Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-09-01

iOT nope. DeS PERMISSION 10 AV
few witnesses examined conc err
ing my character; and if their test
mony shall not overweight my sur
posed guilt, / must be condemned
although / would pledge my salvs
tion on my innocence.
/ Several witnesses were called
who had known her for many year
and they spoke well of her but fea
and hatred of the crime of Whicl
they supposed her guilty, renderet
! them timorous, and unwilling 4
come forward. Elizabeth saw ever
this last resource, her excellent dis
positions and irreproachable con
duct, about to fail the accused
when, although violently agitated
she desired permission to addres
| the court.
81 am" said she, "the cousin o
the unhappy child who was mur
dered, or rather his sister, for / wa.
educated by and have lived will
his parents ever since and ever
long before his death. 1t mag
therefore be judged indecent in int
to come forward on this occasion
but when | see fellow creature
about 10 perish through the coward
ice of her pretended friends, / wish
10 be allowed to speak, that / may
say what / know OF her character.
am well acquainted with the ac
cused. | have lived in the same
house with her, at one time for five
and at another for nearly two years.
During all that period she appeared
to me the most amiable and benev-
olent OF human creatures. She nurs-
ed Madame Frankenstein, my aunt
in her last illness with the greatest
affection and care: and aiterward
attended her mother during ted
iOuS illness, in a manner that excl
ted the admiration of all who knew
her. After which she again lived in
my uncle's house, where she was
beloved by all the family. She was
warmly attached to the child Whc
is now dead, and, acted toward him
like Il most affectionate mother.
For my own part, do not hesitate
to say, that, Notwithstanding all
evidence produced against her, 1
believe and rely on her perfect in
nocence. She had no temptation
for such an action as to the bauble
on which the chief proof rests, if
she had earnestly desired it, !
should have willingly givenrit to
her |; so much do | esteem and val
ue her."
Excellent Elizabeth A mur-
mur of appreciation was heard but
it was excited by her generous in
reference, and not in favor of poor
Justine, on whom the public indig-
nation was turned with renewed
violence, charging her with the
blackest ingralitude- She herself
wept as Elizabeth spoke, but she
did not answer. My own agitation
and anguish was extreme during
the whole trial. | believed in her
innocence / knew it. Could the
demon, who had | did not doubt
tor minute) murdered my brother
also in his heliish sport have be
trayed the innocent to death and
ignomy? / could not sustain the
horror of my situation and when
| perceived that the popular voice,
and the c0uutenances of the judges
had already condemned my unhap-
py victim, | rushed out of the court
in agony. The tortues of the 'accus-
ed did not equal mine; she was sus-
tanned by innocence, and the pangs
of remOrse tore my bosom, and
would not foregO their hold.
/ passed night of unningled
In the morning |
10 tho RnVIrt tINE. uf1I
throat were parched. dared not
ask the fatal question; but l was
known, and the officer guessed the
cause OF my visit. The ballots had
been thrown; they were all black,
and Justine was condemned. a-.
/ oonnot pretend to describe what
| then felt. l had before experience
ed sensations of horror and 1 have
to bestOw upon them
adequate expressions, but words
cannot convey an idea of the heart
despair that ! then en-
dured. The person to whom / ad-
dressed myself added, that Justine
had already confessed her guilt.
"rhat evidence" he observed,
''was hardly required in SO glaring
a case, but ! am glad of it and, in
deed, none OF our judges like to
condemn a criminal upon circum-
stantial evidence, be it ever so de-
cisive."
When | returned home, Eliza
beth eagerly demanded the result
my cousin," replied /, "it is de-
cided as you may have expected;
all judges had rather that ten inno-
cent should suffer, than that one
guilty should escape. But she has
confessed" "
This was dire blow to poor
who had relied with
tirmness upon Justine's innocence.
ALAS !" said she 'hoW shall | ever
again believe in human benevo-
Ience? Justine, whom l loved and
esteemed us my sister, how could
she put on those smiles of innocence
only to betray? her mild eyes
seemed incapable of any severity or
Ill humor, and yetshe has commit
ted murder.
Soon after we heard that the poor
victim had expressed Il wish to see
my cousin. My father wished her
not to go but said that he left it to
her own judgment and feelings to
decide.
"Yes," said Elizabeth, ~ will go
although she is guilty; and you,
Victor, shall accompany me i can
not go alone" The idea of this
visit was torture to me, yet 1 could
not refuse. s##E
We entered the gloomy prison
chamber and beheld Justine sitting
On some straw, ut the further end /;
ler hands were manacled, and her
mead rested on her knees. She rose
IN seeing us enter; and when we
we're left alone with her, she threw
herself at the feet of Elizabeth,
bitterly. My cousin wept
also.
"Oh, Justine! !" said she, "why
lid you rob me of my last cOnsola-
ion? l relied upon your innocence;
and although | was then very
was not so miserable as
am now" -."
"And do you also believe that
nm SO very, very wicked ? Do you
also join with my enemies to crush
ne?'' Her voice was suffocated
with sobs. ....
"Rise, my poor girl" said Eliza
beth, "why do you kneei, you are
| am not one of your
enemies believe you guiltless,
Notwithstanding every evidence,
until / heard that you had yourself
declared your guilt. That report,
you say, is false; and be assured,
lear Justine. that nothing can