San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-10-12

we hang her, l remarked. $50
we don't object to that. Everybody
says that she is guilty; and she is guilty,
and must be hung, that's all there is to
it, Judge .....
L concluded that it was not wise to
continue tue conversation any further.
went into the courtroom and took
my seat upon the bench. l had a hard
time to get into the courtroom, the
crowd OF people was so dense. As I
passed thro' among them, I received
many gratutious admonition like this
Give her what she deserves, judge
l saw that the popular feeling was
against the woman and I, too, began to
think that the people, for they were a
good people, were right. lNN
"After the preliminary business of the
court was done, I found that by arrange
ment with the attorneys, every case had
been put of, so as to have the murder
trial first. SO the jury was drawn. /
knew that every man in the jury box
believed her guilty but I could not
help it. 1t was impossible to get any
jurymen who thought differently.
"The prisoner was brought in hand
cufed. ! thought the handwriting was
unnecessary, but the sheriff took that
precaution. The first impression that
came to my mind as 1 looked at the
prisoner, was, how could one so young
and so beautiful commit such a terrible
crime? She turned her pale, tear
stained face and looked at me. &. In that
pitiful look I read her prayer. It was
that I should protect her. z s&##s
"Are you guilty, or not guilty?"
said the district attorney. t'5.l
"Not guilty." Her answer was in q
firm, sad voice.
"For moment allowed myself to
believe that she had plead truthfully.
But when I heard the subdued hiss that
came from the people, said to myself
she lies. ..... .-.,t ..
"We went on with the trial. The
lawyer who had previously been APP
pointed to conduct the defense was a
young man, and disgrace to his pro.
fession. 1t seemed as if he did all he
could to assist the prosecution.
"The evidence was conclusive. Hell
husband had come home the worse fol
liquor. They had some hard words
she had told him that if he did not STOP
drinking, she would stop him. you
will be sorry for it. If you don't stop
you will be dead man. T will be better
off as your aOidoaU than as the Shaving
wife of drunkard.' Then right afte,
the quarrel she had bought poison.
She told the druggist that she wished
to poison some cats that disturbed her
sleep. The next morning the dead
body was found, and the doctors found
poison in the body. There was only
one thing that looked queer. She had
not been allowed to see the remains.
Gas said before, the evidence was
conclusive, and the verdict of the Jury
was guilty. and / must do my duty.
Mary Brainard, stand up"
"She staggered to her feet and stood
facing me.
"The jury have found you guilty OF
murder in the first degree. Have you
anything to say why the sentence of
the court should not be passed upon
your"
"'I am not guiltyp She bowed her
head and stood waiting for what was to
come.
"'Mary Brainard this is painful duty
which L have to perform. Usually in
passing sentance upon one found
guilty of crime, the court passing
that sentence utters words of advice to
the guilty. In this case l can not do
so; the crime is too great. will pro-
coed at once to pass the sentence of the
court. Mary Brainard, the sentence of
this court is that on the 21st day of
February next, between the hours of
u o'clock at noon and 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, in the court -honse yard, at
Plainville, you be hanged by the neck
until you are dead, and may God have
mercy upon your SOUL" ...t
"As soon as I had finished, she sank
back in her chair, ike one exhausted
TIL. ,,ao,,l.a -, Aha court-roorn cnecred