Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-10-16

man, her voice broken witt
sobs; "are they going to try you
now?"
YES, mother, / am to be
tried to-day; but calm yourself
all will be we'll with me, fol
God above us knows that l am
not guilty." said the young man.
"You guilty, George? You
guilty? 0, no, no, no! You are
not guilty, you cannot be gull
ty, you was so good, so true, so
kind" said she taking off his
hat and brushing his hair back
from his forehead. "There,
there" she continued, "now you
look just as you used to when
on your knees | taught you your
first little prayer; in our dear
Old
"Come, come, woman, stand a.
side, and don't hinder us any
longer; the young man is wan
ted up yonder," said one Of
the officers pointing toward the
courthouse.
80, sir" said the woman, tur-
ming to the speaker, edo see
that he is not injured, for he is
good, o, 50 good; he is innocent,
| know he is"
"How do you know that, wo-
man?" asked the officer "may
be you can swear for him"
Observation-Disclosures | am his
mother, and-and yes | can
swear for him, because | taught
him his prayers, to love the
Lord and be tr@thful, aud"
"Yes, yes, we know all about
that sort of thing, but while you
was about such good things,
why didn't you teach him not
to break into other peoples
stores when they are asleep, eh?"
said one of the officers. "Come
on, my covey!" he exclaimed,
to George; "twelve men will
soon have something to say a
bout your case, and the judge,
he'll fix things to the satisfac-
ton Of the people, | guess, if
he don't yours, so come on"
Barker's progress was arres-
ted by this pathetic scene, and
he became Il silent and deeply
interested witness Of it. Touch
cd by.it, he followed the group
up tothe courthouse. just be-
fore ascending the stairs which
led to the courtroom, the young
man paused and, turning to his
mother, enquired if Mr.. Aiken
was TO defend him.
"He will not defend you,
George, unless we pay him in
advance, but we have no money,
and"
And he refuses" said the
young man in eart-broken ac-
cents. "Oh, my God ; have
mercy on me ! what shall | do ?
no one to defend me /; no one to
save me from an unjust doom ~
he continued, losing control of
in his mental agony.
Come along; don't stop to
blubber here. The judge, he'll
some one to defend you.
Come, come" said one of the
constables, seizing the prisoner
by the collar, and urging him
up stairs, followed by his weep
ing, trembling mother.
He was soon seated in the
prisoners box, to wait the pro-
ceedings of the court.
Barker followed the officers
and prisoner in the courtroom
and seated himself within the
bar. He had now a better OPP
portmity to observe the young i
man, who, in a measure, had re-
covered his composure. The '
pallor which had overspread his
had given place to
a slight flush his clear eye, I,
delicate and finely moulded /
features, bespoke intelligence,
but not guilt. 1t was a face to
be studied, and it was closely
studied by the young lawyer. {
. If that young man is guilty of !
any crime, then l am no judge ,
Of the human face" he thought.
Court had not yet opened for
The day few lawyers were in {
the bar the officers in attend
ance were lounging carelessly ;
On the benches ; some of the !
Iurymen had found their way
INTO their seats, and were con-
in a low tone with one {
another, occasionally glancing I
1t the prisoners box ; while the
spectators present regarded its ,
inmate as a being whose trial
was, perhaps, to afford them I
some amusement. The circum-
stances by which he was sur