The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-03-24
THE Hg ECONsIDERED WEIR.
DICT.

| ed verdict. Some sixty autumns
ago the case was tried at Chester,
before q Judge of great ability
and eminence, and q jury whose
intelligence-but you shall hear.
In the preceding spring-April, l
think, was the month-there had
been a bad case of burglary at a
farm house ia Cheshire. Three
men had tied down and gagged the
farmer and his two maid servants,
and had rified the house at their
leisure. The police were told of
matters promptly, and pretty
accurate descriptions were given
| of the men. There we're Two. other
tclues. In the struggle one OF the
men had lost o button from his
coat, which button he had left be-
hind. Also the same man had
had his face so severely scratched
by one the maids that the girl
said "she was sure she had Left
her mark upon him." Weeks
passed without any arrests being
made, and people began to forget
the burglary, until one day man
was taken up in Liverpool on sus-
picion of being concerned in quite
q q different matter. He had with
him q bundle containing some Of
the plumber OF the farm house.
More of the plumber was found at
his lodging. His face bore traces
OF scratching; and, to clinch the
matter. his coat wanted q button,
and the buttons on it correspond
ed exactly with that picked up at
the scene Of the burglary. His
defense was very himsy : "He
knew nothing about the burglary,
but had bought the coat and
things very cheap of a man in the
street" "Did you know the
MANI "No, never saw him be-
fore nor since" "How about the
scratching?" "Wen, he was
sailor, and too much accustomed to
big hurts to take notice of scratch
es." OF course he was committed
for trial, and the trial, l said, came
on at Chester. 1t excited q great
deal of interest, and the court was
crowded, an invalid staying at
the principal inn, so far shaking of,
q touch of topical fever as to
send in his card TO the Judge, and
ask for a place behind the bar.
And yet, after all, there was very
little to be said. The circum-
stantial testimony above mention
ed was overwhelming, and, in adj
dition to that. farmer and servants,
with one accord, swore to the
identify of the prisoner with the
burglar. There was no defense;
the jury found verdict of ''guil
ty" without leaving the box; and,
as burglary was hanging matter
in those days, it merely remained
to pass sentence of death. Only a
formula between him and judg-
ment:
prisoner at the bar, you have
heard the verdict OF the jury.
Have you any thing to say why
sentence of death should not be
passed upon your
Then the prisoner spoke for the
fist time. just brushing his eyes
with the cuff of his coat, he began:
swell, Cap'n, its hard to be
hung for noth'n, but can see this
is yard-arm business. 1 know
no more @ this ere burglary nor
a baby; but these witnesses hain't
told no lies, l s'pose. And what
can say again ''em2 When the
thing came off5-April, didn't they
say?-I was fghtin' the slavers on
the Gold Coast. Bat you've got
no call to believe that, and so
there's An end to il"
! There was something in the
mans manner that impressed the
Judge; so he said not unkindly,
"But surely, prisoner, If your
story Ia true, you must have
friends and comrades with whom
you could have communicated. II
you had thought they could do
you good, you would have done
this. it is too late now"
"You're right Cap'n; its too
late. But it's all very well to say
let 'cm know when q man is lock,
ed up in Jail, and can't write MOI
read, and don't know where they
are. They may be in America,
they NAV 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 to be run to
the yard-arm at once.
"But," urged the Judge, "the
Court has no wish to hang q man
, who may be innocent. Is there
no one who could speak for yOu!
The man looked in q hopeless
sort of way round the court.
NO." be began; but just then
his eye lighted on the stranger
from the Inn. eyes," he added
pointing to him, "there is q gen
: tleman who might speak for me i
: he would"
The Judge turned round. "DC
you know the prisoner" he ask
ed.
f; "No, my lord" was the reply
: 81 never saw him before in my
) life"
! "Well, Capt. Sharpe" said tn,
r prisoner, eff you put the ropt
t round my neck, l give. in. Go on
J, my Lord"
, "Stay," said the Judge; "ii
your name Capt. Sharper"
"Yes, my Lord" and "Capt
! Sharpe, r. NJ was on the carr
' he had sent In.
: "Well, the prisoner seems tt
recognize you, so l viii ask you t.
d step into the witness-box and b,
, sworn, that he may ask you ques
}. tions."
The Captain went into the box
y and the following dialogue ensued
o care you Capt. Sharpe, of hi
a Majesty's ship VultureT''
y yes"
II "Were you in command Of he
e on the slave coast this spring."
y "I was"
a "And wasn't 1 one of you
u crewp