The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-04

ance at public land sale on the follow
ing day. Exacting a promise that he
would not delay his visit longer than
necessary, and having given minute oil
rections as to the route. I continued my
way homeward, while he turned back.
81 was about retiring to bed on the
night Of my return, when summons
from without called me to the door. A
stranger asked shelter for himself and
his horse for the night. 1 invited him
in. Though stranger, his face seemed
not unfamiliar. He was probably one OF
the men I had seen at the land-otice-a
place. at that time much frequented.
Offering him seat, went to see the
horse. The poor animal, as well as L
could see by the dim starlight, seemed
to have been hardly used. His pan
ting sides bore witness of merclless nd
ing and a tremulous shrinking, at the
slightest touch, betokened recent fright.
On re-entering the house, L found the
stranger was not there. His absence
excited no surprise he would doubtless
soon return. It was a little singular,
however, that he should have left his
watch lying on the table.
cat the end of half an hour, my guest
not returning, I went again to the stable
thinking he might have found his way
thither to give personal attention to the
wants of his horse. Before going out,
from mere force of habit-for we were
| as vet uninfested by either thieves or
policemen took the precautlon OF
putting the strangers watch In drawer
in which I kept my own valuables.
found the horse as had left him, and
gave him the food which he was now
sufficiently cooled to he allowed to eat !;
but his master was nowhere to be seen.
AS I approached the house, a crowd OF
men on horseback dashed up, and was
commanded, in no gentle tones, to stand.
Tn another moment was in the clutches
of those who claimed me as their prison
err
s'I was too much stupefed at first to
ask what it all meant. did SO at last,
and the explanation came-1t was ter
rible! My friend, with whom [ had SO
lately set out in company, had been
found murdered and robbed near the
spot at which but I alone, knew we had
separated. I was the last person known
to be with him, and I was now arrested
on suspicion of his murder. A search of
the premises was Immediately Instituted.
The watch was found in the drawer in
which I had placed it, and a0as ade,ati-
fed as the property Of the murdered
man. His horse, too, was found in my
stable, for the animal I had just put
there was none other. [ recognized him
myself when I saw him in the light.
What [ said, [ know not, My confu-
sion was taken as additional evidence.
And when, at length, [ did command
language to give an intelligent statement
it was received with sneers of increduli-
ty.
''The mob spirit is inherent in man
at least, in crowds of men. It may not
always manifest itself in physical VIC
lence. It sometimes contents itself with
lynching a character. But whatever its
form, it is always relentless, pitiless,
cruel
GAS the proofs of my guilt, one after
another, came to light, low mutterings
gradually grew into a clamor for ven
geance and but for the frmness of one
man-the officer who had me in charge
-Iwould doubtless have paid the pen
atty of my supposed offense on the spot.
It was not sympathy for me that actua
ted my protector. His heart was as hard
as his Office but he represented the
majesty of the law, and took a sort of
grim pride in the position. AS much
under the glance of his eye as before the
muzzle of his pistol, the cowardly clam
OISIS GREW DdCh. eIlldk)S buGy NOI0
not sufficiently numerous to feel thefuu
effect of that mysterious reflex influence
which makes crowd of men SO much
worse, and at times SO much better, than
any one of them singly.
cat the end Of some months my trial
came. It could have but one result.
Circumstances too plainly declared my
guilt. [ alone knew they lied The
absence of the jury was very brief. To
their verdict [ paid but little heed. It
was single hideous word but I had
long anticipated it, and it made no i'm
preston. As little impression was made
by the words of the Judge which'follow
ed it and his solemn invocation that
God might have that mercy upon me
which man Was too .jatst to vouchsafe,