Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-01-31
the route, continued my way

summons from without called n
TO the d ,or. A stranger aske
shelter for himself and his hor.
for the night. | iavited him il
Though stranger, his fat
seemed not unfamiliar. He VIZ
probably one Of the men | ha
seen at the land ofiice-a place q
that time much frequented. OF
ering him seat. ! went To see /
his horse. The poor animal, a
well as | could see by the dir
starlight, seemed 10 have bee
hardly used His painting de
bore witness of merciless riding
and a tremulous shrinking. at tn
slightest touch. betokened recen
fright. On re entering The house
| found the stranger was not there
Ills absence excited no surprise
he would doubtless soon return
1t was a little singular, however
fiat he should have left his waict
lying on the table.
SAT the end of half an hour
my guest not returning, | wen
again to the stable, thinking ht
might have found his WY thitb-
er TO give personal attention Il
the wants OF his horse. Before
going out, from mere force of hab
it-for we were as yet unlnfested
by either thieves or policemen
took the precautiou of putting
the strangers watch in a drawer
in which / kept my vaiuablts.
found the horse as | had left him
and gave him the food which be
was now sufficiently cooled to be
allowed to eat, but his master was
to be seen. As / ap-
preached the house, a crowd of
men on horseback dashed up, and
| was commanded, in no gentle
tones, to stand! In another mo-
ment / was in the hands of those
who claimed me as their prison
er.'
81 was too much stupefed at
first to ask what it all meant. ]
lid so at last, and the explanation
came-it was terrible! My friend
with whom / had 50 lately set
out in company, had been found
and robbed near the
spot at which |, but | alone, knew
We had separated. l was the last
person known to be with him, and
md | was BOW arrested on suspi-
ion of his murder. A search of
he premises was Immediately in
The watch was found
u the drawer in which I had
Laced it, and was identid:i as
he property Of the murdered
nan. His horse, too, was found
u my stable, for the animal | had
ust put there was none other. |
recognized him myself when !
aw him in the light. What l
aid, l know not. My confusion
was taken as additional evidence.
And when, at length, / did corr
nand language to give an intel
igible statement, it was received
With sneers of incredulity.
"The mob spirit is inherent in
nen-at least in crowds Of men.
may not always manifest itself
n physical violence. 1t some
lines contents itself with lynch
ng character. But whatever
is form, it is always relentl. ss,
itiless, cruel"
GAS TIE proofs Of my guilt,
me alter another, came to light,
ow mutterings gradually grew
nto a clamor for vengeance; and
ut for the firinness Of one man
he officer who had me in charge
i would doubtless have paid
he penalty of my supposed Of
,nce on the spot. 1t was not
ympathy for me that actuated
ly protector. His heart was
S hard as his office; but he
epresente6 the majesty of the
lw, and took a sort Of grim
ride in the position. AS
much under the glance of his
We as before the muZZle of his
istol, the cowardly clamorers
rev back. Perhaps they were
OF sufficiently numerous to
eel the full effect of that mys- |
erious reflex influence which
lakes a crowd of men SO much
'orse, and at times SO much
etter, than any one of them
lngly.
"At the end of some months
ly trial came. 1t could have
ut one result. Circumstances
DO plainly declared my guilt.
alone knew they lied. The
bsence of the jury was very
rief. To their verdict ! paid
ut little heed. 1t was a single
ideous word; but l had long
nticipated it, and it made no
IMPRESSION. AS little impress
on was made by the words Of
lie judge which followed it;
nd his solemn invocation that
sod might have that mercy up
n me which man was too just
) vouchsafe, sounded like the