The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-04

| Indignation was Anthony Bell wl!n urged
them on l.. their wrath, and wer" il lot
| that the = Iner was removed to the
county ini., the probability is That he
would have been hung without Il trial Of
judge or jury.
! Two weeks after the burial OF Mr.
Bake, the trial was to take place. and
on the evening before the fixed day Ger
aid O'Comner sat III his CELL his head
resting Ola his hands
Only tWu weeks, since his arrest, and
what Il change had come over linn i'll
that short time; every trace Of color had
left his checks, and his eyes We're SINK
in their sockets
''Oh, God! what have ever done to
merit this terrible torture that l., killing
me! / the murderer of Godfrey Blake,
man whom | would shed the last drop
| Of my blood to servei No, no. There
| i some terrible mistake made; for lac
WAS dead when / discovered him with IA
dagger buried in his Neart. And the
| people all believe that | am guilty Of so
foul crime. Poor mother, what agony
must she rot bc suffering; and Molly, oh,
heaven. does she, too, think ne guilty."
His head sank lower, his chest heaved
with emotion, and the great sobs that es-
capped him depicted the agony which he
| suffered
lie did not hear the bolt of the cell
| door shot back, nor was he aware that
any one entered Til hand was laid on
his ShOuldera aud IL voice said:
"GeraldIr
He raised his head like one awakening
from a dream.
Gerald, don't you know me!' asked
his visitor, as no sign of recognition was
evinced by him.
Yes, Molly, l do" he answered i'll
mournful accents; ''and do you believe
me guilty of this terrible crime? If so,
how came you TO seek the presence of
one whom you believe TO be the murder
rr of your father"
''Oh, Gerald how can you accuse me
so? l believe you to DE guilty? No! |
am sure you never committed the crime
of which you stand accused. Trust in
Him who knows all, and He will not let
the innocent suffer for the guilty."
Your words tighten the terrible load
that lies on my heart and makes it east
er for me to bear; but the evidence is SO
strong against me that it is II mOckery to
hope. have made up my mind that l
am 10 be made the victim to atone for IL
crime of which am falsely accused"
ado not give way to despair, for God
will not permit you to sulTer for the crime
of another; and now, as the time is up,
and hear the jailer coming, must leave
you, so good by for tO-night;" and slic
pressed his cold hand in her own.
Good night, Molly and may God
bless you!'
The morning came calm and bcauti-
ful-the morning of the day when Ger
aid O'COnner was to be tried for hisi; i;Ge-
tried for murder lle had never com
mitted.
The hour for trial had came, the pris-
Oner was led up the aisle of the crowded
court room and placed in the dock.
The prosecuting attorney opened the
ease in behalf of the crown, and witness
es were examined.
Anthony Bell was the principal witness
for tile prosecution; lie testified to hav-
ing found O'CQnner bent over the Inur-
dered wan with II blood stained dagger
ia his hand; SAW him plunge it into the
murdered mans breast
Other witnesses testified to the same
with the exception OF the stabbing, and |
the prosecution closed.
Tie attorney for the defense opened |
the case in :: very eloquent manner, aud |
tried by every available means To prove
the inmoceece of the prisoner, bringing |
To bear his former good character. etc.
The judge then charged the jury, tel |
ling them 10 think well over the evidence
before giving their verdict.
Thry then retired, and aftrran hours |
conference returned TO the jury box.
Every eye in the crowded court room
was fixed on the twelve solemn men, as
they tunk their places and answerJ Ia
tilrir names.
"C!rntIenen of the jury, have you de
cidrd on a verdict? l. the prisoner at
the bar guilty or not guilty"
The stiffness of Geaih rrismcd; every |
breath was huShrd as the foreman of the
jury arose {" render their virdict-a IL yer
diet which was to be either life or death
to the prisoner.
"GaiLyr'
Tile awfnI word rang through the !
crowded courtroom, and every eye was |
fixed on the prisoner, whq :tood iale.
Yet rrsolutely on the DOCK.
"t;eraIi u'Conner, spoke the Judge,
arising from his seat, you have been
tried 10y jury of twelve of your eoUn-
trymen, and found guilty Of the terrible
crime Of murder. Have you anything to
say why sentence of death should not he
passed upon you.'
The prisoner gazed around him for n
moment, and then, in clear, firm voice,
said:
my lord, and gentlemen of the jury:
| have been tried and found guilty of
crime which never committed-a crime
the most foul in the annals of history, |
On the night on which the fatal deed
was committed | was returning from
visit to n neighbor's when a terrible cry
rang in my ears and seemed TO issue
from "A ravine little way off the path /
which | followed Running in the di-
rection from whence the cry came, saw
IA sight which chilled the marrow in my |
bones and made my blood run cold.
saw my best and dearest friend lying on
the earth in a pool Of blood, with a dag
ger prutruding from his breast, while u
little way oil lay the body of Jack Rape.
| stopped over the body Of Mr.. Blake
and drew the dagger from the wound,
and rs | did so the hot blood gnshed out
and stained my hands. Then | was
seized by Anthony Bell and others, ia
l.. apl nrw | have Iaap