The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-04-14
A Private Soldier Condemned TO
Death for Failing In Love.
from the New Orleans Picayune. ]

From the New Orleans Picayune.
To-day. lust as the sun is at meridian,
Just as with solemn sound the great bell Of
the old st. Louis Cathedral tolls forth the
hour of noon, soldier will pay the penalty
of a crime for which military justice knows
but one expiation. The United States bar
ricks, below the city, has been the place
selected where the execution is to take place.
and the green sward of the parade ground
will ere many hours be stained with the
crimson life blood of the unfor tunate man.
He was member of one of the companies
of United States troops stationed near vii
lage in one of the interior parishes of Louis
lana. Near the camp of the company was
the plantation of a wealthy gentleman who
had sympathised with the Union cause
during the war, and who, therefore, was the
object of special attep ton on the pert of the
command then performing provost duty.
The planter had large family, among
whom was daughter who possessed in
remarkable degree that rare typo OF beauty
for which the women OF the4South are noted.
She had imbibed the sentiments OF her father,
and, therefore, took great pleasure in enter
tanning the officers who frequently visited
the house.
The First Lieutenant Of the company,
Ambrose Black, at once conceived a warm
attachment for the beautiful young creole,
and endeavored in every way to induce her
to share his feelings. Strange 10 say, how
ever, the lady treated him in a peculiarly
polite and formal manner, that proved her
heart was ice toward him. This was a great
shock to his vanity, and he was at loss to
understand it. Finally the explanation
came, when one of his ompanions, playfully
rallying him upon his i'll success, stated that
he had discovered why the lady had refused
to smile upon him. He had accidentally
witnessed an interview between herself and
Private Alfred Blake, the soldier who had
been detailed to guard the house-an inter
view which proved conclusiyely that the
heart of the young creole was irrevocably
the private's and not the others.
This intelligence was too much for Lieut..
Black. His pride was wounded in its most
vital point. He had Leen forestalled where
his heart was most enlisted, by one Of his
own suboIdinates. Seeking Private Blake
at once, he poured out the vials of his wrath
upon him, and declared he would send him
where he should have no more opportunities
of dallying with shameless girl while on
duty. Alfred Blake had borne much. but
this coarse allusion to the woman he loved
| ettcr than life fired heart and brain, and
with one blow he struck his officer PROSTATE
upon the ground in the presence OF his COM
pany.
Then followed the trial-which was rem
dered inexpresSibly touching by the presence
Of the woman who had cared to love pri-
vate solder-the sentence of death, to be
preceded by imprisonment at Ship Island.
To-day the sentence is to be enforced and
the majesty Of the law sustained.
Here was an opportunity for the magnan-
imous Grant to save the life of a gallant
soldier.stung to madness by the taunts Of an
insoIent snob. If the case is as stated by the
Picayune, it is one of the most affecting on
record.-Putsburgh Post.