Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-30

establish tine guilfTof the prisoner. These,
however. were answered by . wellpre-
pared. in geniosis defence, which was in
turn ably rebutted by the Distzict-Attor.
nev but after all, when The evidence
closed, the case was nearly balanced, the
weight of evidence, If any, being against
the prisoner. II is now known that Rock
lad confessed his guilt to Mr.. Proctor be-
fore the trial commenced; that he was in
stigated to the crime by the refusal OF The
owner OF the building fired to allow him
TO address his daughter In the character
of a sutton. Notwithstanding this, his
counsel entered on the trial with zeal and
determination, forgetting, as is often the
case, the guilt OF his client in professional
ambition. But there was another cifcum'
stance that stimulated the defense into
more than ordinary energy. Rock was
Frenchman, with respectable connection:
in Canada. He had seen many vicissi
tudes in life, though he was still young
A short time before the trial was to com
mence, Mr.. Proctor was called up in the
night by mysterious stranger wrapped
in a large cloak and wearing 6
wide -brimmed hat, which partly con
cealed mis- face. 81 have called on
you in relation TO man OF the
name OF Joseph Rock, soon TO be tried
for burning building You are hi,
counsel, believe. | wish you to answer
me plainly; do you think there is any
danger OF his being convicted 2" He was
told that ii was very doubtful, indeed
whether the people could, out of the cir
cumstances relied upon, convict him
q He must not be hung; you must prevent
that il possible That would
but it must not be,'' said the man, with
deep feeling. After an hours further con
versation on the subject, the strange,
handed the counsel very liberal fee, and
departed as he came--in mystery. In thai
conversation something was disclosed &c
the lawyer which touched him heart and
soul, turning his sympathies strongly to-
ward his client; but what this was has
ever remained and always will remain q
profound secret, The arguments in the
case were closed for few moments be
fore the adjournment of court for the day
The jury, under the usual admonitions OF
the court, retired, the Judge deciding not
to give his charge until morning. lthap-
pened that the foreman and the counsel
for the defense occupied adjoining sleep
ing rooms. Early the next morning the
lawyer was awakened by voice in the
jurors room. Listening, he ascertained
that the juror was engaged in prayer. In
deep earnestness he was petitioning the
Judge of earth and heaven to guide him
Alright in the awful duty that was commit.
ted TO him and his fellowjurors. 1t was
not prayer to be heard OF men--not one
of those supplications, so often heard
where the speaker is too studious Of fine
words; but it was prayer breathed out
under the directions Of Christ himself
secret prayer" man in audience with
Deity" The lawyer heard it all, for he
could not avoid it. He had been edu-
Gated to believe in fervent, effectual
prayer and he was deeply impressed
with the solemnity OF this juryman's
prayer. When it was ended, he opened
his door and walked into the room where
the lawyer lay, that being the only way he
could reach the outer hall. AS he did
this he saw that the counsel was awake
Pausing moment, he approached his
bed. You have, doubtless, heard my
morning prayer You have heard me re-
fer TO the man-your client--whose fate is
soon to be committed to me and my fellow
Jurors. The case hangs so heavy upon my
mind that have asked God to assist us. y
After another pause, in which he seemed
debating with himself, he concluded: ~
desire TO ask you single question.
don't want you 10 answer me as a lawyer
but ] want you TO answer me as a man
standing in the presence of Him unto
whom all hearts are open, and from whom
no secrets are hid. You have labored
hard and ably for your client. You doubt
less know all his secrets. You know his
guilt or innocence. Now tell me, do you
believe him innocent?" There was moth
ing the lawyer so much desired at that
moment as the acquittal Of his client He
knew from the character, intelligence and
influence of the juror that he would be q
controlling spirit with his fellows and
he believed that If he could emphatically
assert then and there that his client was
an innocent man, he would be acquitted
But the eye Of the juror was fastened
almost sternly upon him; be had been
summoned to answer before "higher
law For q moment he hesitated-for a
moment he essayed to shout the one con-
trolling word, "Innocent," bu: he could
not. He was out of the courtroom now,
where zeal often gets the better of truth.
Ho hesitated, the eye of the juror still
fixed upon MIN. AT length he said
"Mr. c., you have listened to my
argument in behalf of my client; you have
heard all that have said in regard to his
guilt or innocence. ! said then, say
now, that the evidence does not con-
vict him. i can say no more, except that
| deeply appreciate the purity Of your
motives In addressing me, though it is
against the law" There is sacred
confidence In this interview that feel will
never be broken. / may have erred in
seeking 1t, but as you say, my motives
were pure. / could have wished that
you--you--- ~ the sentence was not fin
ished. The juror left the room ere it was
completed. AT the opening OF the court
on that morning, after an able and Impair
tial charge from the Judge, the jurors re-
tired. After an absence of an hour and a
half they came into court with verdict OF
guilty, and Joseph Rock was sentenced to
death. But his indefatigable counsel,
after motion for new trial, which was
denied, applied TO the Governor for com
mutation of the death sentence TO impris-
onment for life In this he was success
full After several years confinement at
Auburn, Rock died in prison. The Juror,
man Of high responsibility in Livingston
County, long ago went TO the grave.
Many of his fellowjurors have followed
him. but the scene in that sleeping cham.