Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-06-11
# Enos Burdge was exhumed!

possession 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 so likely to have slain and buried
him where his body was found, but the
man who had both the motive and
opportunity7
''That was the question l asked my
self when retained to conduct Obed's
defense, anc I confess I was unable to
return satisfactory answer. Still, l
felt bound to do my best, and I did it.
"On the trial, the facts were proved
much as I have related them. In
summing up, made the most of Obed's
good character, dwelt on the falla
ciousness of circumstantial evidence,
read cases from the books to show how
many judicial murders it had been
accessory to, and wound up with a
strong appeal to the jury to give the
defendant the benefit Of every reason
able doubt.
"But old Paxwax, the presiding
judge, stripped the gliding off my
speech by repeating, in his charge, the
usual platitudes about the impossibility
of circumstances lying. True, he told
the jury that the prisoner was entitled
tc all reasonable doubts; but then be
emphasized the word reasonable in
such way as to indicate, plainly
enough, that in his opinion, in the
present case, any doubts would be
wholly unreasonable.
"When the jury brought him in
guilty, Obed turned pale for moment
though, on the whole, I think he bore
it better than | did.
"What have you to say asked the
judge, why the sentence Of the law
should not be pronounced upon you?'
"Nothing," Obed. answered, 'only
you're goin' to send me, judge, afore
a court as has got more sense, I hope,
than this'n, an whar I'll get fair trial,
even eff Squire Badger arnt thar to
plead my case
''The judge reproved him for his
levity; and, after an exhortation 20 re
pentance, which would have become
better man, old Paxwax sentenced the
prisoner to be hanged at the end of
six weeks.
81 applied in vain for writ of error
and stay of proceedings. Equally in
vain I appealed to the Executive
clemency. Governors Of States are
generally SO much more just than the
Great Governor, that when il becomes
a question Of mercy, the responsibility
is commonly sbufled off on the latter
"Obed. sent me message to come
and see him on his last night. He was
the only inmate of the little log Jail,
with walls three tiers of timber thick.
''The jailer let me in and closed the
door upon me. 1t wasn't usual then,
as now, to keep close watch on con-
demned criminals to see that they did
not anticipate their doom. If they
hanged themselves it was so mach
trouble saved.
"How do you feel, Obed.?" inquired
taking his hand kindly.
"Jest mid lin,' he answered. you
see l could stood it heap better if
Hettie hadn't come here to see me.
''Die like man." l said; ''there's no
help forit now
81 can't do it" he replied, IAN what's
more, l won't"
81 looked at him in surprise"
"You see this yer rope" he contin-
ued: I made it out O my ed-close
this afternoon, determined eff I had to
be hanged, to do the job myself; but
sence l seen Hettie, I've changed my
mind"
MY establishment increased.
ga lawyer hasn't no right to peach
on his client, hez he?" he asked.
''That was a question including
several others, among them the i'm
pcrtant one when the relationship re-
ferred to might be considered ended.
CAT any rate, eff you give the alarm
now, I'll kill you" he said, quickly;and
before l knew it he had grasped my
arm with one hand, and placed the
other on my mouth.
"You must submit to be gagged" he
added, in the same determined tone.
81 felt that conscience didn' demand
the imperilling of my life. I saw that
Ooeu. WAS desperate, ana WOuld SUCK
at nothing. | was, moreover, an in
FAINT in his hands.
ole stuffed wad of something into
my month, and secured it by a tight
bandage brought round and tied at the
back Of my neck.
"Then compelling me to change
clothing with him, bound me hand and
foot with the cord he had prepared, and
fastened me on his bed Then bidding
me good night, he tapped at the door
my usual signal to be let out.