Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-07-18
alo"e. knew we had separated. was the

aiO"e. kntw we had separated. | was the
last person known to be with him. and
was now arrested on suspicion of his mur.
der. \ search of the premises was imme-
dialeiy instituted. Tie watch WIS found
in the drawer in which l had placed it and
was identified as the property Of the muir
dered nm. His horse. too. was found in
my stable. for the animal | had just put
there was none other. ! recognized him
myself when | saw him in the light What
| said | know not. My confusion was
taken rs additional evidence. And when,
at length. did command language to give
an ineligible statement it was received
with sneers OF ncredlility.
The mob spirit is inherent in men-at
least in crowds Of men. 1t may not al
ways manifest itself in physical violence.
1t sometimes contents itself with lynching
a character. HiI whatever its form, it is
always relentless. pitiless, cruel.
s'As the proofs OF my guilt, one after
another. came to light. low mutterings
gradually grew into a clamor for venge-
ancc. and but for the tirmncss of one man
the officer who had HE in charge-I
would doubtless have paid the penalty OF
my supposed offence on the spot 1t was
not sympathy for me that actuated my
protector. His heart was as hard as his
Office: but he represented the majesty oi
law and took Il sort ot grim pride in the
position. AS much under the glance Of
his eye as before the muZZle OF his pistol.
the cowarlly clamOrers drew back. Per-
haps they We're not sufficiently numerous
to feel the full effect OF that mysterious
reflex influence which makes crowd of
men so much worse, and at times so much
better. than any one of them .singly.
AT the end of some months my trial
came. 1t could have but one result. Cir
cunstances too plainly declared my guilt.
l alone knew they lied. The absence OF
the jury was very briet. TO their verdict
paid bat little heed. 1t was single
hi1cous word, but | had long anticipated
it, and it made no impression. As little
impression was made by the words of the
Judge which followed it. and his solemn
Invocation that God might have that mer-
cy upon me which man was too just to
1ouchsata. sounded ke the very hollow
est of all hollow mocheries. 1t may be
haly for tie condemned criminal TO meet
death: it is still harder for him who is in
nocent. The onc. Wien the first shock is
OYER. acgUiesccs in his doom. and gives
himself 10 repentance; the heart Of the
OTHER. filled with rebellion against mans
injustice. can scarce bring itself TO ask par
don OF God. I had gradually overcome
this feeling in spite of tie good clergyman
irritating efforts, which were mainly direct
ed towards extracting q confession. with
oat which. he assured me. he had no hope
to offer. On the morning of the day fixed
for my execution, felt mcasnrabiy resign
ed. had so long stood face to face with
death. had so accustomed myself to look
upon it as merely momentary pang, that
no longer felt solicitous save that my
memory should one day be vindicatcd. She
for whom nad gone to prepare a home
had already found one in heaven. The
tidings of my calamity had broken her
heart She alone, of all the world, believed
me innocent: and she died with prayer
upon her lips that the truth might yet be
brought to light.
All this had heard, and it had soothed
as with sweet incense my troubled spirit.
Death, however unwelcome the shape, was
now portal beyond which could see one
angel waiting to receive me. l heard the
sound of approaching footsteps, and nerved
myself to meet the expected summons.
The door of my cell opened md the sheriff
and his attendants entered. He held in his
hand paper. 1t was doubtless my death
warrant. He began to read it. My thoughts
were busted elsewhere. The words full
and free pardon were the first to strike
my preoccupicd senses. They affected the
bystanders more than myself. Yet so it
was; was pardoned for an Offense l had
never committed.
1.-The real culprit-none other. it is need
less to say. than he who had abused my
hospitality-had been mortally wounded
in a rccent affIay in Il distant city, but had
lived long enough to make disclosure,
which had been laid before the Governor
barely in time to save me from shameful
death and condemn me to a cherries and
blirtlensomc life. This is my experience.
Ny judgment. rs yours. in the case before
lis leads to but one cOnclIision-that OF the
prisoners guilt; but not less confident and
apparently unerring was the jugment that
falsely pronounced my own"
We no longer impOrtnned Our fellow
Juror, but patiently awaited our discharge
on the ground of inability to agree, which
came at last.
The prisoner was tried and convicted at
a subsequent term. at the last moment con-
Tossing his crime on the scafiold.
Waste and Want.