The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-03
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.
CONCLUDED


GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.
CONCLUDED
He found him sitting with the chair
man and the vice of the supper party, in
q perfect torrent of merriment, little
appropriate either to the circumstances
or the place. The young man knew the
distinguished counsel, and rose and be-
came silent when he entered. Power,
however, although he bowed courteous
ly, did not seem to recognize his visitors
name, even when it was announced.
ct have come to pay an afternoon visit
to my friend here" said the barrister.
CT am glad to find him with two such
supporters-salvnge men. But my
friends the savages, you had better with
draw. I wish to have your prey NIL to
myself"
The two accordingly departed, and
Mr.. G. was left alone with the prisoner.
ST suppose I should make an apology
for my intrusion" said the lawyer, "but
all the strange hooks of this city are
familiar to me; and, laddie, I thought n
friend in need might not be unwelcome. {"
JlIn the homely kindness of his address,
and the Dorio plainness of his speech,
there was dignity and elegance about
the demeanor of the visitor, that bespoke
the, well-bred gentleman. Power was at
first startled, and then subdued by his
manner.
81 am sure am much beholden," he
said. "Might I ask to what am in
debted for this honor?"
'"To your going to be hanged" said
the other, bluntly.
s'But there go two words to that, )" said
pnror ttfNbaxy will rnt hoy
cent man in this blessed country of
yours"
"Won't they, though? They hanged
Burke, after my friend the Dean had
proved him to be saint"
A pause ensued, for Power had little
to reply to the hattering parallel.
I'm plain words, my lad, am sorry
for you. There is secret which you do
not wish to disclose. I do not know
what you are, or where you come from,
but am sure you are n stranger, and I
believe you are innocent. Friends are
not so easily found by tho stranger and
the wrongfully accused, that you should
reject an honest offer. Confide in me
I shall be as secret as the grave
Power looked at him for O minute, and
then, sudden revulsion seizing him,
burst into a food of tears.
"I nm ashamed" he said, at last, "to
give way thus, but 1 am quite alone
how much you do not know-the most
unfortunate of men, and, in this, wholly
innocent"
Tell me the tale plainly, my boy, and
maybe may find remedy"
The prisoner told his tale. What it
was, the sequel must disclose.
The day of trial had come. The pri-
~ 81
in scarlet and white. defiled into court,
"Charles Power, stand up, and listen to
the Indictment against you"
The appearance of the prisoner excited
great interest in court, which was crowd
ed with students and the public. The
Lord Advocate, MS public prosecutor, sat
on one side Of the table within the bar,
assisted by other counsel. On the other
side, sat Mr.. @. and junior counsel.
A strange smile came over the face Of
the prisoner when his name was called.
He rose, however, with glance ut his
counsel, md pleaded "Not guilty." with
firm voice.
The case mado by the Crown author-
ties was one which startled the students
by its strength and compactness, They
called the students who were ut the
Rainbow" to prove the quarrel. They
proved that Power did not go to college
on Monday, the 25th of January; thnt
Johnstone was seen to 60 up the com.
mon stair on the afternoon Of that day;
that persons who lived next door heard a
violent alteration in Powers room about
4 o'clock that the person who passed the
policeman and gave the alarm was
Power; and that Power left by the Glas-
gov coach ut o'clock, and returned to
Edinburgh that night, remaining until
Wednesday at o hotel. The medical
men proved that the cause of death was
concussion of the brain, accompanied by
strangulation. In oil instances, the pri-
soner was distinctly identified. The no.
ton Of an abb was apparently hopeless.
Mr.. G. made but little attempt ut
cross examination. He extracted some
merrilnent ont Of an irascible stage