The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-05-04

cry OF murder. Just thon the moon,
which had been hidden behind q
dense cloud, shone brightly forth, and
he saw two men upon the street corn
CIR. He saw one stricken down, and
he saw tho other bend over the pros
trato form. AS he came nearer the
the man who had stricken tho blow,
and who was stopping over his victim,
becoming aware that some one was
approaching, started up and fled away.
Young Eu-ton came to the spot, and
found Ralph Knowlton PROSTATE in q
pool Of blood. He knelt down and
lifted the stricken mans head, aud
knew that he was dead. Upon the
brick pavement Frederic found a
dirk-knife, gold watch, and pock-
ct book, all Of them smeared with
blood. He had just taken these into
his hands, and had recognized the
knife as his own, when Solomon Bar
bour and his companions came.
Touching the knife, whi;h was a
largo clasp, or dirk.knife, with q
broad, sharp, sprlng-bladc, he was
forced to acknowledge his ownership,
as it bore his name upon silver
shield set in the handle and he could
not tell how it passed from his possess
sion. The janitor of the club house
testified that he had seen the knife in
Easton's hands on that very evening
of the fifth of April-that he had ia =.
ken it out to show it to friend, and
had afterwards put it away in the
breast-pocket of his inner coat. From
that pocket it did not seem possible
that the knife could have been taken
by other hands without the owners
knowledge. This was heavy item
of evidence
The witnesses for the prosecution
had evidently given their testimony
truthfully and conscientiously, and, if
anything, with leaning to the pris.
oner's favor and Harlow's cross ex-
animation was Of no avail.
In tho direct examination, how
ever, of some Of these witnesses, it
was brought out that Knowlton must
have had much moro money with
him than was either found in the
blood pocket book, or on his person.
Before he left the club-room he had
put into his vest-pockota roll of bank
notes of the value of several thousand
dollars. Carl Clarkson, who had
been summoned from one of the Long
Island race-courses, as q witness, and
who had boon engaged in play with
Easton and Knowlton on tho uight of
the murder, said he should tbiuk
there must have been at least seven
thousand dollars in tho roll which the
Latter put in his vest-pocket on that
night. lie judged from the amount
of Kuowlton's winnings.
None of this money was found upon
the persons of the murdered man nor
was any Of it found in the prisoners
possession. But then the prisoner
was not searched until after he had
been taken to the lookup, and he
had thus plenty of opportunity for
Kidding himself Of such witness.
The plea Of the States Attorney
was brief and to the point. He
forborc all argument upon the subject
of the prisoners unfortunate and
disgraceful career previous to the
murder, confning himself to q te,se
and comprehensive prescntment of the
case to the jury as it appeared from
evidence.
Harlow's plea was simply an appeal
to the sympathies of the twelve men
before him. He presented few
points of argument, but they were
not strong. When he came to his
own faith in his clients innocence, he
was sublimely eloquent and Edith
Stewart looked upon him with bles-
sing in her earnest eyes. ~.
But it was of no avail. The prisoners
solemn denial and protestation went
for nothing. The agony of tho widow
ed mother and the afianced maiden
moved the hearts of the jury most
deeply, but it could not bend their
judgment.
frederick Easton was pronounced
GUILTY His sentence was-DEATH!
saw the poor mothe, fainting
upon tho hooi duo i ob" tu0 ODC6FS
take Edith arms from around tbs
condemned mans neck and then
Tom Harlow drew me away. ',u
Alas what shattering Of Loves
bright dreams I! The day Of hope and
promise had closed in cheerless night
Ou the, day after Christmas re-
cciYed lettor from Tom Harlow.
"DEAR OLp Boy" he wrote, "you
must come and spend New-Y ears
Day with me. One of our dear old
friends invites you to wedding.
The bride and the groom are our
friends, too. If had their card,
would send it. You must come., Ill
do not hear from yon by the Goth
shall come and bring you. Fetcb
your wife along, and don't be afraid
of TOM"