Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-01-18

( ] was too much stuplhed at trst to asa what
it all meant. did 50 AT, last, and then the ex-
PLANTATION came, it was tcrrihle Ny friend,
with " Ii I'M had SO lately set out in company,
had been murdered aud robbed near the spot
at which I, but alone, knew we had separa-
ted. was the last person known to have
been with him, andI was now arrested on sus-
pcion Of his murler.
A search Of the premises WAS Immediately
instituted The watch was found in the draw
CT in which had put it, and was Identified rs
the property of the murdered man bis horse
too. was found in the stable, for the animal
had jus, put there was none other. reeos-
nized him myself when I saw him in the light.
"What said know not, My confusion
was taken as additional evidence Of guilt
And when, at length, did command language
to give an intelligent statement, it was received
with sneers of incredulity. The mob spirit is
| inherent in man, at least in crowds of men,
1t may no. always manifest itself in physical
| violence II sometimes contents itself with
/ lynching character. But whatever its form,
it is always relentless, cruel. As the proofs Of
my guilt one after another came to light, low
mutterinss gradually grew into a Glamour for
vengeance and but for the frmness ofoue man
the officer who had me in charee-l would
doubtless have paid the penalty of my suppos-
ed offence on the spot. 1t was not sympathy
for me that actiated my protector. His heart
was as hard as his Office, bat he represented
tie majesty Of the law, and took a sort Of grim
pride in the position. As much under the
glance of his eyes as before the muzzle Of his
pistol, the cowardy c!amOrers drew back
Per. APPS they were not sufficiently numerous
to feel the full effect Of that mysterious reflex
influence which makes crowd Of men 50
much worse, and at times so much better. than
any Of them singy.
At the end of Some months my trial came.
It could have but one result. Circumstances
too plainly declared my guilt, | alone knew they
led. The absence Of the jury was very brief.
To their verdict paid little heed. 1t was q
single hideous word but had long anticipa-
ted it, aud it madO no impression. Az
little impression was made by the words Of the
Judge which follow i il, and his solemn iuvo-
cation that God might have mercy upon me,
which man was just to vouchsafo sounded like
the holowest Of hollow mOckeries. II may
be harl for tie condemned criminal TO meet
death, it is still harder for hin who is innocent
The one, when the shock is over, acquiesces
in his doom and gives himself mp TO repent
ance; the heart Of the other. filed with rebel
lion against mans injustice, can scarcely bring
itself to ask pardon Of God had gradually
overcome this feeling in spite Of the good cler-
gymans irritating efforts, which we're mainly
directed towards extricatns confession, with
out which, lie assured ne, he had no hopo TO
offer.
"On the morning OF the day Fixed for nv
execution, felt measurably resigned. I had
so long stood face to face with death, had so
accustomed myself to look upon it as merely
morlentary pang-that my memory should be
; one day vindicated She for whom had gone
to prepare home had already found one in
; Heaven. The tdngso Of my calamity had bro
ken her heart. She alone Of all the world be-
, lieved me innocent aud she had died with
prayer upon her lips that the truth might yet
be brought to light All this had heard and
it soothed as with a 3wect incense my troubled
spirit. Death, however nnwelcome the shape,
was now portal beyond which could see
+ one angel waiting TO receive me. | heard the
J sound Of approaching footsteps, and nerved
myself 20 meet the expected summons. TIE
r door of my cell opened, and the sheriff and bis
b attendants entered. He held in his hand a
= paper He began to read it, The words full
and free pardon were the first To strike my
: pre-occupied senses They affected the by
a ISLANDERS more than myself VT 50 IL was;
= was pardoned for an offence had never COM
D mitted
"The real culprit, none other, it is needless
to say, than he who sought and abused my
y hospitality, had been mortaIly wounded in =
: receu. ARRAY in distant city, but had lived
= long enough TO make disclosure, which had
! been laid before the Governor barely in time to
E save me from shameful death, aud condemn
D me to cheerless and burdcnsome life.
r "'This is my experience. Ny judgment a.
g yours, in the case before us leals to but one
conclusion, that Of the prisoners guilt; but
4. not less confding and apparently unerring was
D the judgment that falsely pronounced M
: own"
Q We no longer importuned our fellow-juroT,
| but patiently awaited our discharge on tbs
e ground Of inability TO agree, which csmo AZ
: last.
A Clergyman eta recent Baptist Sunday
school convention said that be was called 10
tho BEDSIDE Of an old lady who expressed her
dislike to the minister who had been visiting
ber, because" she said, he only bent ono
knee when he prayed, and the Bible says ey-
cry knee shall bow"