Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-04-27

avail me nothing with you, prlde-blinded
ministers OF death. You fashion TO your
selvcs-out of your own vain concerts do
you iashion-modes aud instruments, by
the aid of which you fondly imagine to
invest yourselves with attributes which
belong only to Ouniscience and now
warn you, you-and it is voice from
the tomb, in whose shadow / already
stand, which addresses you-that You
are about to commit most cruel aud
deliberate murder"
He paused, and the jury looked into
each others eyes for the courage they
could not find in their own hearts. The
voice of conscience spoke, but it was
only for few moments audible. The
suggestions that what grave parliaments.
Learned Judges, aud all classes of "re-
spectability" sanctioned, could not be
wrong, much less murderous or cruel,
sileneed the "still, small" tones, and tran
quilted the startled jurors.
"Prisoner at the bar" said the judge
with his cold, calm voice of destiny, 81
cannot listen to such observations you
have been found guilty of hcinous Of
fence by jury of your own countrymen
after patient trial. With that finding
l need scarcely say entirely agree. am
as satisfied OF your guilt as if had seen
you commit the act with my own bodily
eyes. The circumstance of your being a
person who, from habits and education,
should have been above committing so
base a crime, only aggravates your guilt.
However, no matter who or what yoI
have been, you must expiate your
offence on the scaffold. The law has very
properly, tor the safety of society, de-
creed the punishment OF death for such
crimes our only and plain duty is to
execute the law"
The prisoner did not reply he was
leaning 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 accus-
toned form. The court then rose, and a
turnkey placed his hand upon the prison
er's arm, to lead him away. Suddenly
he uncovered his face, drew himself up
to his full height-he was remarkably
tall man-and glared fiercely round upon
the audience, like wild animal at bay.
"My lord" he cried, or rather shouted,
in an excited voice. The judge motion
ed impatiently to the jailor, and strong
hands impelled the prisoner from the
front of the dock. Bursting from them,
he again sprang forward, and his arms
outstretched, whilst his glittering eyes
seemed to hold the judge spell-bound,
exclaimed, "My lord, before another
month has passed away, you will appear
at the bar Of another world, to answer
tor the life, the innocent life, which God
bestowed upon me, but which you have
impiously cast away as a thing of naught
and scorn !''. He ceased, and was at
once borne off, The court, in some con-
fusion, hastily departed. 1t was thought
at the time that the Judges evidently
failing health had suggested the prophe-
cy to the prisoner. 1t only excited a
few days. wonder, and was forgotten.
The position of barrister in such cir
cumstances is always painful. need
hardly say that my on feelings were of
very distressing kind. Conscious that
if the unfortunate man really was gull
ty, he was at least not deserving of capi-
tai punishment, exerted myself to pro-
cure reprieve. In the first place
waited privately on the Judge; but he
would listen to no proposal for respite.
Along with number individuals-chiefy
of the Society of Friends petitioned
the crown for commutation of the
sentence. But being unaccompaned
with recommendation from the judge,
the prayer of our petition was of course
disregarded the law, it is said, must
a q, l. al
been exercised under shelter of that re-
morseless expression
would willingly pass over the sue
ceedingly events. Unable to save his
lite, | endeavored to soothe the few re-
naming hours Of the doomed convict,
and frequently visited him in the con-
demned cell. The more saw of him,
the deeper grew my sympathy in his
case, which was that of no vulgar felon.
81 have been most unfortunate man.
said he one day TO me. "a destiny
toward ruin in fortune and in lite has
pursued me. | feel as if deserted by
God and man yet ! know. or at leas,
would persuade myself that Heaven will
one day vndicate my innocence of this
foul charge. To think of being hanged
like dog for crime at which my SOU
revolts +? Great is the crime of those
imbecile jurors and that false and hard
hearted Judge, who thus, by irreversi
BILE decree, consign. q fellow-mortal to q
death of violence and disgrace. Oh God
help me--help me to sustain that bitter
hour !'p And then the poor man would
throw himself on his bed and weep.
But the parting with his wife and
children--what pen can describe tina,
terrible interview! They knelt il
prayer,their wo-begone countenauces suf
fused in tears, and with hands clasped
convulsiyely together The scene wal
too narrowing aud sacred for the eye o.
a stranger. Irushed from the cell, and
buried myself in my lodgings, whence
did not remove till all was over. Next
day, James Harvey, victim. of circum
stantial evidence and of barbaroui
criminal code, porished on the scaffold.
Three weeks afterwards, the court ar
rived at populous city in the west o
England. 1t had in the interval visited
another, assize town, and there Judge
A had left three for execution. AT
tho trials of these men, however had