The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-07-31

|
true"
II can hardly believe your owr
Words" said the Sheriff. "Mr. Carson
please examine those irons, and see il
You think them secure"
Mr.. Carson examined them minutely
and informed the Sheriff they wert
certainly strong enough to hold an OK
and fitted tightly, also in his judgement
it was impossible for any man to sliE
them. The prisoner laughed.
"Mr. Carson" said he. II know you
1 met you nearly year ago in Franklin
county, while on your way from Natchel
to this place; you had money with you
and 1 knew it. / could have robbed
you and murdered your party, but al
that time the paltry sum of eighty
til ousand dollars was nothing to me.
was after larger game-and I bagged it.
Then Mr.. Carson for the first time
recognized James as one of the parties
whom his wife entertained such strong
suspicious of while Oh their journey
from Natchez to Monticello.
"Please proceed" said the Sheriff
"proove your words good, and relieve
me of my doubts. regarding what
deem an impossibility."
"Your wish shall be gratified, said
the prisoner smiling, putting his hands
over his head aud turning his back tc
his visitors for a moment only. He
whrIed on his heel, shook his right
then his left foot. The deep clank OF
his shackles as they fell from his ankles
rang through the grated apartment,
dropping on the brick floor of his cell.
Here, Mr.. Sutton, are the darbies,
handing that gentleman the hand>cuff:
with all the suavityof French dancing
master. The Sheriff and cashier were
astonished. For several moments
silence reigned supreme.
"Now, SIR" at length answered the
Sheriff, although you have certainly
performed remarkable feat in reiiev-
ing yourself of these irons, am not
yet satisfied. Please show me how You
make your exit from these walls"
"Again your wish shall be eratified.
Open, sesame" he said, placing his
hands on the iron hasp, giving it lit
tie wrench, aud the cool damp air of
evening blew into the cell. The door
was open and James stood forth free
| man.
"Now gentlemen, said he, do not
wish to leave here until after my trial,
for shall certainly clear myself. I am
Io~ror, and know th" i"~, auu Tor
proof of what I say look at that pile
of law books. My case is all prepared,
and 1 only await my trial, which takes
place in GallatiG next month, to prove
nv assertion. You know I was sent
here for safe keeping. only thipking
this the safest strong hold for an incor-
rigible criminal like myself; but have
even proved this place not Bastile in
strength. No, sir" he continued,
while fnsh of seeming pride at his
infallibility mantled his checks. 81 de
fly any jail or pen;tentiary in the land
to hold me. I openly admit I am q
great law breaker. but never try to
escape by the means have just shown
you, when I am positive can escape
legally. Though 1 always employ
lawyer of the locality where I am ac-
cused of crime. 1 do this through pol
icy. although I always prepare my own
case and only wish the services of
lawyer known to the community to pre-
sent it before the court; but when l
find predjudice combined with a des
perate c,se, which is often the conse-
qucnce of my depredations, then, and
then only. do I resort to the presto
change, which I have just shown to
your doubling gaze. Though I have
made practice since I have been con-
finei her and in other places, in order
to get little relaxation from confine-
ment, to take an occasional moon lighc
walk, merely for recreation nothing
more. Now / will close the door, and
once more don my irons. Are you sat~
isfied?"
II am," answered the Sheriff. "You
are rare case"
"Thank you for the compliment"
said James locking the door as mysteri>
ously as he had opened it. reclasped his
irons and took seat on the floor of his
cell.
The Sheriff aud his companion bid
the prisoner good evening and as the
harsh grating of the lock, and the with.
drawal of the key from the cell door
announced their exit, the prisoner
chuckled to himself and said half
aloud: "They. too. have gone away
with bug in their ear"
The old courthouse at Gallatin was
filed to overfowing. A famons case
was 70 be tried. The State vs. James,
charge, robbing and murder. Able
counsel was retained by the State and
the District Attorney was power in
himself. Counsel for the defence was
lawyer Swift. The case was called, and
Indictment read. You might have
heard pin drop in anv part OF the
room, so great was the anxiety.
"Guilty or not guilty."
"If your honor please" said Mr..
Swift, raising to the question, "while
admit that my client, the prisoner here
1t the bar, is one of the greatest scound-
rels that ever wadded deep in blood
and villainy, that perhaps. sir. his
equal was never recorded in the annals
II Ne wgate." Here the prisoner pull.
ID his counsel's coat-tail to admonish
lim he was for the defence and not the
Swift unheedinp the