The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-27
A Double Plea of GUILTY.,

That Amos Talburton married the Widow
Bamford for her money wes firmly believed
by everybody but the wid,w herself. She,
poor, simple body, neytr suspected that
day when he took her hand and asked hor
TO be his, that he had any other object than
the avowed ones OF dcvoting himself to her
happiness and being father to her little
bcys
The widows fortune was IN ready
money, from all care of which her new
husband soon relieved her; and before the
honeymoon was over, Mr.. Tolburton enter
ed on his patcrnal. duties with an energy
which soon convinced Charley and Robbie
Bamford how exceedingly loose had been
their, previons notions of family govern
MIR. Talburton's system was n combina-
tlon of those of Solomon and Mr. Nlurd-
stone, proceeding on the theory that the
two most potent instruments for The expul-
sion Of folly from the heart of a child are
rod of correction and the Latin Grammar.
The elder boy, Charley, was warm
hearted, spirited lad; boy to 20 through
fire and water for those no liked, but with
a'tempcr that rcbelled against injustice or
1t soon became state of constant war
between Charley and MIR. Talbnrton. The
former grow relentless in his punish.
mcnts.
Charley's mother ventured to intercedc
for him once; but her husband read her
such lecture on tho sin of inconsldcratc
mercy that she never dared renew tho sub
ject 49,.
Bobbie who was over a year Younger
than his brother, got along much better
There were two reasons for this: he had his
mothers gentle disposition, and secondly,
Charley's transgresslons were so numerous
that they kept Mr.. Talburton's attention
fully occupied.
AT sixteen Charley was strong and well
grown youth. More than once, after re-
ceiving chastiscmont, he had been heard to
utter threats; and one day he struck back
a violent battle ensued, in which he was
badly worsted, but not until he. had left
on his adversary's face divers marks of the
fierceness Of the contest.
That night the household was aroused by
the report Of a pistol Mr. Talburton was
found welterlng In his own blood lust out
side his study door, and the servants who
first reached the scene, as they afterwards
testified, found Robbie standing near the
body holding pistol. The gas light in
the hall way had been turned up aud the
wild and dazed expression of the boys face
was plainly visible.
The wounded man died before assistance
could be summoned; and terror and fright
threw poor Mrs. Talburton into a swoon,
which, happily, for season rendered her
unconscious.
The police came and searched the prem
ises. One Of the first discoveries made was
that Charley's room was vacant His bed
bore traces of having been recently occu-
pied. But Charley himself had not been
seen slnce retiring TO bed early in the even
ing.
. Robbie when questioned, appeared stu
pifled. and returned no answers. The COM
mission of an act Of violence seemed 80
foreign to his character, that in spite of ap-
pcarances few were disposed to regard him
with suspicion. Still it was thought pru-
dent to detain him till the tragedy should
be fully cleared up. 81
Next day the coroner's jury began their
In addition to the facts al
ready rccounted, 1t was shown that imme-
qiatoly after the murder all tho outer doors
and windows were found closed as usual
a fact which pointed to an inmate of the
house as the author Of the decd.
A dealer lnsfrearlns testified that on the
dny preceding the m,lrdef!he had sold tho
pistol, found with one chamber discharged
in Robbic's hand to Charley Bamford.
at this evidence Robbie started up OK
citcdly and spoke for the first time. go Z.
tell you my brother Is not guilty." he
exclaimed.
perhaps, then, you can tell lis who
is, SAID the coroner, dryly.
II ami" tho boy answered, with the de-
f1ant look Of one brought to bay.
The case was soon closed, and the Jury
were not long in returning their verdict that
Amos Talburton had come to his death by
u pistol shot fired by the hand of Robert
Bamford; and the prisoner was Immediate
ly committed for trial, J.. a..
The distracted mother retained me to do
what could for her unfortunate boy; but
the task looked like a hopeless ono. To
all my questioning could get but ono an
swer. .sl,g ,sAW7s
Robbiepersistedi in asserting his own guilt
and the innocence of, his brother, whose alb
sence he attributed to his having run away
to escape his step-father's cruelty.
When asked as to his possession OF the
pistol sold to Charley, and the motive Of
the crime he fell into his usual silence
In due time my client was indicted and
arranged to plead Istepped forward to
answer for him. but. before Iycould inter-
pose the boy himself had spoken.
y plead guilty" he said, in a clear,
"No, mol cried a voice that startled all
who heard II; "it' is not lie, hut I, who am
guiltyl" and, the next moment Charley
Bamford stood at his brothers. side, encir-
cling him with his arm. Is 81.
'sWas t,l1pt I who ram away1' he went