The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-03-13

1
at that time, much frcqucntcd. Offering
him n seat, went to see to his horse
The poor animal, as well as I could see
by the dim starlight, seemed to have beer
hardly used. His painting sides bore wit.
ness of mcrcilcss riding; and trcmulou.
shrinking Mt the slightest touch, bctokcncd
recent fright. On rc-cntering the house
found the stranger was not there. His
absence excited no surprise; he would
doubtless soon return. 1t was n little
singular, however, that he should have
left his watch lying Oh the table, O.
At the end of half an hour, my guest
not returning, went aghn to the stublc.
thinking he might have found his wny
thitller to give personal attention to the
wants of his horse. Before going out,
from mere force Of habit-for We were
yet uninfcsted by either thieves or police
mcn-l took the prccaution of putting
the strangers watch in the drawer in
which l kcptmy own valuables. l found
the horse as left him, and gave him the
food which hc was now sufficiently cooled
to be allowed to cat; but his master was
nowhere to be seen. AS l approached
the house, crowd Of men OIL horseback
dashed up, and was commanded, in no
gentle tones, to "standl' In another mo-
mcnt l was in the clutches of those who
claimed me as their "prisoner."
was too much stupeficd at first to
ask what it all meant. did so ut last,
and the explanation camc-it was terri
BILE! My friend with whom had so late
ly set out in company, had been found
murdered and robbed near the spot at
which /, but alone, knew VIC had scpa-
rated. | was the last person known to be
with lin, and | was now arrested on sus-
picion of his murder. 4 search of the
premises was Immediately instituted.
The watch was found in the drawer in
which had placed ii, and was identified
as the property Of the murdered man.
His horse, too, was found in my stable,
for the animal had just put there was
none other. / recognized him mysrif
when l saw him in the light. What I
said, l kH0" not. My confusion was
taken as additional evidence. And when,
ut length, did command language to
give nm Intelligent statement, it was re-
ccivcd with sncers Of incredulity."
The mob spirit is inherent in Han-at
least in crowds of men. 1t may not al
ways manifest itself in physical violence.
1t sometimes contents itself with lynch
ing character. But whatever its form,
it is always relentless, pitilcss, cruel. !
"As the proofs Of my guilt, one after
another, came to light, low mutterings
gradually grcwinto clamOrs of vengeance,
md bMt for the firmncss Of one mNn-thc
officer who had Inc in chargc-I would
doubtless have pail the penalty of my
supposed otEcnsc on the spot. 1t was not
sympathy for me that actuatcd my pro-
tcctor. His heart was rs hard as his of
flee; but lie represented the majesty of
the law, and took n sort Of pride in the
position. As much under the glance Of
his eye rs before the muzzlc of his pistol,
the cowardly clamorcrs drew back. Per-
liapS they were not sufficiently numerous
to feel the full effect of that mysterious
reflex influence which makes n crowd of
men so much worse, and at times so much
better, that any one Of them single.
AT the end of some months my trial came
1t could have but one result. Circum-
stances too plainly declared my guilt.
| alone knew they lied. The absence of
the jury was very brief. To their verdict
| paid hut little heed. II was single
lIidcous word; but had long anticipated
IL, and it made no impression. AS little
impression wns made by the words of the
the judge which followed il; and his SOL
cmn invocation that God might have that
mercy upon Inc which man was too Just
to vOuChsafc, sounded like the hollowest
of hollow mOckerics. 1t may bc hard
for the condemned criminal to meet
death; it is still harder for him who Is
innocent. The ono when tho first shock
is over, ncquicsccs in his doom, and gives
himself to repentance; The heat of the
other, filled with rebellion against mans
injustice, can scarce bring himself to ask
pardon of God. / had gradually over
come this feeling, in spite of the good
clergyman's irritating efforts, which were
mainly directed towards extracting con-
icssion, without which, he assured me, he
had no hope to offer.
On the morning Of the day fixed for
the execution, felt mcasllrably resigned.
had so long stood face TO :ncc with
death, Ind so accustomed myself to lGok
upon II as merely mOnrntnry pang, that
| no longer felt soicitOus save that my
memory should one day DO vindicatcd.
She for whom had gone to prepare n
home had already found one in heaven.
The tidings of my calamity had broken
her heart. She alone, Of all the world,
believed ne innocent; and she had died
with prayer on her lips, thut the truth
might yet hc brought 10 light. All this ]
had heard, aud il had sOOthcd rs with
sweet incense my troubled spirit. Death,
however unwclcGmc the shape, was now
n portal, beyond which could see one
angel waiting to receive me. heard the
sound Of approaching footsteps, and
ncrycd Iaysclf TO meet the expected sum
mons. The door Of my cell opened, and
the sheriff and his attendants entered
llc held In his hnnd n paper. II was
doubtless my dcatlI.warrant. lie began
to read II. Ny thoughts were busted else.
where. Tho words "lull and free pardon
were tho first 10 strike my prcoccupicd
senses. They affected the by.stantlcrs
more than myself. Ycs, so IL was: wa,
pardoncd for nn offence had never com
mittcdi
Tho real eulpriI, none other, Il il need
lcss to say, than he who Ind sought IN,
hospitality, had been mortally wounded
In recent nIfray IN distant city, bu
hnd lived long enough to mako disclo
sure, which had been laid before the gov
crmor barely IN time to save nc from,
shameful death and condemn me TO
ChecrlcSs and burtlcnsomc life. This 1
| mo nSnnrinnpn NJ, ,,,l