The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-05-14

mony given and the points presented on
the side of the prosecution.
The defense submitted the following
The prisoner was a man of high char
acter In the community, and of known
good traits as citizen. That altlsough
he was opposed to the marriage If his
sister to Geofrey Armstrong, his dis
like of the latter did not partake OF
the character of violent hatred, and
was altogether insufficient on which to
found an accusation of this kind The
prisoner could not account for the
knife and cap being in his room. They
must have been placed there by some
other party, In order to direct suspicion
IN the wrong quarter.
The prisoner admitted that he had
searched for Armstrong the night before
the murder, and he wished to see him ON
private business. But he had left town
without seeing him and the fact that he
returned the next day ought to be proof
of his innocence.
When asked why he left town SO late
at night, prisoner replied that his time
was precious, and by leaving at that
hour he could do his business early in
the morning and return by noon, which
he did. His business was connected
with Armstrong, and that was the reason
he had wished to see him before leaving.
The said business was of sfch nature
that it would be of no avail In the de-
Tense and hence prisoner declined to
mention it.
Such was the substance of the points
elaborated upon by the respective coun-
sci. Able and eloquent speeches were
made on both sides, and the .Judoe
charged the jury impartially.
The large audience was agitated by
conflicting emotions; first, the general
esteem in which the prisoner was held
second, the almost overwhelming eyi-
dence against him. The verdict was
awaited almost breathlessly.
The prisoner was found guilty OF man
slaughter, and sentenced to hard labor
In the State Prison for the term of ten
years.
VI
MISS ooBYDoN's NARRATIVE.
When recovered from my illness NV
brother was in prison. I looked over
the accounts of the trial
Fools - thought L ssWhy do you
say my brother is guilty of manslaugh.
teri He is either guilty of murder, or
he Is Innocent IF he killed Geoffrey
armstrong, it was devilish, cold-blood-
ed murder. But you doubted it. You
knew he could not do such thing. You
wanted to convict somebody, though
and SO you declared my poor brother
guilty of nnanslaughter =
But he was innocent. He never did
The deed. AS soon as was stron6
enough, made preparations for Jour
ney; would go to the prison, and see
Philip.
With dreary heart and a mind
,iouded with trouble, I got my clothes
n y order, and made preparations to go.
One evening, when I was sitting in my
room, despondent and gloomy, knock |
was heard ut the front door. The SER
7ant said gentleman had called to see
ne. In istless manner I gave direc- +
ions that he might be shown in. John I
Hlyers was ushered into my presence.
l shall never forget nv FEELINGS on /
him. All the dreaded meme /
les of the last sad two months rose up
'efore me, thickly and oppressively.
~ brain was heavy lump of lead. But
q the midst of all my wretchedness rose
ne thought, That man is my enemy 20
ie stood looking at me, with his small
lack eyes, bright and insinuating, in a
manner questioning and doubtful. He
eemed to wish to read nv thouphts
before, he had been only an aco1ain-
ance who had made himself dnsaereea-
~ lntlmate-a rejected lover, q disap-
oInted sultor, who evidently wished to
sLnaln a friend; but now, L could not ]
elp 1t, he seemed like an enemy-an in I
'uder on my rights, and destroyer of |
y happiness. It was the first time /
ad seen him since the murder. ]
8 Miss Esther" said he, "I make {
Did to call on you, for hope we are {
lends, as we used to be before the-the l
-eat misfortune that has come over MS. y I
He spoke in a low tone, with an at 8
mpt to be subdued and sympathetic in 1
manner. The character did not suit Z
M well, for his bright eyes sparkled u
ID snapped as if they would give the lie
his pretentons. a
This is an unexpected honor. Mr..
vers, replied coldly. "Win YOU n
ke a seat ~ a
He sat down, and rubbed his thin il
nds. "
&c All, Miss Esther, it is daily demon
ated that this world is but vale of q
rs. Ihe happiest of us see dark DAYS. q q
Q the most confident are often doomed u
meet with disappointment. y
He spoke with o satisfied air. as If tl,is ss
lie speech were triumph of eloouence. er
t should set him up in my opinion.
True, was the only response I could fe
ke.
Yes, Miss Esther, human beings who
m perfect often carry sorrow 10 the or
rts of their friends by appearing in
ir true characters. % wi
WIS IN no mood for conversation. and
not reply. to
But. he continued, g our duty is ic'
to mourn and pine away we should
ler cast aside sorrowful memories on
look about us for new associations WI
ting ourselves and those around MS
pier. /" =. m,
Sorrow and disgrace are not easily sol
rotten or set aside, Mr.. Rivers. . 20
All, but it Is q fault of the worlds I'M
pie that they associate the guilt Of eAs
with the innocence of another. ma 8.
should not bear the disgrace Of sa1
I brothers cri-that is to say, his inn
onment. y no
hat was cruel stab, and he knew II. r.
would have said tsmy brother'a =. 80
le, !" If he had dared. - -
Mr.. Rivers replied, with dignity. - -
"a should know that such conyersa- - ~
is painful to me. You viii Certainly - -
ne the kindness to dismiss the sub G iafi
7-eS 461l
Il II