The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-02-02
4 JURYMAN'S STORY,

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 murder Of peculiarity OF.
roctY had been committed aud though
no eye had witnessed the dead, circum.
stances pointed to the prisoners guilt
with unfailiug certainty.
The recusant juror had stood out from
the first. He acknowledged the cogenoy
of the proofs, confessed his inability to
reconcile the facts with the defendants
innocence, and yet, on every vote went
steadily for acquittal. His conduct was
inexplicablc. 1t could not result from
lack Of Intelligence FOR. while be spoke
but little. his words were well chosen and
evinced a thorough understanding of the
case,
Though still in the prime Of manhood,
his locks were prematurely white aud his
face wore a riugular!y sad and thoughtful
expression. He might be one of those
who entertained scruples as to the right
Of society to iDhct the death penalty.
But no it was not that; for, 10 reply to
such suggestion, he frankly admitted
that brutal men like the vicious brutes
they resemble, must be controlled through
fear, and that dread OF death the supreme
terror, is ia many cases, the only ade-
quate restraint.
At the prospect Of another night Of
frultless Imprisonment we began to grow
impatient, aud expostuls,ed warmly
against what seemed an unreasonable cap.
tiousness and some not over kind re-.
marks were INDUCED in aa TO the impro
priety Of trifipg with an oeih like that
under which we were acting.
Aud yet,' the man answered, as though
commanding with himself, rather than re-
pelling the imputation, it is conscience
that hiDders my concurrence in verdict
approved by my judgment
How car that be ? queried several at
once.
Conscience may not always dare TO
follow judgment
Blu. nero che eau kpoa 10 other
guide
Il once euuld haze said tAe same
And what has changed your opinion,
Experience
The speakers manner Was sisbly aei-
tated, and we waited in silence the ox.
planation which he seemed ready II give.
Mastering his emotion, as if in answer to
our looks of inquiry, be continued
Twenty years ago, | sas Il young ran
just beginning life. Few had brighter
hopes. An attachment, dating from
childhood, had ripened with its object,
There bad bean DO verbal declaration and
acceptance of love-oo formal plightipg
Of troth 4; but when took my departure
to seek home in the distant West it was
thing understood. that when found it
and put n order. she was to share it,
Life in the forest, though solitary. is NOT
necessarily lonesome. The kind of socie
ty afforded by nature, depends much on
ones self. As for me, lived more iu
the future than in the present aud hope
is an ever cheerful companion. At length
the time came for making the final pay
ment on the home which had bought
1t would henceforward be my own; and
in few more months, my simple dwell
lag, which | had spared no pains to reu
der inviting would be graced by its mis-
t.ess.
AT the land office, which was somt
sixty miles of. | met my OLD l,iend, c
He, too. had come to seek fortune il
the West and we were both delighted "a
, the meeting lie had brought with him
he said, sum OF mouey wh:ca he jesireC
to invest in land On which it was his pur
pose TO settle, ! expressed strong de
sire TO have him for a neghbor, and gave
him cordial invitation to accompany tn,
home, giving it as my belief that he coult
nowhere make better selection than il
that vicinity He readily consented, an,
we Sc: out together. We had not ridder
many miles, when George suddenly recol
lected commission he had undertak e
for friend. which would require his at
tendance at public land sale on the fol
lowing day. Exacting promise that b
would not delay his visit longer than nee
essary, and giving minute directions as t
the route. l continued my way hcmewar
while he turned back
i was about retiring 10 bed Oh th
night of my return, when summons fror
without called me to the door. A stranp
er asked shelter for himself and his hors
for the night invited him in. Thoug
a stranger his face seemed not unfamiliar
He was probably one of the men that
IS had seen at the land -otice--a place d
5 that time, much frequented OGern
!. him d seat. went to see TO his horse
J. The poor animal, as well as l could Sc
4; by the dim starlight, seemed to have bee
u hardly used. His painting sides bore wi
; ness of merciless riding aud a tremulou
4 shrinking, at the slightest touch, betoker
!, u cd recent fright. On re-entering th
house, found the stranger was not there
? His absence excited no surprise he We Il
= doubtless soon return. 1t was li!,i
J. singular however. that he should have lei
his watch lying on the table.
!. AT the end Of half an hour. my gus,
nor returning, went again to the staol,
thinking be might have found his va
= thither to give personal attention to ,h
t wants Of his horse. Before going ou
; from mere force OF hsbit-for we wer
: yet uninfested by either thieves or police
i men-l took the precaution of putin
? the strangers watch 10 the drawer i
" which | kept my ewu valuables. foan
p the horse as ] had left him, and gave bir
+ the food which he was now sufficient
:. cooled to be allowed to eat but his ma: