The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-07-27
IDAHO WORLD.
ESCAPED THE GALLows.
THE DANGER OF cIRcuMsrANTIAL EvIDEN

ivv-orown mansion, in the State of Vir-
g.inia. one pleasant afternoon, not many
wears since, a group of young people
Of both sexes were gathered. Stand
ING in their midst was an old woman,
bent down with age, looking as if she
stood on the brink of the grave, but
her dark, restless eye showed that there
was vigorous life in her mind, if not in
her body.
ii She had been telling fortunes" for
the young people gathered around her,
and to all but one had she foretold
bright and happy future. The excep-
tionof this rule of blessedness through
life was handsome boy Of nineteen,
with dark, passionate face, and an
expression which indicated perfect
fearlessness.
Five years before the opening Of this
story an old gentleman and his nephew
hal moved to Virginia from some
Northern State, and buying farm, had
made it their home. Mr.. Mercer and
his nephew, Frank, were treated with
kindness by the gentlemen of the
neighborhood, and they received invita-
tions to the plantations near them.
Frank soon became acquainted with all
the country, but his uncle never left his
farm. and seemed to shun society For
this many reasons were given, but the
true one was that he had lost all his
family and Franks parents having left
him in Mr.. MERGERS charge, he determ-
ined to devote himself to the boy, and
found sufficient enjoyment in his COM
pany and in cultivating his farm.
Though reported very wealthy, and
that he always kept large sum of
gold in the house, Mr.. Mercer and
Frank lived in a quiet way and made
no display.
Thus passed Franks early youth,
from his fourteenth until his seventeenth
year, when our story opens. A man of
superior education, Mr. Mercer had
been his nephew's teacher, and had I'M
parted unto him much knowledge of
the world, of letters, and people, so
that Frank at nineteen was as well in
formed as if he possessed cultivated
education. There were those in the
neighborhood who reported that the
boy was wild and dissipated, and this
found ready believers in others, 50
that Frank had some enemies as well
as many friends.
Thus we find him; and the evening of
the commencement of our story he had
been invited to an entertainment given
by wealthy planter to his children
Mr.. Dewes, the planter, had three
children, the youngest and loveliest
of whom was Mary, girl of twelve
Mary and Frank were the best of friends,
and loved each other dearly. So when
the fortune-teller predicted dark and
stormy future for Frank, the tears arose
to the child's eyes, and she said: Don't
listen to her, Frank"
But the boy laughed, and, turning on
his heel, walked away.
Two days afterward he left home for
a weeks hunting in the mountains, but
the second night after his departure
the neighborhood was aroused by the
startling news that old Mr.. Mercer had
been murdered by his nephew. One
of the servants passing the house at
night heard cry, and seeing Franks
window open he sprang in and walked
across the hall to Mr.. MERGERS cham
Der, from whence the cry came. Lying
upon the floor was the old man, dead,
while near him stood his nephew with
bloody knife in his hand. In fright,
the negro rushed from the house and
gave the alarm Persons from the
neighborhood were sent for, and Frank
was seized, against every protestation
that he did not kill his uncle, and
thrown into jail
The feeling against the youth was
intense, for the negro told the story
how he had found Frank, and way
faring peddler, who had just assembled
the steps to ask to stay all night cor
roborated the mans statement.
The trial came off and the charges
were made known. Frank was accused
of starting upon hunting expedition
as blind, and then returning from the
mountain by night, had entered the
room, and attempting to remove
large bag Of gold kept by his uncle,