New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-25
A Jurysnan'S Story.

And dries them with his hair.
4 Jurymnn's Stsry.
We had been out twenty-four hours, and
stood eleven to one. The case was very
plain one-at least we eleven though SO.
A murder Of peculiar atrocity had been
committed, and though no eye had wit
messed the deed, circumstances pointed very
strongly 20 the prisoners guilt with untai.-
ing certainty.
9he recusant juror had stood out from
the first. He acknowledged the cOgency of
the proofs, confessed his inability to recon-
Gle the facts with the defendants inno-
cence, yet on every vote went steadily for
acqnittal.
His conduct vas inexplicable: It could
not result from lack of intelligence; for
while he spoke but little, his words were
well chosen, and evinced a thorough under
etanding Of the case.
Though still III the prime o! manhood, his
locks were prema'ure1y white, and his face
had siugularly cad and thoughtful express
sion.
He might be one of those who entertained
scrupies as to the light to int1ct the death
penalty. But no, it was not that, TOR in re-
ply to such a suggestion, he frankly admit
| ted that brute men, like the vicious brutes
they resemble, must be controlled through
fear, and tina: dread OF death, Of supreme
terror. is, in many cases. the only adequate
restraint.
At the prospect OF another night of fruit
| less imprisonment. We began to grow lmpa-
tient, and eXpostulated warmly against
what seemed an unreasonable captiOusness,
and some not over kind remarks were IN
dulged in al to the propriety of trifiing with
An oath Like that under which We were act
ing.
"And get" the man answered, as though
communing with himself. rather than re.
pelling the imputation, "it is conscience
that binders my concurrence in verdict
approved by my Judgment
'.How can that BET" cried several voices
at once.
conscience may not always dare to fol-
low Judgment
"lSut here she can know 40 other guide"
IL once would have said the same
'And what has changed your opinion"
"EXperience.'
The speakers manner was visibly agi-
tated, and we waited in silence the explana-
ton which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion, as If to answer our
looks of inquiry. he continued:
Twenty Years ago ] was . young man,
Just b ginning life. Few had brighter
prospects aud none brighter hopes.
An attachment dated from childhood had
ripened with its object. There had been no
tGE Odl utCluEdtlUu duu ptdHCC VI lOFS-
no formal plightlng of troth; but when l
took my departure 70 seek home in the tar
West IL Was thing understood that when
had found it and put it in order. she was
to share it.
Life in the forest. though solitary, is rot
necessarily lonesome. The kind Of society
afforded by nature depends much on ones
self. AS for me, lived more in the future
than i'll the present, and Hope is an ever
cheerful companion.
At length the time came for the final pay.
ment on the home which / had bought. 1t
would hencefurward be my own, and in
few months my simple dwelling. which I
had spared no pains TO render inviting,
would be graced by its mistress.
At the land Office, which was some sixty
miles of, met my old friend. George c.
He, too, had come to seek his fortune in
the West and we were both delighted at
the meeting. He had brought with him, he
said, sum of money which he desired to
invest in land, on which it was his purpose
to settle.
expressed strong wish to have him for
nelghbor, and gave him cordial invita-
ton to accompany me home. giving it as
my belief that he could nowhere make a
better selection than in that vicinity. He
readily consented ard, We set out together.
We had not ridden many miles when
George suddenly recollected a commission
he had undertaken for a friend, which
would require his attendance at public
land sale on the following day.
Exactng promise that he would not de.
lay his visit longer than was necessary, and
having given minute directions as to the
route. l continued my way hOmeward,
while he turned back
was retiring to bed on the night Of my
return. when summons from without
called me to the door. A stranger asked
shelter tor himself and horse for the night.
Invited him in. Though stranger, his
face seemed not unfamiliar. He was prob
ably one of the men had seen at the land
office, place at that time very much un.
treguented.
Offering him seat, I went to see his
horse. Tire poor animal, as well as could
see by the dim starlight, seemed to have
been hardly used. His painting sides bore
witness of merciless riding, and tremen.
deua shrinking at the slightest touch be-
tOkened recent frighy.
On returning to the house, l found the
stranger had gone. His absence excited no
surprise: ne would doubtless soon return.
L. was a little singular. however, that he
should leave his watch on the table.
At the end Of an hour. my guest not re-
turning. went again 60 the stable, think.
ing he might have found his way thither. TO
give his personal attention to the wants OF
MS morse.
Before going out, from mere force OF
habit-fOr we were as yet unvisited by
thieves or pOllcemen-I took the precaution
of putting the strangers watch in drawer
III which kept my own valuables.
found the horse as 1 had left him. and
gave him tbs food which he was now sutii
GENTLY cooled to eat. but his master was
nowhere to be seen.
AS approached the house a crowd OF
men on horseback dashed up, and was
commanded, in 10 gentle tones. to ''stand!
In another moment was in the clutches of
those who called me their prisoner
Twas too much stupeied at first to ask
what it all meant. / did so az last, and the
answer eame-it was terrible.
NY friend, with whom | fhad SO lately
set out ia company, had been found muir
dered and robbed near the spot at which /,
but I alone, knew we had separated. l was
the last person known to have been with
him, 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 l had placed it and was
identified as the property of the murdered
man. His horse, too, was found in my sta
BILE. for the animal had just put there was
no other. | recognized hum myself when !
saw him in the light.
WHAT said l know not. Ny confusion
was taken as an additional evidence. And
when at length, did command language TO
give an Ineligible story, it was received
with sneers Of incredulity.
The mob spirit is inherent in man-at
least in crowds of men. 1t may not always
manifest itself in physical violence. 1t