Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-22

more, young SAILOR chap lost his way in
this here blessed comIz,n. and. as Iuck
would have it, fell in with YOU. hi, wSa
very perlitely brought him here to resi-
The young sailor spoFted more money than
was good for him, leastways in our think
ing, so we agreed to relieve him of a little.
Unfortunately he wakes up, and hinterrupts
our kind arrangements, and, somehow or
other, your knife sticks into bis ribs, and
he dies" r 90 .rr d. .r
''Go on, go on said the other man, with
a shldder; 'you told me to do it" 0
81 don't deny it; the young sailor wanted
blood-letting, he was too passionate; only
the doctor was not careful enough, and the
patient died under the hoperation. Well,
We carries the corpus 10 the common, mean
ing to throw it into pit, but some boobies
happened to be noising about, accordingly
we made tracks, and brings il back here,
and then we carries the body on to Squire
Melville's, and drops it over his garding
wall"
IAN that know'd; but have they founl
the body?'
"YeS; the gardner found it the next
morning, and II was carried into the hall;
and the moment the Squire sees it, be put
his hand up to his forehead, and turns quite
pale. Then, in comes Miss Maud, without
knowing what was the matter; but, instead
OF running away from the nasty thing, as
you or | would have done, Bill, she throws
herself plump on to it, and begins a-screech-
ing with all her might and main: ooh,
Arthur, my own Arthur, they have murdered
your Well, of course, the perlice is
fetched, and a magistrate comes, and a
inquest sits, and they all come to the con-
clusiOn that the lody is that of Arthur Sea
forth, and that he had been murdered.
But during the examination it came ont
that the last time SeafOrth was at the Hall,
he and the Squire had row, in which the
Squire threatened to take his life if he ever
dared to come near the Hall again; il also
came out that the Squire did remain out
late on the night of the murder, and alto
gether, things looked so black that the
Squire was arrested, and will be tried for
wilful murder at the next sizes. So VOC
seewe've been abiding ourselves. while all
the time Squire Melville is run in in
stead Of us, and we are above suspicion"
"What strange run of chances" said the
other man.
"Yes; it's rather fortunate" said Jack,
especially for Squire y
"But as one chance led on to all the rest,
it Is possible that another chance may prove
his innocence and our guilt
'Not likely. No, the Sqaireis done for;
that's certain"
Arthur could hear no more. His brain
reeled, and his blood ran cold, when he heard
the cool manner in which the villain spoke
Of an innocent man suffering the extreme
penalty CT the law. What was he to dO9
Might not these wretehes attempt his life
also? He dared not try to escape, for be
felt certain that the slightest suspicion that
he had overheard their conversation would
be his death warrant; his only chance was to
remain quiet until the postboy returned.
How slowly the moments seemed 10 pass.
Surely the pOst-bOy must have lost his wayl
lad the old woman puPOsely misdirected
him? If so, he felt that his doom was
sealed. But harki what was that? Yes. it
was the sound of wheels 1t grew louder
and louder, and then ceased before the cot
tage. Hiding his agitation, he opened the
door, aud entered the front room, where he
found the old woman arguing with the
pOst-boy that the gentleman had left word
that he was not to be disturbed. Thank
ing her for her kindness, he put some loose
silver into her hand, jumped into the car
rage and arrived safely at his native ii
lage about daybreak. Unwilling to disturb
any of his friends, he drove 10 the hotel,
where, after taking some hurried refresh
Inent, he inquired the way TO the nearest
magistrate, to whom he Immediately went.
and related all that had passed ON the pre-
yiOus night. Xxx. -
''Very serious, sir; very serious indeed"
said the magistrate. ''AIr. Melville will take
his trial to-day at =. He was cOunseled
to apply for a remand, but he would not he
advised
what is TO be done9'' demanded Ar
thur.
'sThese fellows must be arrested directly
directly; and then we must start for,
in hopes of getting there before the trial is
over.s
aft might advise, l would have these
villains arrested as quickly as possible, so
that Mr.. Melyille's name may not be mixedup
with them"
GAS you made the discovery, l will be
guided by you, Mr.. Mr.. -
off you will allow me, would rather not
give my name until have seen Mr.. Mel
vilIe."
The magistrate seemed rather surprised
at this, but, Ike most country magistrates,
he was lamentably ignorant of the law, and
therefore did like to force gentleman to
give his name, though it might be necessary
in legal point Of view.
'sMy clerk will issue the warrants. he
continued, sand less than an hour these
men shall be in custody. In the mean
time, as you are friend of Mr. Meiville's,
| think you had better hasten to the assize
town, and let his counsel know the import
ant discovery you have made"
Without waiting for further directions,
Arthur fastened from the room, and was
soon on his way to the assize town. He
never paused on his way for refreshment,
or spared gold when it could quicken his
travelling; but still it was late in the day
when he arrived at the court house, which
he found so crowded that it was with diff
Guilty he could get in.
"HOw is the CASE going?n he asked a
man in the crowd. ---a
"GOingI it's gone. Oh, he's guilty
enough. The judge summed up dead
against him, and the jury have retired to
consider their verdict"
AT this moment there was hustle in the
court and a voice heard saying:
sENow, gentlemen, what is your verdict ~
'Guilty," was the solemn response.
For moment Arthur was astonished
but quickly recovering himself, he sprang
forward, and forcing his way through the
crowd, he cried at the top Of his voice:
sDO not receive that verdict, my lord
He is not guilty! have proof that he is
innocent"
''What is the meaning of this?" exclaimed
the judge.
"My lord, you are now trying that man
for the murder of Arthur Seaforth; can
prove that he never murdered him; in fact,
my lord, am Arthur Seaforthi My broth
er, who is seated over there, will prove my
identity, or what is even more certain, for
even brothers may be mistaken, these doc
uments will prove it. -.----.r
This is very singular" said the judge;
sGtbese documents seem authentic. Do you
recognize this gentleman as your brother,
Mr.. Robert Seaforth?"
"Undoubtedly 1 do, my lord" replied
Robert Seaforth, scarcely able to conceal
his emotion.
'.But then who was the murdered man:'
asked the judge.
THAT do not know" replied Arthur
"but know that two men have confessed
In my hearing that they murdered the man
and threw his body into Mr.. Melyille's
grounds; and have every reason to believe
that they are now arrested"
"That is perfectly true, my lord" said the
magistrate, who at that moment enteredthe
court, and stood close to the bench. .