The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-17
LAW, NOT JUSTICE.

William Shaw, a respectable traoesmEn OF
Edinburgh was blessed with daughter who
had formed foolish attachment for a Young
man Of bad character. Naturally enough.
the father objected to the whole business
The foolish young woman, growing desper-
ate, stabbed herself. When in the throes OF
death, in the presence Of witnesses, her faith
er appeared, and before expiring she uttered
the words, "Cruel father, thou art the cause
Of my death - The father, at this accuse
ton, was said to exhibit great agitation
On the evidence them of the daughters dy-
ing speech, and the decided alarm which ne
displayed, the unfortunate father was con
demned to the gallows. Apparently no evil
dence could be more conclusive but still,
be it remembered, il vas only apparently
II was simply, after all, going on the ques-
tion of precedent. L was only a presumr
tion of fact grounded on the general belief
that the confession Of a dying person nav
always be taken for granted 70 be true. But
circumstance proved otherwise. year OF
so afterward, as a new tenant Of Shaw's for
meI apartments was rummaging by chance
in the room in which Catherine Shaw had
died, he accidentally discovered paper
which had fallen into a cavity on one side of
the chimney. It was folded as a letter. and
on being opened the following confession
was brought to light:
"BaTbarous Father-Your cruelty having
put II out of my power ever to iOin nv fate
to that OF the only man could love, and tyr
annically insisting upon my marrying one
whom always hated has made me form a
resolution to put an end to an existence
which has become a burden TO me. / doubt
not shall find mercy in another world, for
sure no benevolent Being can require that /
should live any longer in torment 20 myself
in this. NV death lay to your charge. .-
Wien you read this, consider yourself an In
human wretch that plunged the murderOus
knife into the bosom of the unhappy
"CATHARINE SHAW"
For another case might be quoted the IA
nous trial and conviction Of Bradford. the
innkeeper. Here the evidence which pro
dueed conviction consisted Of the fact that
he was seen standing with a bloody knife in
his hand over the body Of the murdered man.
Bradford was executed. but by deatbbed
confession of guilt it subsequently, became
known that the real murderer was the ser
want Of the victim, who had been temptad N
the crime by the knowledge that his unfortu-
nate master was earring considerable sum
of money about his person. Here again.
was another case Of the fallibility Of arguing
on precedent Other undoubted murderers
have been convicted because they had been
caught red-handed in the presence Of their
victims. Therefore Bradford was undoubt-
edly guilty because he was discovered under
the same circumstances, and it was quite un-
natural to suppose anything to the contrary.
As to tine well known case of the Courier Of
Lyons, the Geddeley case and the recent
case of Hebron, who fortunately escaped the
gallows there is no need to enter into any
particular details, as those already quoted
are sufficient for any ordinary purposes Of
exposition. 1t may be taken for granted,
hen, that the lawyer is not always the best,
and never at any time the only, Judge Of the
-alue of evidence.