The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-02-01

slightest touch, betokened recent
fright. On re entering the house, |
found the stranger was not there
His absence excited no surprise he
would doubtless soon return. 1t was
a little singular, however, that he
should have left his watch lying on
the table.
AT the end of half an hour, my
guest not returning, | went again to
the stable, thinking he might have
found his way hitherto give person
al attention to the wants of his horse.
Before going out, from mere force OF
habit-for we we're as yet uninfested
by either thieves or policemen
took the precaution of putting the
strangers watch il drawer in which
I kept my valuables. / found the
horse as | had left him, and gave
him the food which he was now
sufficiently cooled to be allowed to
eat but his master was nowhere to
be seen. AS approached the house
crowd of men on horseback DASH
ed up, and | was commanded, in
no gentle tones, to stand ! In an
other moment | was in the hands
of those who claimed me as their
prisoner
Il was too much stupeGed at first
to ask what it all meant. | did SO
at last, and the explanation came-it
was terrible My friend with whom,
had SO lately set out in company,
had been found murdered and robbed
near the spot at which |, but alone,
knew we had separated. | was the
last person known to be with him,
and | was now arrested on suspicion
of his murder. A search Of the
premises was Immediately instituted.
The watch was found in the drawer
in which | had placed it, and was
identified as the property of the
murdered man. His horse, too, was
found 10 my stable, for the animal
l had just put there was none other.
| recognized him myself when |
saw him in the light. What | said,
/ know not. My confusion was
taken as additional evidence. And
when, at length, | did command Ian
guage to give an Ineligible states
ment it was received with sneerS of
incredulity.
The mob spirit is inherent 10 men
at least in crowds of men. 1t may
not ..lweys manifest ite9f in physical
violence. 1t some times contents it
self with lynching character. But
whatever its form,it is always relent-
less, pitiless, cruel
'As the proofs of my guilt, one
after another, came to light, low NUT
terings gradually grew into clamor
for vengence and bat for the firm
ness of one mantle officer who had
me in charge Il would doubtless
have paid the penalty of my sup
posed offence on the spot. 1t was
not sympathy for me that actuated
my protector. His heart was as hard
as bis office but he represented the
majesty of the law, and took sort of
grim pride in the position AS much
under the glance of his eye as before
the muzzle of his pistol, the coward
Iy clamorers drew back. Perhaps
they were not sufficiently numerous
to feel the full effect of that mysteri>
Gus reflex influence which makes a
crowd of men so much worse, and at
times so much better, than any one
of them eingly.
AT the end of some months my
trial came. 1t could have but one
result. Circumstances too plainly
declared my guilt l alone knew
they lied. The absence of the jury
was very brief. To their verdict |
paid but little heed. 1t was single
hideous word; but had long antici
pated 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 mercy upon me
which man was too just to vouchsafe,
sounded like the hollowest of hollow
mockeries. 1t may be hard for the
condemned criminal to meet death it
is still harder for him who is innocent.
The one when the first shock is over
acquiesces 10 his doom, and gives
himself to repentance the heart of
the other, filled with rebellion against
mans injustice, can scarce bring it.
self to ask pardon of God. | had
gradually overcome this feeling, in
spite of the good clergy mans irrita-
ting efforts, which we're mainly direct
ed towards extracting confession,
without which he assured me, he had
no hope to offer.
Son the morning of the day fixed
for my execution | felt measurably
resigned. had 50 long stood face
to face with death, had so accustomed
myself to look upon it as merely a
momentary paug, that l no longer
felt solicitous save that my memory
should one day be indicated. She
for whom l had gone TO prepare
home had already found one in heav-
en-. The tidings of my calamity
had broken her heart She alone,of
all the world, believed me innocent;
and she died with q nravernnon her