The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-07-14

crime the most foul in the annals Of
history On the night on which tho
fatal deed was committed, ] was re.
turning from n visit 10 a ncighbor'.
when terrible cry rang in my ears,
and seemed to Issue from a ravine a
little way OF the path which I follow
ed. Running in the direction from
whence the cry came, ! saw sight
which chilled the marrow in my bones,
aud made my blood run cold. ] saw
my best and dearest friend lying on
the earth in a pool Of blood, with q
dagger protruling from his breast,
while a little way oil lay the body Of
Jack Rape. I stopped over the body
Of Mr.. Blake aud drew the dagger
from the wound; as I did SO, the hot
blood gushed out and stained my
hands. Then was seized by Antho-
nv II u aud Others, accused Of being
the murderer, taken oa to prison, and
now have been tried and found gull.
ty. My lord, aud gentlemen Of the
jury. I did not commit that deed.
am innocent"
A profound murmu' yelled from the
lips Of the crowd. and il was some
time before order was restored.
The judge put on the black cap and
arose 10 pass the sentence.
just then a terrible commotion arose
outside the courtroom, and two men
entered, bearing between them the
form Of a man, whose face was half
hidden by red handkerchief which
was tied around his head.
This man was Jack Rape, who had
that day recovered his senses, and on
hearing that young OConnor was on
trial for the murder Of Mr.. Blake, re.
qucsicd that he should he brought to
the court, as he had important evi.
dence to give in the case.
A policeman advanced toward the
bench and whispered something to the
judge, who ordered two policemen to
guard the door, and allow no one to
leave the courtroom.
The invalid was seated in n chair on
the witness-stapd. and after having
been duly sworn, deposed as follows:
Ellis name was Jack Rape; on the
evening of the 10Th of July, the eve
ming ON which the murder was COM
mitted, he was walking in field
near where the deed was done; saw
Mr.. Blake pass by and when he had
passed him n little way. saw a man
with black max jump from behind a
ditch and attack his master; he ran to
his assistance and grapple' with the
a sailant, tore the mask from his face,
and as he did so he was struck with
some blunt instrument ON the head.
The man who assaulted his master,
and from whose face he tore the mask,
was not the prisoner. The man was
Anthony Bell"
A tremendous uproar arose in the
courtroom, and a rush was made to-
ward the door.
Bell, seeing that his game was up,
thought to escape, and caused the ex.
citement just spoken Of; but he was
seized by the trusty policeman and
placed in the dock, from which O'Con.
nor had been honorably released.
Seeing that all hope was gone, he
confessed his guilt, and was made to
pay the penalty of his crime on the
scafiold.
= 4
A wear had passed since the above
transpircd.
Bonfires blaEed on the hillside, from
which the joyous shouts Of the peas
antry were echoed in the valley below.
where nestled the village Of Ballyglen.
The marriage bells pealesl forth their
joyous anthems. rs a marriage coterie
entered the pretty little church, and
advanced up the fower-strewn aisle
and stood before the altar.
A very handsome couple they are,
who are about to be joined in wedlock.
The bride is dressed in lavender silk
aud lace, a wreath of white flowers
decorates hor head Of golden hair-as
pretty a bride as ever a happy groom
led from the alter.
And so thought Gerald OConnor,
as the minister pronounced Mollie
Blake his welded wife.
And US our story comes to an end We
will bid them adieu, hoping that a
long life Of love and happiness will be
theirs.