Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-13
The Storv Teller.
SCENE IN A JURY ROOM.

/ once haQ the extreme lelicity vi ledVius
my business to serve upon "ths Jarq."
pleaded in all manner of ways for release, bu
to no effect. l could not swear that l was
deaf, nor blind, nor yet non compass; bu
did tell them that had already formed ar
opinion. They asked me if my opinion
would prevent me from receiving the testi
mony in good faith, and rendering verdict
according to it. l replied that of course
should weigh the evidence carefully, and be
governed by it. I was then informed that
"would do"
The case to be tried was one of arson-ther
capital ofence-and the prisoner at the bal
was young man named Charles Ambold
whom had known from boyhood, and who
was naturally one of the finest youths OF the
town where he resided. He had widowed
mother who depended upon him for support
and his circle of friends was large and choice
1 was morally certain that he did not commit
the crime, and hence, am sure, those who
were friendly to him got ME on the panel
and had me retained.
The trial commenced and We twelve men
took our seats in the jury box. l had very
respectable set with me-only there was one
whom I didn't like to see there. This man
was Moulton Warren. He was dark-taced
sinister looking fellow-at least to me.
knew that young Ambold had one fault. lie
had been recently addicted to drink Z, and had
been known to visit disreputable houses. Ii
was one of those houses that had been burn
ed, for setting fire to which he had been ap'
pretended
Now, I had often tried to dissuade Charles
Ambold from the course he was pursuing.
He had repeatedly promised me that he would
reform, and as repeatedly had he broken
away had often talked to him of his poor
mother, until he had wept like child !; but
the effect was not lasting There was pow
er of temptation more effective than any in
fuence could WELD He would fall away
into this evil companionship, and for while
his manhood was gone. One or two aban-
doned women had gained great power over
him, and upon them he wasted much OF his
substance.
And I knew that this very man who was
now upon the ju:y-tbis Moulton Warren
was the one who had done more than all
others to lead the poor youth away. 1t was
Warren who had drank with him, and who
had led him away to those more abomlnable
haunts of sin and pollution. Why was he
upon the jury' I could only account for it
upon the ground that Charley still supposed
him to be his friend The poor scorched
insect was still ignorant of the flame that
scorched him. He really believed that
Moulton Warren was his friend.
The trial commenced. The indictment
set forth that Charles Ambold had, with
malice aforethought," and with all sorts OF
wicked and felonious inteDts, set fire to a
certain dwelling house, thereby endangering
human life. This dwelling, as l have al
ready ntimated, was low sink of iniquity,
where the abandoned of both sexes were
wont to congregate and where the youthful
prisoner had spent much Of his time.
The evidence for the prosecution came on,
and was startled. Ooe after another gave
in their testimony. some Of them very re-
luctantly, and I was frightened when | saw
how plainly it all pointed to the prisoner as
the guilty party. Several credible witnesses
swore that they had heard him threaten to
burn the house down and others had heard
him say repeatedly that he wished it was
burned down Then came several witnesses
three of the prominent citizens-who saw
him lurking about the premises on the night
of the fire.
With regard to the provocation on the
prisoners part for such deed it was proved,
upon his own admission, that he had been
ill.trested there and that he had sworn to
have revenge. And furthermore, it was
proved that he had been heard to say that
his salvation of soul and body depended up
on the destruction of that house. Next came
more testimony stronger still.
The fire had been set in back basement
room where shavings and other stuff tor kind
ling were kept. Entrance had been gained
through a back window, which had been part
ly pried open with stout knife which had
been broken off in trying to raise it (the
sash) The blade was recognized as belong
ing to the prisoners knife A maker OF
cutlery had made knife to order for Ambold
only month previous, and be knew the
blade at once, and swore to it.
But this was not all. The fire had been
evidently set first to the shavings which lay
upon the stone floor, but piled up against a
wooden partition. This floor was damp, and
some of the outer shavings, even, we're not
wholly burned up. But just at the edge,
where the fire commenced, lay piece of
paper, rolled up, and about half burned, and
from the manner in which it lay, it was very
evident that the fire had been set with it.
This piece of rolled paper had been ignited
by match, number of which were scatter
ed around, and as soon ais it was on fire it
bad been laid upon the floor, with the burn
ing end just in the shaviugs Of course,
sheSe shavings were in blaze instantly ;
but the paper torch being upon the damp
stones, had not burned wholly up.
And this paper was found to be part of a
letter belonging to the prisoner. A letter which
he had received from friend of his (and a
friend of mine) only week before! That
friend had to come forward and swear that
the piece Of charred paper was part of letter
he had written to the prisoner! This friends
name was Stephen Grant. He was young
merchant, and the letter had been written fol
the purpose of inducing Ambold to reform
Stephen tried hard to avoid testifying for he
knew, as did others, that the fire must have
been set with that identical paper; but he
was summoned, and he could not deny hi:
own chirography.
Tie case looked dark. Many witnesse:
were willing to testify to the prisoners gooo
qualities but no one could swear that he wa:
not dissipated and degraded. That house
had been to him indeed, region Internal
Its degradation cried out for his bodily life
and its existence had long been eating away
his soul. Poor Charley! had before beer
sure of his innocence but now | could only