Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-15

Il
but without the slightest leaning toward
the side Of mercy, and with the morbid
desire on the part Of themajorty to see
a man hanged, for such thing had
never happened in that neighborhood.
And what did he say to rebut the sworn
statements of dozen witnesses? What
we're his assertions against the evidence
of their own eyes and his bloody hands
and clothes.
But he had the satisfaction, il, indeed,
it could be called by that name, to learn
who the supposed victim of his murder
GUS knife was; to learn that her name
was Ethel Loring; that she was compar-
atively a stranger, upon visit TO an old
uncle who lived near the scene of the
tragedy that she was an orphan, and
rich in her own right that she was
known to wear costly jewels, and carry
with her considerable sum of money
(all of which was missing), and that she
had gone out to take walk alone, and
was found as described. These facts,
together with his having been detected
| bending over the body, with knife in
his hand, the out-ofthe-way place, the
provocation for the deed in a pecuniary
point of view, the almost certainty Of
remaining undiscovered, that he was
poorly dressed, a stranger, had been
seen lurking in out-ofthe-way places for
several days, and that in his pockets was
found about the same sum OF money and
of the same description as that known to
have been in the possession of the muir
dered girl, were dwelt upon by the pros
lsah
and the prisoner saw that it was next to
useless to attempt defense.
To all questions he replied in simple
and truthful manner, stating that his
name was Alfred Martin, his age twenty
five; and that he was by profession a
surgeon, unmarried, possessed of some
means; that love Of geology had led
him thither; and that those who had ac-
cused him of lettering in out-ofthe-way
places would have seen that he was in
nocently studying the formation of the
earth, if they had given proper attention
to the matter. As to his being the mur-
derer of the girl, he denied it in the most
emphatic manner and explained how he
came to be bending over the body with
the bloody knife in his hand.
you will deny next" sneered the
attorney, that you threatened to kill all
your enemies in the same manner.
II believe l did use some thoughtless
words to the effect that ] could, with
such weapon, kill all my enemies, and
make myself rich, but none such as you
would put them into my mouth.
II heard him distinctly, volunteered
strong, rough-looking man, who was
said to have been among the first, if not
the first, to discover the murder, who
had guided others there, and had been
the most willing and strenuous in his
testimony against him.
Martin turned his gaze upon and no.
ticed him more closely than he had done
before; caught his eye, and thought that
he shrank back. 1t might have been
mere fancy, but he became more and
more convinced that the fellow had some
object in getting him convicted, and tried
to remember if he had ever been associ-
ated with, ever met him before, and gave
him any cause of enmity. If such was
the case, it had entirely slipped from
memory, and his own position gave him
little time for thought, as he was asked
to account for the money that was taken
from him being the same in amount and
of the same character as that of the mur-
dered girls.
1T is case that might happen thou
sand times, was the reply; but permit
me to to ask if she is indeed dead.
you will soon see, growled the stiff
necked justice, "seemore than You want
to"
IF dead, have no wish to look upon
her again. The horrible sight / have
had is fully sufficient, and / have seen
enough of death not to be curious in
such matters"
mo doubt of it, Murder and robbery |
are your trade"
The old uncle of the murdered girl
stepped to the side of the justice, and
they had short whispered conversation,
but evidently an important one. The |
purport of il was soon made known.
Alfred Martin" continued the officer |
of the law, as you choose to call your
self, though no one here is fool enough |
to believe that to be your correct name,
you deny all participation in the foul
deed that has been done? y"
u do"
"And yon are willing to prove it by
any means within your power2"
" am"
Officers, guard him safely, and re-
move him to the next room. We will
soon see his guilt clearly proved"
Without the most remote idea of what
was going to take place, the prisoner
permitted himself to be led into another
apartment, and saw, to his surprise and
horror, the corpse of the girl stretched
out upon the table, still as bloody and
ghastly as when he first discovered her
in the gloomy ravine. 1t was a sight
that would st any time cause him to
shudder; now It almost unnamed him
for an instant, especially as the dress
bad been cut away so as to expose a
wound in the fair white flesh. His natu-
raj emotion was at once taken for guilt,
and he heard whispered comments to
that effect. The "I told you SOL of
the man who had before volunteered his
testimony, particularly attracted his at
tention; and, from that instant, he
watched him as closely as possible with
out being detected, and summoning his
courage he turned to the pompous JUS
IlCe, anu uenhlucu NuhA ~ mtChNON
By such an unusual proceeding.
1t is the death test was the solemn
response.
"You will have to explain more fully,
do not understand"
I'VE believe that the corpse of a muir '
Tered person has power % distinguish I
between the innocent and the guilty. (
Place one hand upon that wound, raise
he other to Heaven, and assert your in
locence-if you darel If you are indeed
without guilt, all will be well. If not,
he blood will flow again"
At another time Martin would have
aughed outright at the stupid super
itition Of which he now remembered to
rave often read. Yet, there was some
hing solemn in thus calling upon the ,
lead to give evidence for or against the
living, and he would willingly have been [
pared the ordeal, for the most simple ,
Iccident might cause 3 drop or two of {
,lood 70 exude from the aholossd lips Of !
he wound, and then his. fate would be
ealed indeed. 8
''If guiltless, why do you shrink '
Isked the man of the law. 1t is only ,
he murderer that need fear. 1