Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-07-04

abouts at the time of the burglary. as
a had been alone in my room.
In all the Vast surging crowd that
awaited my arrival, there was not oue
face that betrayed pity or mpathy.
They glared at me as though I were a
Bengal tiger. and for while it seemed
as if L should be strung to lamp-post
without. the formali;y of trial. 4
preliminary examination, however,
was speedily held A crowbar that for
several days had been lying in the front
yard of the house where ! lodged was
first brought into court. 1t had been
used by the burglars in prying of the
lock of the door. My landlady testi-
fled that it was in the yard the evening
previous. The prosecuting attorney
next produced beautiful tatted neck
! tie. 1t was the one | usually wore.
The night before, when getting ready
for bed missed it. and had searched
for it everywhere in my ROOM Moth
er had worked it for my Christmas
present. They testified to finding it
On the floor, about six feet from the
empty safes. A murmur of satisfac-
ton arose from the excited mass of
people as the necktie was held up to
view.
And now, ali eyes are turned toward
Brown. He was pale and excited, and
had but partly recovered from his
fright. He testified to having seen me
standing in and around the bank
many times, and to my having been
the last man to leave, the night before.
He produced the watch, showed the
half imbdeded bullet, and then to my
utter horror, swore positively that by
the flash of the pistol he believed he
recognized my face as that of the burg
lar who shot him.
don't believe [ heard much more
of the evidence. Dazed, bewildered,
crushed, [ leaned my head on the ia
bic before me, to shut the gaze of the
jeerlng, exulting mob. The only wit
nesses in my favor were the well-worn
Latin grammar. and the little covered
Bible which they found in my valise
searching for burglars implements.
These, however, availed nothing. The
crafty lawyer said something about
hypocrisy and cunning, which soon
turned the tide of feeling in the old
channel. He urged long and forcibly, |
but | paid little heed. / was conscious
that after time the judge arose to
pronunce sentence. He spoke briefly |
of the terrible tide Of crime that |
seemed to be sweeping over the coun-
try, and of the hideous act that had |
nearly cost them a valuable citizen the |
night previous. The testimony was so |
direct, that his duty was plain, and |
much as be pitied lny youth-just then /
loud voices caused every eye to turn /
toward the door. Several horsemen
had leisurely ridden up few moments
before, and it was one of their number
that was now forcing his way into the
room. | raised my head and recog-
nized the honest face of stalwart Tom /
Crawford, my landlady's son. L was
little acquainted with him, except as
an influential man, and should have
paid no further attention had he not !
raised his gloved hand, and with a
gesture of authority bade the judge /
"Stop!" !
In few brief words he explained |
that az the shots were fired, he sprang
from his bed. intending to go down /
town. to see what was the matter Re /
membering that his overcoat hung in
my room. he went to the door and |
knocked. Receiving no answer, he
tried the knob, found the door unlock
ed, and entered.
He said that | was sleeping heavily, |
and that although the coat hung near
the head of the bed, | did not awake |
or make any motion. Turning to
where | sat he said: That poor boy /
knows nothing whatever of this
crime"
The excitement had been too much /
for my overtaxed nerves The gloom
had been so deep, so hopeless, SO /
dreadful, and the reaction so sudden
and unexpected, that with cry of joy |
| sprang toward Tom and fell faintlng
at his feet Kind hands soon brought
me to consciousness, but not before |
had been cleared of every suspicion of
guilt.
Tom bad hurried down town after [
leaving nay room, and was one of the
first on the spot Hastily organizing
a party, he had started in search of the
burglars, and after long and fruitless
hgpt, had returned to learn that was
aloRt to be convicted of burglary,
bank robbery and attempted murder.