Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-03-16

but these Witnesses haln't told no lies,
/ s'pose. Aad what can / say again
'em? When the thing came Off
April, didn't they say-I was fightin'
the slavers on the Gold Coast. But
you've got no call to believe that,
and SO there's an end to it."
There was something in the mans
manner that impressed the Judge; so
he said, not unkindly::
"But surely, prisoner, if your sto-
ry is true, yea must have friends and
comrades with whom you could have
communicated. If you had thought
they could de you good. you would
have done this. tits too late now"
"You're right, cap'n; it's too late.
But it's all very well to say let 'em
know, when a man is locked up in
Jail, and cant write nor real. and
don't know where they are. They
may be in AiEerica. they may be at
the Cape, and how could let 'em
know?-leastways not in time. No,
it's no use, and you'd better order me
run to the yard arm at once" <
But" urged the Judge, "the court
has no wish 70 hang man who may
be innocent. Is there no one who
could speak for you?"
The man looked in a hopeless sort
of way round the court.
"No," he began, but just then his
eye lighted on the strange man from
the inn. ''Yes." he added. pointing
to him, ''there is a gentleman who
might speak for me if he would"
The judge turned round. 'Do
you know the prisoner?'' he asked.
mo. my lord,' was the reply, 81
never saw him before In my life"
swell, Captain Sharpe" said the
prisoner, s'if you put the rope round
my neck, l give in. Go on, my
lord
.stay. said the judge sis your
name Captain Sharper"
"Yes, my lord;" captain Sharpe,
r. NJ" was on the card he had sent
in.
"Well the prisoner seems torecog-
nize you, so l will ask you to step
into the witness box and be sworn,
that he may ask you questions"
The Captain went into the box,
and the following dialogue ensued
"Are you Captain Sharpe of His
Majesty's ship Vulture?''
YES"
"Were yon in command of her on
the slave coast this spring"
Il was"
"And wasn't one of your crew.
"Most certainly not,
'But. Cap'n. don't you know the
big SLAYER that gave you all the
trouble; that you had to board2"
YES" -
"And yon yourself led the board
r. 20, yes; but all that is nothing
you may easily have heard or read all
about that"
"Well, but, Cap'n, once more;
don't you remember the big niggel
that was almost cutting you down.
Don't you remember the man who
stood between you and death, and
what he got for it? Don't you re
member that?" and brushing back
his hair, the prisoner showed great
scar down one side of his head.
The whole court looked on breath
less as the captain stared at the scar
and the man till his eyes seemed
starting from his head. Atlength, as
if in dream, the captain muttered
to himself, "Good God! is it posi-
ble."
Then, slowly and deliberately, he
got ont of the witness box, and clam
bered into the dock, where he seized
the prisoners hand, and turning tc
the Judge said:
"My lord, this was the best mar
in my crew, and saved my life. Provi
dence has sent me here to save his
He is so changed by illness and i'm
prisonment that l could not recognize
him. But there is no mistake now
and if you hang the old bos'un ol
the Vulture, you must hang his cap
tain with him."
Then followed scene rarely wit
messed in a court of justice. AmiC
cheers and sobs that no one cared tC
suppress, the Judge briefly directed
the jury to reconsider their verdict
which they at once did, finding ;
unanimous 'Not guilty" The pris
oner was discharged, and left the decl
arm-in-arm with the captain. They
were hurried into chaise and drawn
to the inn in a triumphal procession
and, after a sumptuous lunch, they
posted off together to London. A
they cleared the ancient town Cap
tain Sharpe might have been hearc
addressing his companion as fol
lows:
"Well, old pal, we pulled through
that business pretty well, | think
But it was a near go. That was
good notion of Willy Bob's to wal
for the verdict before moving. W
could never have touched that evi
dence."
"Yes," replied the innocent an
long suffering boatswain of the WI
ture; ''and if you had cottoned me
minute too soon, the old beak woul
have been fly to the trick. Lord,
? was fit to burst when the old boy be
gan to cry"
From which brief remark W
gather that "Captain Sharpe" nigh
. have known more of the burglar
than of the Vulture. Nothing moi
was ever heard of either of then
Such is the story of 'sTne Recon
, sidered Verdict"
A JUDGE in Monmouth count.
N. j., once cautioned an old negl
who had been acquitted, not to /
found in bad company again. "Muc