The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-25
HISTORY OF THE TRIAL.


HISTORY OF THE TRIAL.
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Monday, the 4th OF December, was bleak, cold,
dismal day. Up or the Severn River, In ntfui. sharp
biting blasts, blew northwest wind, and the whole
scene about this 'ancient city" was dark. dismal
and dreary In the extreme. Nearly all night
binding snow storm had been driven about py the
restless wind, anu upOn that morning was being
hurried through the streets and around the corners
with q full and unwelcome blast. At half-past
seven Mrs. wharton who was 10 meet the most
terrible Of all fates that can come to cultivated
mind, arose and began the preparations for the
scene that was to follow al later hour Her daugh-
ter Nellie was also up at that time. dressed, ana
stood
GAZING THROUGH THE BARRED WINDOWS
out upon the barren waste before aer, beyond
which the whitened sepuichres OF the departed
spirits that had known this place as their local nab-
tation IN life, adding more mournful effect to the
already des0ate sight, At half-past eight rude
pine table was set out into the centre OF the room
covered with q simple white tablecloth, and SER
want came from q neigho0rtng restaurant and pre-
pared breakfast. The two lone creatures sat down
to eat. Little was said. The anguish that filed
those hearts could be felt but not portrayed In
words After breakfast and about nine O'Clock they
Rosa Nelson whose kind and affectionate attention
to their imprisonment had shown them the sinceresr
OF friends At halpast little old coach, painted
black worn dim and rusty In service, drew up
before the door OF the prison house. Attached to
II was dlapidated team OF horses and upon
the box sat half-cad negro who shivered from the
effects OF the biting winters wind as he stood In
waiting. AS the morning advanced the scene
within the prison cell became more sorrowiul than
tongue can tell or pen write. Miss Nellie, the de-
voted daughter, as she went about gathering to-
gether the wrappings they were to wear upon this
the day when new sorrow, worse than all the rest,
was to come to her. seemed the picture OF desoa-
ton. The bright joyous girl Of few months before
had been transformed into o sorrow-stricken
woman Deep black lines had been traced beneath
the handsomest OF hazel eyes, large, lus.
trous and full OF expression; cheeks that
had been once full, lips that had
been pouting and rosy, were sunken away,
and scarcely resemblance to the pretty girl of
few months before now remained. As the prepare
ton began fearful sorrow was gnawlng at her heart
and eating out her very existence, binding tears
filed ner eyes, and the looks and actions OF this de-
voted girl brought much unhappiness to all those
about her. The mother seemed to bear up even
better than the daughter, and although her health
was quite feeble the experience Of years had given
her the power to bear up under the great sorrows
that were upon her.
SHE EVEN SAID CHEERING WORDS
to that child, who seemed almost passing
away with the anguish that was IN her
heart. Az q quarter to ten the manly
Sheriff OF the county appeared and stated
that the hour for departure had arrived. All were
In readiness, and the solemn procession moved out
OF the room into the corridor down the stairs en-,
House. Outside there had gathered quite crowd
OF idle and curious spectators anxious to see this
woman or whom 30 much had been said and OF
wn0m so little was known. She passed through
the crowd leaning upon the arm OF the Sheriff and
bar, lust behind those that would be occupied by
her defenders. Precisely al ten O'Clock the three
Judges all staid ana sober men, past the meridian
OF fN entered the court room and ut once assembled
10 their seats. The room was crowded almost TO
sun0cation; within the bar sat men OF legal potl-
country; without the bar were the rich anu the
poor, the high and the low, the old and the young,
mingled III one heterogeneous mass. 10 the right
OF the railing upon raised seats provided expressly
for their use, were gathered at least q hundred
representatives OF the fair sex, whose dress and
manners indicated that they were from the higher
stations or refined and educated society, who
peered down upon this lone woman and her craped
constant friends who were the believers In
her innocence, with that curiosity that belongs more
TO the vulgar than the refined. Alter pause OF q
few moments the gavel Of the Chief Justice FELL q
venerable crier, whose hOary head and Son0rOuS
voice mas noted the incomlngs and ougoings OF TINS
Court for about generatlon or two, ordered all TO
draw near to hear the solemn proceedings that were
TO take place.
THE ExClTEMENT WITHIN THE COURT ROOM
was intense. The nushed breathing OF the crowd
hrst word that should be uttered, either for or
against this unfortunate woman. AT the trial table
the attorneys Tor the prosecu ion and defence.
comprising some OF the ablest lawyers OF which the
State Of Maryland could boast. The Hon. A. X.
Syester, the newly elected Attorney General OF the
State of Maryland whose abllites had been recog-
nzed OF the highest order, and whose success IN
the field OF criminal trials had marked him as one
OF the ablcst and most sagacious advocates of the
country, sat the principal feature Tor the prose-
cuJloD. HIS assistant Mr.. James Revel, although
young man, was most able assistant OF such q
distinguished representative as Mr.. Syester. For
the defence appeared MIR. J. Nevett Steele who
bears an envlaDe reputation both as an aole advo-
cate anu q sound reasoner. He was assisted by Mr..
J. II. Thomas, man well advanced In years, whose
reputation Is among the best o. the bar IN the city
Annapolis, appeared as the junior counsel
Chief Justice Miller was the
FIRST TO BREAK THE SILENCE,
| that was every moment becoming more painful,
Revel, the states Attorney OF Anne Arundel county,
stated that they were ready to 90 on. Mr.. steele,
meet the Charges Gr. Revell then stated that the
FIRST thing would be the arrangement OF the prisoner
This announcement seemed TO be very gratifying 70
the audience, as the idea presented itself undoubt
lying their idle curiosity by sight Of the prisoners
| face. The Chief Justice then directed that the
prisoner be arraigned. Mr. steele at TINS ]onct1re
Wharton, you will be obliged TO remove your vel
| and stand up while the Indictment Is being read
She at once arose, moved towards the Clerks desk
stood upon raised dais at the foot OF Inc witness
| box, and with sweep OF her goved hand SWEEP
| back from her lace the gloomy Grape that had
| heretofore MD lt from the gaze OF the au
| dience. AS she did so she turned her ful
| gaze upon the crowd, ana / venture the
| assertion that few who saw that sorrow-marke6
face that morning WAL ever forget It. me gentle
| manly Clerk, Mr.. Harwood directed ner TO hold NJ
her nand, which she did, while her daughter, wh'
| mad followed ner TO this spot and had sank III ne
feet upon the floor ~
| BURST INTO A FLOOD OF BITTER TEARS.
The Indictment was read recountinG to her that
instead OF ner devotion 10 religious principles, sn
had been instigated by the devil TO the commission
OF some OF the most fearful crimes known TO humal
laws. Through all the weary counts she listened
| while the audience looked on with eager interest
| When it was all through the Clerk pronounced tn
usual question, equity or not guilty" sne reptile,
sistance OF Mr.. Steele returned to her seat behn'
| nm drawlnQ back the vel over her face and hi