The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-03-25


The jury was not disposed to reliIc -
After communng "A few minutes Together.
one ofthem stood up aud delye'e the ?,
dict ii was GmiyI The Judge assumed
the crowning badge of the judicial poien>
tate-ihe black cap and the clerk Of ar
raigns asked the prisoner at the bar, in
The usua! form, if he had anything to
urge why sentence of death should not be
passed upon him.
Poor Harvey l dursi scarcely look Al
him. As the dread sonorous words fell
on his ear, lie was grasping ncryousiv
with shaking hands at the front of The
dock. lie appeared stunned, bewildered,
as man but half awakened from a hide
GUS dream might be Supposed to look
He had comprehendcd, though be had
scarcely heard the verdict for on the in
stant, the voice which but few years
before sang to his by the brook side, was
ringing IN his brain. and he could racog~
nike the little pattering feet of his children,
as, sobbing and clinging to their shreking
mothers dress, she ana they were hurried
out Of court. The clerk, after painful
pause, repeated the solemn formula. by
a strong effort the doomed man mastered
his agitation his pale countenance Iiaht>
ed up with indignant fire, and firm and
self-possessed, he thus replied to the fear
ful interrogatory
"Much could / say, in the name, not
of mercy, but of justice, why the sentence
about to be passed on me should not be
pronounced; bot nothing, alas. that will
avail me with you, pride blinded ministers
of death. Iou fashion TO yourselves
out of your own vain conceiis do you fash
ion-modes and Instruments, lay he aid
Of which you only imagine TO invest your
selves with attributes which belong only
to omniscience; and now l warn you
and it is voice from The tomb, In whose
shadow ! already stand, which addresses
you--that you are about 10 commit
most cruel and deliberate murder"
He pansed, and the jory looked into
each others eyes for The courage they
could not find in their own hearts. The
voice Of conscience spoke. but was only
tor a few moments audible. The sng.es-
tons that what grave patliaments, learned
Judges, and all classes of ''respec,ability"
sanctioned, could not be wrong. much less
murderous or cruel, sicmced ihe ''slill
sna.ll'' tones, and tranquihzeL the startled
jurors.
.Prisoner at the bar" said the Judge
with his cold, calm voice of destiny, Il
cannot listen 10 such oLseIvations, you
have been found guilty of "A heinous offence
by jury Of your counuymcu after a pa
tiett trial With tIat finding | need
scarcely say | entirely agree. am as sat~
isfed OF your guilt rs if i had seen you
commit the act with my own bodily eyes.
The circumstance of your being person
who, from habits and education, should
have been above committing so base a
crime, only agErava:cs your guilt. How
ever, 40 matter who OF what you have
been, YOU must expiate yonr offence on the
scalfolI. The law has very properly, for
the safety Of society, decreed the punish-
ment of death for such crimes our only
and plain duty is 10 execute that law"
The prisoner did not reply; he was Lean
iag with his elbows on the front Of the dock
his bowed face covered with his outspread
hands; and the Judge passed sentence Of death
in the accustomed form. The court then
rose, aud a turnkey placed his hand upon
the prisoners ann to lead him away, sud
denly he uncovered his face drow himself
M to his fu Ii height-he was a remarkably
tall mau-aHd gIared tiercelv round upon
the audience, like wild animal at bay
/ MY lori!' he cried. or rather shouted. in
an excited voice. The judge motiouci inn
patiently to the iailer. aud strong hands i'm
pelled the prisoner from the front Of the
E. i,ay, lp
/ forward. his arms outstretched whilst hiS
/ glittering eve seemed 20 hold the iudge spell
bound. he exclaimed. MY lord. before an
other month has passed away. g0H will APP
/ pear at the bar of another world. IL answer
for the life. the innocent life. which God he
slowed upon me, but which you have impi-
ousv cast away thing Of naught and
scorn !" He ceased. and was at once borne
/ off. The court, in some confusion. hastily
/ departed 1t was thought at the time that
/ the iudge's falling health bad suggested the
/ prophecy to the prisoner 1t only excited
/ a few days wonder. and waa forgotten.
/ The position of barrister in such eircom-
! stances is always painful. ] need hardly say
! that my own feelings were OF a very distress
! ing kiud Conscious that if the unfortunate
man really was guilty, lie was at least not
deserving Of capital punishment. l exerted
myself 10 procure 'tPiie'e- !" 'hS Il ~
! place l waited privately on the judge but
/ he would listen to no proposal for q respite
Along with number Of iudviduals-chiehy
/ of the Society OF Friends-I petitioned the
/ crown for a Communication Of the sentence
But being upaccompanied with recomnen
J dation from the judge. the prayer of cur pc
tition was of course dsregarled the law, il
was said, must take its course How much
/ cruelty has been exercised under that re
morseless expression
/ would willingly pass over the sueceedin z
events. Unable TO save his life, J endeayored
to soothe the remaining hours of the doomed
/ convict. and frequently visited him in toe
condemned cell The more | saw Of HRS
the deeper grew my sympathy in his case
! which was that Of no vulgar felon. Il have
been a most unfortunate man" said he one
/ dav 10 me. "A destiny towards ruin In for