Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-07-24

DorhOOd who reported that the DO
vas wild and dissipated and thi
found ready believers in others; S
that Frank had some enemies a
well as many friends.
Thus We find him; and the even
'ng of the commencement OF on
story he had been invited to an en-
'ertainment given by u rich plante
to his children.
MIR. Dewes, the planter, had tire,
children, the youngest and lovelies
IF whom was Mary,a girl of twelve
--'-' "''n were lho hast ~
riends,and loved each otIier 3eatlP
so when the fortune teller predicted
a dark and stormy fu'ure for Frank
he tears arose to the chilHs eyes
md she said: "Do not listen to her
Frank"
liut the boy laughed, and, turning
on his heel, walked away.
Two days afterward he left home
ior weeks hunting in tho noun
tains; but the second night after
his departure, the neishbor!ood was
aroused by the startling news that
old Mr.. Mercer had been murdered
by his nephew. One of the ser
wants, passing the house at night,
heard a cry, and, seeing Franks
window open, he sprang in and
walked across the hall to Mr.. Mer-
GERS chamber, from whence the cry
came. Lying upon the floor was
the old man, dead, while near him
stood his nephew with a bloody
knife in his hand. In fright, the
negro rushed from the house and
gave the alarm. Persons from the
neighborhood were sent for, and
Frank was seized against every pro.
testation that he did not kill his un
Gle, and thrown into gaol.
The feeling against the youth was
intense, for the negro told the story
of how he found Frank; aatl way
taring peddler who had just ascend
ed the front steps to ask to stay all
night, cor1oborated lis statement.
The trial came off, and the charg-
es were made known. Frank was
accused of starting on hunting ex-
petition as blind, and then return
ing from the mountains by night,
had entered the room, and attempt
ing to remove large bag of gold
kept by his uncle, had aroused him,
and upon being discovered, had driv.
en- his hunting knife into the heart
of Mr.. Mercer; the gold was on the
floor, its weight having torn thro'
the bag when it was raised. The
knife with which Mr.. Mercer was
killed was one had given to Frank
some days before, and was u large
dirk knife incased in a silver scab-
bard.
Pale as death but showing no
sign of fear or guilt upon his hand
some face, the prisoner sat un.
moved by his sentence, which was
to die on the gallows. When asked
if he had aught to say, Frank
arose, and looked around the court
room, and in clear voice, answered:
"I have! Circumstantial evi-
,lence has condemned me! l admit
it looks as if l did tie deed, but l
am guiltless of murder Dropping
my percussion cap box in a noun
tain stream, l returned home for
more; for without caps my gun
was useless. 1t was a lovely night,
and l determined to enter the house
by my room window, get caps, and
return without awakening my un-
Gle. tied my horse to the fence,
sprang into the window, and then
heard a loud crash, call. and
shrek in the direction of my un-
eie's room. l rushed thither-a
lark form dashed by me in the un-
certain light of the room-and l
fell over something upon the floor.
With fear in my heart, l arose,
lighted a candle, and saw my un-
:le's body covered with blood, gold
upon the floor, and my
,wn knife, which had done the deed
ying near. Ipicked up the knife |
and thus was l found by the negro.
md seen by the peddler. AS God
is my witness, l did not murder the
good old man who had protected
ne throughout life, and whom l
owed az though he was my own
'ather! am guiltless OF the deed,
Dut submit to my fate"
A silence fell upon all; there
we're, however, but few who believ.
ID the youths statement, among
the latter was Mr.. Dewes and his
who, through all, remained