Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-09

ur in the drawer in which had placed il al
Sc was identified as the property Of the m,l
nh dered man. His horse. too. was found
Il my stable: for the animal had just pl
10 there was none other. l recognized hi
es myself as saw him in the light What
u said know not. My confusion was take
as additional eyidence.-And when.
N length. did command language to give a
)t Ineligible statement, it was received wit
? snccrs of incredality.
y "The mob spirit is Inherent in men,
L least in crowds of men. 1t may not a
: ways manifest itself in physical violence
K 1t sometimes conteL:s itself with lynchin
Z cllaracter.-But whatever its form, it i
d always relentless, pilless, cruel.
G us the proofs OF my guilt, one afte
another. came to light, low muttering
+. gradually grew into clamor for venge
5 ance. and but for the tirmness of one mar
| the officer who had me in Charge
: woUld doubtless have paid the penalty a
my supposed offence on the spot 1t was
not sympathy for ME that actrated nv
protector. HIS heart was as hard as his
office: but he represented the majesty OF
the law and took a sort of grim pride in
his position. As much under the glance of
his eye as before the muzzie OF his pistol.
the cowardly clamorers drew back. Per-
ilaps they were not sufficiently numerous
to feel the full effect of that mysterious re-
flex influence which makes Il crowd of
! n L.
better, than any one of them singly.
AT the end Of some months my trial
came. 1t could have bui of,e result. Cir
cnmstances too p.ainly declared my guilt.
alone knew they lied.-The absence OF
the jury was very brief TO their verdict
| paid but little heed. 1t was single hi
dcons word. but had long anticipated it.
and it made nc impression. AS f:ttle i'm
preston was made by the words of the
Judge which followed it. and his solemn
invocation t!.at God have mercy upon me
which man was too just to vouchsafe,
sounded like the hollowest mockerics. 1t !
may be hard for the condemned criminal
to meet his death; it is still harder for
him who is innocent. The one, when the
hrst shock is over. acq'Iiesces in his doom.
and gives himself to repentance. the heart
OF the ether. filled with rebellion against
mans injustice, can scarce bring itself to
ask pardon of God. had gradually over
come this feeling in spite OF the good
irritating efforts, whicl, we're
mainly directed towards extracting a con-
fession. without which he had no hope to
piier. On the monriring of the day fixed
Tor my execution | felt meastlrably resign
1d. had so long stood face to face with
leat!i. had so accustomed myself to look
lnon it us merely momentary pang. that !
no longer felt soicitous. save that nv $
memory should one day be vindicated. !
She for whom had gone to prepare {
lomc had already fotsnd one in heaven. '
he tidinss OF my calamity had broken G
Ter heart. She alone. OF all the world. be- S
ieved me innocent; and she died with a )
'rayer upon her lips that the truth might '
e yet brought TO light. All this [ had C
card. and it had soothed as with sweet tt
lcense my troubled spirit. Death, how s.
yer unWelcomc the shape, was now por- n
Al beyond wh!c!i could see one angel Z
'aiting to receive me. iheard the sound of
pproaciing footsteps, and nerved myself 1
} meet the expected summons. The door II
my cell opened. and the sheriff and his W
tendants entered. lie held in his hand al
aper. 1t was doubtless my death war; as
INT. lie began to read it, My thoughts W
orr iaI ole
I'd free pardon were the first to strike be
y preoccnpied senses. They affected the lie
islanders more than myself Yet so it tn
as; was parloned for an offence had II
'yer committed. be
1.-The real cuiprit. none ether. it is need of
IS to say. than lie who had soHght and IA
used my hospitality. had beeh mortally its
onnded in recent atfiay in distant WI
y, but had live(llong enough to-make TAI
sclosure which had been laid before the OF
Dvernor barely in time to save me from tn
shameful death and to condemn me TO a pu
eeiless and bur'tGsome lite. This is rs
eXrerienee.-My judgment, as yours. Gel
the case before us leads to but one con
'sions that OF prisoners guilt; but not Ia
S confident and apparently unerring Ge
IS the Judgment that falsely pronounce / clt1
!, own am
We no longer inpof1uned our fellow Ti'
or, but patiently awaited our discharge ito
the ground of inability to agree, which ere
he at last. SO
The prisoner was tried and convicted at inf
ubsequent term. and at the last moment the
Messed his crime on the scaliold.. 70