The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-06-16

told him That thorough investigation was
necessary to vindicate his name.
e Instead of inviting inquiry, as good
policy, to put it on no higher ground,
would have dictated, Obed was indignant
or feigned to be, at the imputation cast
upon him. His tone enhanced rather than
allayed the prevailing doubts, and a search
of the premises was begun without wait
ing for his permission.
"Not far from the cabin, beneath some
scattered straw, signs were discovered in
dicating that the earth had recently been.
disturbed and on digging down little
way, the mangled corpse of Enos Burdge
was exhumed,
"Obed admitted that he had taken pos
session of the cabin on the evening Of its
late owners departure, and that he slept
there that night. Enos Burdge had never
been seen alive since. Who was likely to
have slain and buried him where his body
was found but the man who had both the
motive and opportunity?
"That was the question l asked myself
when retained to conduct Obeds defence
and confess l was unable to return sat
isfactory answer. Still felt bound to do
my best, and did it.
son the trial, the facts were proved
much as have related them. In summing
up, made the most of 0bed's good char.
acter, dwelt ON the fallaoiousness of cir
cumstantial evidence, read cases from the
books to show how many judicial murders
it had been accessory to, and wound up
with strong appeal to the jury to give the
defendant the benefit of every reasonable
doubt.
d" But old Paxwax, the presiding judge,
striped the gliding off my speech by re-
peating in his charge the usual plantitudes
about the impossibility of circumstances
lying. True, he told the jury that the
prisoner was entitled to all reasonable
doubts but then, he emphasized the word
reasonable in such way as to indicate,
plainly enough, that in his opinion, in
the present case, any doubt would be Who'll
ly unreasonable.
"When the jury brought him in guilty,
Obed turned pale, for moment, though,
on the whole, think he bore it better than
l did.
"What have you to say asked the judge,
'why the sentence of the law should not be
pronounced upon you?'
"Nothin'," Obed answered !" only
you're agoin' to send me, afore a court as
has got more sense, hope, than this'n an
whar Ill git fair trial, even if Squire
Badger arn't thar to plead my case.
"The judge reproved him for his levity
and, after an exhortation to repentance,
which would have become the mouth Of a
better man, old Paxwax sentenced the
prisoner to be hanged, at the end of six
weeks.
'"I applied in vain for a writ of error and
stay of proceedings. Equally in vain ap-
pealed to the Executive clemency. Gov
ernors of States are generally so much
more just than the Great Governor, than
when it becomes question of mercy,
the responsibility is commonly shufled of
on the latter.
"Obed sent me message to come and
see him on his last night. He was the on,
ly inmate of the little log Jail, with walls
three tiers of timber thick.
"The jailer let rue in and closed the
door upon me. 1t wasn't usual, then, as
+ now, to keep close watch on condemned
criminals to see that they didn't anticipate
their doom, If they hanged themselves, it
was so much trouble saved.
Z" How do you feel, 0bed?' l Inquired,
taking his hand kindly.
+" Jest nid'lin, he answered. You see
could stood it heap better if Hettie
hadn't come to see me-"
; "Die like a man." | said; there's no
help for it now"
81 can't do it, he replied, and what's
more, won't"
81 looked at him in surprise"
"You see this yer rope" he continued.
, Il made it out o. my bed clothes, this after
, noon, determined, if had to be hanged,
to do the job myself but since l seen Het-
tie, changed my mind"
"My astonishment increased
GA lawyer han't no right to peach on
his client, hes he p he asked"
, "This was a question including several
others, among them the important one
5 when the relati onship referred to might be
considered ended"
5 Sat any rate, if you give the alaSm now,
, Ilkill you, y he said quietly, and before
l knew it he had grasped my arm with one
J hand, and placed the other on my mouth