicide
must not be your fate. But listen: You
see that I. am calm and comparatively
happy. And let me tell you what has
produced this change. A sweet little
dream, in which l saw you Lloyd, and
our darlings, altogether comfortable and
happy" - -
dosmed man likeme! Perhaps we may be
happy in an other existence; but no, that
cannot be, for surely, if there is God, he
will not allow an innocent man to die the
death of the guilty. Oh, no, Sarah!-oh
ne"
Keep up your courage, my dear nus
band a certain strange mysterious some
thing assures me that all will yet be we'll
how. or in what manner, heaven alone
knows"
Il wish / could see it; [ wish | coulc
feel it, Sarah. Do not mislead me with
false hopes Oh, my God! If there only
could be found way to escape from this
ignominit us death"
"Come, madam, times up" and thu
turnkey made his appearance.
"Hate to disturb pair Of cooling doves
but orders are orders, ma am, and must b.
sbeyed. Always obey ORDERS, if yor
break crowns You ought to persuade