Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-07-10

sCome, doctor, it i yoaE 6n
promised rs as q short stoEF. z.A
It." We ueFe sitting IN u 1*
room Of 81. Charles Hotel = N-
leans. We had III told sN
the exception OF old Dr.. O. e
turn having arrived. be was
as above. The doctor rG Ai8
hat, stFoked bis white beard.
81 an not much 81 leilinz -
since yon insssa. ! s4;lE 81. 5 :
tale. You have read in history of the
consul Brutns who condemned his
two sons TO dies saw the counterpart
of il enacted in real life, only there was
one son instead OF two. think it was
in '53. / was travelling through the
southern part Of Georgia. One beauti-
fal spring morning found myself IN
the small town OF s..
"There was murder tFisl to COM
nence next day, and as was in no
particular hurry, thought would stay
and see il. Ii appeared that . young
man, q stranger TO that locality, had,
while under the influence Of liquor, shot
and instantly killed Clay Wilson, Fis-
ing young lawyer Of that town. The
murderer was captured, put in prison,
and but for the bravery of the sheriff
and his deputies, he would have been
hnched by the Infuriated friends Of the
murdered man. He had been in pris-
on two months and his trial was to come
up on the morrow. The day before,
that is, two days prior TO the opening Of
the trial, Judge Andrews, the presiding
Judge Of that jurisdiction, was suddenly
rrostrated by a paralytic stroke, and the
Hon. VIM. III. Graham was elected
Judge pro TEN.
"On arriving at the court house, mex:
day, found it thronged with people
AS the clock struck the hour of ten, the
court was called to order and the Judge
commanded them TO bring forth the
prisoner. All eyes were turned to-
ward the door through which the MUIR
derer was to enter. He was brought in
by the sheriff. AT first he gazed around
the court room upon the audience. then
his eyes wandered toward the one who
was TO pronounce lis doom, for he kne W
too well that he would be convicted,
there was not particle of chance for
him to escape. As his eyes met those
OF the judge, he gave slight gasp and
sank into chair. The Judge was equal
ly moved; all color fed from hiss check,
frame, and it was quite NE before
he could speak, then in low faltering
tones he said:
Gentlemen, when I accepted your
call to act as judge during the coming
trial Of that young man, little expec-
ted that matters stood as they do.-
Four years ago my only son, in fit OF
passion, left his home and has never
returned. / tned every way to find his
whereabouts, but it seemed impossible;
at last gave him up. thinking he was
dead. To-day | am acting as Judge IN
trial of murder-gentlemen, ask you
to excuse my seeming weakness-the
prisoner at the bar is my son. Then
Strengthening himself up to has accus-
toned dignity, he added, But when
! the crime of murder has been commit
ted we must lay aside parental afec-
tion and enter upon the stern duty OF
Justice
"Then he resumed his seat. The
whole court house was still as the cham
Der Of death. The audience would first
gaze on The Judge, then on the prisoner,
then on the father. now on the son. The
Judge arose called the court TO order,
and proceeded with the trial. Witness
after witness was examined. The Judge
acted more like an automatic figure
than living man. At last the morn
ing's session was over, then the alter
noon, and the court adjourned until next
day; the trial lasted six days, the Judge
employingthe most able talentto be had
in the state, doing all in his power to save
his son.
"On the morning OF the last day, the
jury having decided upon q verdict,
marched into the court room and took
their accustomed places. The clerk oil
arraings turning to the prisoner, said.-
civilian H Graham alias George
Perry! Stand up! Look upon the Jury =
Then turning TO the jury. he continued,
Gentlemen Of the jury, look upon the
prisoner. Gentlemen Of The jury, bow
say you Do you end William n. Ora
ham alias George Perry. the prisoner al
the bar, guilty or not guilty Of the mur-
der OF Clay Wilson
There was pause in which moth
ing could be heard in the deathly still
ness OF TIE crowd. but the quick, low
gasp Of the sgonized criminal, as, in
the crisis OF his fate, he convulsiyely
clutched the railing before him.
"'We find him guilty." s0lemnly re-
peated the foreman Of the jury in tones
that were distinctly heard throughout
the assembly.
call eyes were bent on The doomed
man to see how he would receive these
words. But only those who were
nearest TO him could detect the quiveI
of his bIoodless lips as he quickly GOV.
cred his face with his hands and sank
back into his chair.
cat last the Judge arose, his counte-
nance was terribly changed. all coloI
having lett his face. Looking upon the
prisoner in trembling tones be said,-
"'William III. Graham! What have
you TO say why sentence Of death should
not be pronounced upon you
"The prisoner raised his bead. ant
said
"'l have nothing to say. your honor
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