Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-02-11
A JURYMAN's STORY.
BY A NEW YORK MERCHANT.

We had been out of court twenty
four hours, and stood eleven to one
The case was very plain one-at
least we eleven thought so. A MUIR
der of peculiar atrocity had been com
mitted; and though no eye had wit
messed the deed, circumstances point
ed to the prisoners guilt with unfail
ing certainty.
The recusant Juror had stood out
from the first He acknowledged the
congency of the proofs, confessed his
inability to reconcile the facts with the
defendants innocence, and yet, on
every vote, was steadily for acquittal.
His conduct was inexplicable. 1t
could not result from a lack of intelli-
gence; for, while he spoke but little,
his words were we'll chosen, and
evinced a thorough understanding of
the case.
Though still in the prime of man.
hood, his locks were prematurely
white, and his face wore a siugularly
sad and thoughtful expression. He
might be one ofthose who entertain
ed scruples as to the right OF society
to infilct the death penalty. But no
it was not that; for, in reply to such a
suggestion, he frankly admitted that
brutal men, like the vicious brutes
they resemble, must be controlled
through fear and that dread of death,
tie supreme terror, is, in many cases,
the only adequate restraint.
At the prospect Of another night OF
fruitless Imprisonment we began TO
grow impatient, and expOstulated
wa,mly against what seemed an unrea-
sonable captiousnesS; and some not
over kind rema, ks were indulged in as
to the improperly Of trifing with an
oath like that under which we were
acting.
And yet" the man answered, as
though comuning with himself, rather
than repelling the imputation, sit is
conscience that binders my concur
renee in verdict approved by my
judgement.
How can that be?" queried several
at once.
"Conscience may not always dare
to follow judgment
"But here she can know no other
guide"
81 once would have said the same. ,
"And what has changed your opin
ion?"
Experience"
The speakers manner was visibly
agitated, and we waited in silence the
explanation which he seemed ready tc
give. Mastering his emotion, as if II
answer to our looks of inquiry, he con
tinued:
"Twenty years ago, was a young
man just beginning in life. Few hac
brighter prospects, and none brighter
hopes. An attachment, dating from
childhood, had r!pened with its object
There had been no verbal declaration
and acceptance Of love-no forma
plighting of troth; but when | took m.
departure to seek home in the dis
tant west, it was a thing understood
that when | had found it and put it il
order, she was to share it. Life il
the forest, though solitary, is not ne
cessarily lonesome. The kind of so
ciety afforded by nature, depend
much on one self. As for me, liv
ed more in the future than in the pres
ent. and Hope is an ever Cheerful
companion. AT length the time cam
for making the final payment on tn
home which | had bought. 1t woulC
henceforward be my own; and, in
few more months, my simple dwelling
which / had spared no pans to rende
inviting, would be graced by its mis-
{ tress.
At the land office, which was som
sixty miles off, met my old friend
George c.. He, too, had come t.
seek his fortune in the west; and w
were both delighted at the meeting
He brought with him, he said, sun
of money which he desired to inves
! IN land, on which it was his purpos
to settle. expressed strong wisl
TO Rave him for a neighbor, and CAV,
him a cordial invitation to ACCOMPANY
me home, giving it as my beliefth b.
! could nowhere make better selection
than in that Siciniiy. He readily con
scented, and We set out together
We hal not ridden many miles, whel
George suddenly rec, l.ected a com
miss on he had undertaken for friend
which would require his attendance a
a public land sale on the following
day. Exacting a promise that h
would not delay his visit longer thar
necessary, and having given mlnut'
directions as to the route, | continued