Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-28

as rose. UtUe eHE Gto oEPefh"e" Wv.
iuries believe in ghosts-and this Judge doe"
was the sceptics admonition.)
II have only word to say, gentlemen. AS
I warned you in advance, the evidence on
both sides can neither be controverted nor re-
conciled. There is a doubt as to the murder; ;
a certainty that twas not committed by Jacob
Moore. You cannot doubt that little girls
frank blue eyes and untripping tongue. l
told you the defense had no theory as to this
case; but I, as an individual, have theory.
I believe that the unknown deceased went to
Jacob Moore's and took that knife, as repre-.
sented, with thepurpose of committing suicide.
l believe that he walked to that dreadful ra-
vine, on that Wednesday afternoon, and there
and then cut his own throat, and died, and
his body rested there until it was found as
you have heard. I believe, nevertheless, gen.
tlemen of the jury, and know that in your
secret hearts you believe with me, that the
dead man, in his living image, either that or
his spectre, or shape assuming that image,
appeared as has been testified by the various
witnesses Why, gentlemen Of the jury?
Why should that unquiet ghost have returned
from the regions to which it had just now fled
in despair?'
"He came back to fix it on Jake Moore. I
guess" said the prosecutor. laughing.
"Ah, gentlemen of the jury" I said, 1--WE
may not go beyond the grave in search Of mo-
tives-it boots us little to vex the inscrutable
with our questions but that, at least, did not
bring the unhappy spectre back. Jake Moore
was already convicted, by the knife and the
purse, before that shade came back. May we
not rather assume"-I put it timidl ly-"that,
in the new born prescience of another exist
ence, it was seen that by taking the knife and
leaving the purse an innocent mans lite was
put in peril? May not the dead mans spirit
have dragged itself wearily back to the world
of troubles, not to convict, but to acquit; not
for vengeance, but in mercy and justice; not
to follow up criminal, but to save the hunt
ed life of the innocent and unfortunate man
before you? Gentlemen of the jury, ask your
selves that question, and bid your own hearts
furnish the answer!"
Well, Jake Moore was acquitted, of course.
The Jury declined even to leave their seats.
When the applause that welcomed the verdict
had ceased, Mr.. Grandson arose and said
"May it please your Honor, while should be
sorry to see the evidence of ghosts taken often
in this or any other court, against the evidence
of hard facts, am happy in being able to
show, in the most satisfactory manner, that
the conclusion to which, the jury has come, in
the present instance, is the right one. Since
we have been sittiug here, have seen an off,
Ger from Canada, who has given me the histo-
ry of the unfortunate deceased. He was
member of the Society of Friends, person of
consequence and property, Philip Dingle by
name, and most amialle gentleman, but, un-
happily, subject to occasional attacks of NEIL
tai alteration. 1t was in one of these fits he
wandered off and destroyed his own life in
the manner described to you. That he HIM
self committed the deed we know from let
ter written by himself, in the neighboring city,
and there mailed day or two previous to his
appearance in Hunberg, in which he avows
his intention in unmistakable language. That
letter was sent to his nephew and heir, living
in Australia, and it has been the means Of
tracing up Mr.. Dingle and establishing his
identity in an undoubted way. I knew these
facts before the case was given to the jury,
may it please the Court" concluded Mr.
Grandson "but I was confident the prisoner
would be acquitted, and had not the impu-
dence to interrupt the brilliant and ingenious
defense contrived by my young associate, who,
as I need not say to your Honor, has this day
shown himself an ornament and a light to
our profession"