Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-08-05

The day Of trial commenced, but 1T
was conceded on all sides that the pris.
oner. with his eminent counsel, his com.
mand OF money. and his throng of sym.
pathizing friends, would cheat the gal
lows and mock at justice. After the
evidence was all in, Mr.. Cook made An
able and brilliant opening for the State,
but to no avail. Then followed the
counsel for defence. They were forci.
BILE. able and eloquent They wrought
powerful effect upon the jury, and it
was palable to all that there was scarce
" possibility of verdict anlagonisIic
to the prisoner.
Mr.. Byrne rose in the courtroom, and
amid deep silence proceeded TO close io'
the prosecution. Pale as the white walls
around him, with long and flowing black
locks. his eye burning and glowing like
a blazing coal, he tore the veil oil soph-
istrv. weaved around the subject 10y his
adversaries. and laid the bald and awful
facts before the jury. Now rising 10 aw'
iul dcnunciation, he seemed Nemesis to
the cowiug criminal before him; now he
turned his voice to low persuasion, AS he
sought 10 mould the jury 10 his wish
But. rs he paused. after uemend Gus
effort, his eye persuaded him that, unless
he called Ia his aid some new and start
linz line OF action, the verdict woald be
against hun.
| Al the time an old and eccentric man
,-~s bxilifr of the court. One of his pc
culiarities was TO sleep through The argu-
ments OF counsel. and nausht could
.ronse him s,ye thd command oi the
count. OF the district aItoICeY directing
him TO some official act; but n theso
well known sounds he would start from
his seat with an alacrity remarkable for
one OF his years.
Turning to the old man. (who MAS en-
joying his usual nap Byrnc. To whom
this idioSl ncraSy was we'll known, point
ed his finger at the peaceful iincamentS
of his counlenancc. and enloSi,rd his
faithful attention To his duties But.
said he. 'hc has IN this ease lett one du.
~ unperlormtd" Then. with - Voice
that thrilled through mems hearts and
made the railers rim. MIR. BALM, call
William Adams" The old man Sprang
from his seat, and hurIying ACROSS the
court room to the entrance beyond. call.
ell. in weird, thick manner, the dead
mans name, "William Adams. William
Adams. William Adams. come into the
court"
The criminal shiyered in his seat. mems
blood flowed coldly, and the silence Was
n death. Justice seemed crying Ia
heaven tor rctributiua; the faces oi the
Jurors grew white and blue. and each
man glued his eyes upon the door as il
he expected the apparition to answer the
summons.
Gentlemen continued Byrne. that
witness can never come The oHe who
can relate to YOU the circumstances of
this tragedy lies in his cold and silent
grave. No bailif-s voice can arouse
him from his eternal sleep; naught save
the clarion blast of the Archangels
trump can pierce the adamaaiine walls
OF his resting place He has been deaf
cned forever by him who now stands ar
raigned at this bar. Base. brutal, bloody
man. upon YOU hangs this awful respon'
sibility. Your hands have dabbled in his
blood. and as the instrument Of outraged
society, demand your conviction"
Genius triumphcd. Justice WAS VIM
Dictated. and the prisoner cXpiated his OF.
fence on the Scafiold.