The Van Buren press., 1874-11-10
An Arkansas Court Incident
JUDGE wITuER's NARRATIVE.
from Western Methodist. |

from western MethUdist.
The following incidents occurred In
Ozark, Franklin county, Arkansas, with.
in the past three weeks Being the Cir
eut Judge of the county of Franklin
aforesaid, caused the court to convene
on the - day of this month"; and wss
henceforth for the term of two weeks,
busy all day. But the good pastor, the
Rev. H. Pickett, invited me to preach on
Wednesday night after court began, and
thereafter every night except two, for
one week and a half For the first time
in my career as minister, preached
series of sermons on holiness-I did so
because it was duty and apleasure. A
revival resulted. Brother Puckett had
already, before my arrival, engaged sew
eral of his members in a covenant Of
conservation and prayer for perfect
love-" and this accounts for the readi
ness with which the Church received my
poor utterances on that subject.
James Simpson. Of oarber county, was
at that court tried on an indictment for
murder in the first degree. The case
was at bar six days, able counsel appear.
ed for and against the defendant. On
the evening Of the sixth day and about
nlne p, IN, (night SESSION. the jury re
tired 10 consider Of the verdict, " and
after closing the door, each asked the
other what he thought of the case, with
out eliciting a response till the question
was put to Samuel Weaver. Said he
Gentlemen, it is proper to ask divine
aid in all matters, but especially so in a
matter of such magnitude as this My
suggestion is, first. to pray" Where
upon the entire twelve jurors bowed
in humble, silent pray" A jury at
prayers This verdict was returned into
court at midnight. 1--WE. the jury. find
the defendant guilty Of murder In the
first degree. Samuel Weaver, foreman.
The defendant, who seemed as cheerful
as usual in such cases, fell on his knees
by his wife, who sat near, and laying his
head on her knees began to weep aloud
the wife crying with tears of anguish
| directed the sheriff to put strong
guard around the Jail that night, and ad.
journed court till next morning to hear
motion for trial, as is usual in such
eases. left that scene Of wretchedncss,
and with heavy heart went directly to
my boarding house, but had only gone
half way when met column Of pedes.
trans praising God as they walked
"Hie friends!' said /, what does this
mean7' Eighteen conversions to.
night" said they. Then" said /,
81 praise on. and l will lift my own poor
heart in gratitude to God" There it
was. On Court Square jury kneeled, a
man found guilty, and the penalty death |!
Just a few squares off eighteen souls
made new, walked in the light of God
The prisoner prayed all night; so say
the guards He professcd to have been
converted the night before, and prayed
God to move the court and lawyers to
mercy, and turn the hearts of the people
toward him; thanked God that his sins
we're forgiven, and prayed that he might
not be hung. The hearts of the guard
were touched, they wept silently as they
walked their beats, listening to penitent
murderer's prayer.
The re assembling Of court found me
with the sentence of death ready to read,
though sick at heart with the thought.
The leading counsel for the prisoner
filed n motion for new trial, and said !:
al will not argue the motion, since it is
agreed by all the coansel for the State
that the grounds for new trial shall be
conceded, and the defendant will plead
guilty to murder in the second degree. I"
All parties, aside from the record. ad.
mitted the justice Of the verdict, but con.
siderations Of mercy seemed to have been
the real grounds of the concession rather
than any facts pleaded in the motion.
The Court was astonshed beyond meas
ure but on the concession set tho yer.
dict, granted new trial, and the defend.
ant Immediately rose up and IN person
entered his plea of" guilty OF murder In
the second degree. Neither court nor
bar had at that time heard Of the prison
cr's night long prayer, but from some
nscrutable cause, every one, the court,
the lawyers for and against, and all the
people, seemed to favor mercy. While
the sentence Of Twenty one years at
hard labor in the jail and penitentiary
house" was being delivered, there was
scarcely dry eye in tho house. All
parties were satisfied. Hard and old
sinners said Judge, the world could
not make me doubt that the prayer Of
the prisoner was heard"
have neither seen nor read OF court
incidents like these.