Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-05-12
Seltft Starry.
WAS he GUILTY?
A TRUE STORY.

Sheriff remove the prisoner, command
ed the Judge.
Five years, FIVE long years in the peni-
tentiary! Great God! I am not guilty,
{. not cried Reginald Forester. as he
W. led away.
He had been sentenced to FIVE years
hard labor for the crime of breaking the
dam of John Cluny's Touring mill. Two
brothers, James and Charley Croker,
were the principal witnesses. They swore
that late one night, about six months be-
fore, they saw young Forester walking
rapidly up the path leading : the dam.
Thinking that something had happened to
the sluice gates, they were about to follow
in order to assist, when they saw that he
began to cut away the prop that upheld
the timbers. Horror struck, they stopped.
1t was too late. The dam gave way
Rushing down the road towards the mill,
they shouted:
THE food, the food!
The miller heard the shouts, and just in
time to save himself and family; shortly
Afterwards the food reached the mill and
swept it away. A merchant of the village
cl ,a by swore that Forester bought an
axe, pick and shovel previous to the
breaking of the dam. The axe was found
hidden ID some bushes close % the path,
aud was identified BY the merchant as the
one he sold Forrc ter.
The miller swore that Forester had
several times been seen lurking around the
mill. The mill further stated that at
the time he di charged him. he (Forrester)
swore he would be even with him.
and he destroyed my property because
I discharged him for daring to make love
to my daughter, Amy. against my wishes.
concluded he.
Only one person believed Forester te
be innocent-Amy Cluny, the miller's
daughter:
It was twelve at noon, just four year.
after the conviction of Forester. when the
door of the States prison opened to him
A pale bowed man, whose eyes were coli
stantly seeking the ground, walked dov!r
the road towards the ferry boat. The
crowd that stood upon the wharf quickly
moved aside, as man tottered towards the
bench.
"A pardoned convict ran from mouth
to mouth.
Yes, Forester, for it was he. had beer
pardoned by the Governor. Four long
long years be had toiled in the brick yards
of the prison. Thoughts of self destruc.
ton often fitted across his weary mind
O.'en as he stood near the furnace Of the
brick kiln, be thought that one bold leap
into the roaring flames. and his misery
would lie at an end.
He had received only two letters during
his imp. sonment. One was from Amy
The other one was from Ne York. II
was rom lawyer, and it read: This il
= inform you that Allen Forester. Esq.
your uncle, has departed this life. He
died intestate, leaving you sole heir to
The le er W. received two days before
he VS. pardoned.
Fortune avails me nothing. The world
thinks me guilty. he cried.
III
Forester has come back, wonder why
in the world he want, to come to this
place; he Is rich and has threatened tt
shoot Jim. Croker if he calls him con
vict again Such were the reports tn.
spread over the village.
At last the news cine to the ears of th'
miller. With muttered curse upon hi
enemy, as he callo Forester, he ascend
ed the stairs leading t. the second story o
the new mill that had been bull. in thu
place of the old mill that had been swep
away. His steps were noiseless, as b
looked through the key hole. A minut
afterwards he wrenched open the door ant
rushed into the room-he had seen Am,
signaling somebody. As he was rushing
to the window be caught glimpse ola e..
as he disappeared behind .rojecting cliff
it was the form of Forester. He caugil
Amy's arm.
Who was that MANI Quick tell me,
came from his clenchsd teeth.
Amy uttered shrek of pain.
He dropped her arm and rushed from tn
room, but soon returned with the loade
gun in his hands, and dragged her to tn
open window.
/ The head Of a man could be plainly see
rising slowly behind the cliff. Amy san
upon her knees. The miller released ha
arm and slowly raised bis gun, He b.