Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-08-12
THE RECONSIDERED VERDICT.

THE REC0NSIDERED VERDICT.
Some sixty years ago case was tried
at Chester, in England before Judge
of great ability and eminence, and a jury
whose intelligence-bu you shall hear.
In the preceding Spring there had been
p bad case of burglary at a farm house in
Cheshire. Three men had tied down and
gagged the farmer and his two maid SER
wants, and had rihed the house at their
leisure. The police were told of the mat
ter, and pretty accurate descriptions were
clews. In the struggle one of them had
lost a button from his coat, which but
ton he had left behind. Also, the same
man had had his face so severely scratch
ed by one of the maids that the girl said
"she was sure she had left her mark up
on him.
Weeks passed without any arrests be-
ing made, and people began to forget the
burglary, until one day a man was tax
en- up on suspicion of being concerned in
quite different matter. He had with
him bundle containing some of the
plunder of the farm house. More of the
plunder was found at his lodgings. Hi.
face bore traces of scratching, and, to
clinch the matter, his coat wanted but
ton, and the buttons on it corresponded
exactly with that picked up at the scene
of the burglary.
His defence was very tlimsy.
" He knew nothing about the burga.
ry, but had bodght the coat and things
very cheap of man in the street."
. Did you know the man ?"
No, never saw bin before nor SINCE"
"How about the scratches ?'
"Well, he was a sailor, and too much
accustomed to big hurts to take notice Of
scratches"
OF course he was committed for trial
and the trial came on at Chester. 1t ex-
cited great deal of interest, and the
court was crowded.
And yet, after all, there was very lit.
tie to be said. The circumstantial testi.
mony above mentioned was overwhelm.
ing, and, in addition to that, farmer and
servants, with one accord, swore to the
identity of the prisoner with the burglar.
There was no defence the jury found a
verdict of guilty." without leaving the
box, and, as burglary was a hanging
matter in those days, it merely remained
80 pass sentence of death. Only formu.
la between him and judgment
Prisoner at the bar, you have heard
the verdict Of the jury. Have you any,
thing 10 say why sentence of death should
not be passed upon you ?"
Then the prisoner spoke for the first
time. Just brushing his eyes with the
cuff of his coat, he began:
Well, cap'n it's hard to be hung fol
noth'n, but can see this is yard arm
business. | know no more o. this 'ert
burglary nor a baby. When the thing
came off | was fghtin' the slavers on the
Gold Coast. But you've got no call tC
believe that, and so there's an end to it,.
" But" urged the judge, " the cour
has no wish to hang man who may be
innocent! Is there no one who could
speak for you ?'
me" he began but just then his eye
lighted on stranger from the inn.-
" Yes" he added pointing to him, there:
gentleman who might speak for me il
he would"
The judge turned round. "Do yor
know the prisoner p he asked.
No, my lord," was the reply, 81
never saw him before in my life."
Well, Captain Sharpe, said the
prisoner, " if you put the rope around
my neck, give in. Go on, my lord.'
Stay" said the Judge sis you
name Captain Sharpe ?"
Yes, my lord"
Well, the prisoner seems to recog
nize you, SO that will ask you to steI
into the witness box and be sworn, tina
he may ask you questions"
The captain went into tho box, and tn,
following dialogue ensued
Are you Captain Sharpe Of his Ma
jesty's ship Vuture ?"
Yes"
Were you in command of her on tn,
slave coast this Spring ?"
- was"
And wasn't one of your crew ?"
Most certainly not"
But, cap'n, don't you remember tn,
big SLAYER that gaveyou all the trouble p
Yes"
Well, but, cap'n, once more; dom
you remember the big niger thst va,
almost cutting you down Don't you re
member the man who stood between you
and death, and what he got for it Don
you remember t hat ?"
And brushing back his hair, the pris
oner showed great scar down the sid
of his head.
The whole court looked on breathles
as the captain stared at the scar and tn,
man till his eyes seemed starting from
his head. AT length, as if in dream
the captain seized the prisoners hand
and turning to the judge, said
My lord, this was the best man il
my crew, and he saved my life. Kint
Providence has sent me here to save his
lie is so changed by illness and ,mpris
onment that / could not recognize him
But there is no mistake now, and IL 10,
hang the old bosom Of the Vulturs 20,
must hang his captain with him.