The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-06-16

Ko,lney's case was put upon trial.
The courtroom was thronged with
interested spectators, but the prisoner
in the dock, after one shrinking glance
over that sea of eager faces, dropped his
head and looked no more He had re-
| fused to employ counsel; therefore,
when the question was asked by the
Judge, and stranger arose among the
attorneys in the bar, no one was more
surprised than the prisoner himself.
IL am here to offer my services as
counsel for the defense IN.
Mr. Kingsalar' said the Judge. evil
IDENTIFY impressed, and ripple ran
over the, throng as the stranger was
recognized as noted criminal lawyer
of the State. "Have y6u''A addressing
the prisoners ny objections to accept
| ing him as your counsel?'' @
| "Your Honor, l have no defense to
make'' % t.t Il Nt 1#~
Twill the Court grant me per-
mission to confer with the prisoner"
asked Mr. Kingsala. "a q Az
| Permission was given, but, after n
few moments of earnest conversation,
in which Rodney absolutely declined his
services eagerly pressed upon him, the
lawyer gravely announced that his re-
quest was Withdrawn. The prisoner
was arraigned in due form, and the
question put:
What say you, Rodney, France; are
you guilty or not guilty?
I. ." GUILTY." came the reply, low, but
distinct
n A silence like the silence of death fell
upon the assembly. Even that sense of
keen disappointment at being cheated of
the edifying revelations attendant upon
q trial, was held in allowance for the
moment, before the solemn realization
that this man had PRONOUNCED his own
\ inevitable doom. One low moan, far
back in the audience, died out too quick
tly-to. be observed. Mr.. Kingsala, glanc-
ing anxiously in that direction, saw
nothing btit THE yelled head of a girl,
bent down. NNn NJ f
Al little brizz was checked Instantly by
the tfpstaves. The Scratching of "a pen
was heard as an entry was made on the
Erecofds. Then the Judge spoke:
N p Stand up. Have you anytl ing to say
! why sentence of death should not be
passed upon your nb1ri-
/ q TASK your Honor to order exc
cution Of the sentence as speedily as
! possible. / acknowledge the JUS
| tice which demands life for life, and
am ready to bear the fullest conse-
quences of that murderous deed"
lit is not in the power of the law to
grant you any clemency where sentence
60 You are convicted, on your own plea,
of crime which has Mortified the com
munity, and brought mourning and des-
| oil Int l. I a.
more willing to grant your request as
understand that the shock of your
guilt has brought your unhappy wife to
the very verge of the grave, and should
she recover at all. her recovery could
tonly be retarded by the knowledge of
the doom impending oyer you. There
fore, I pronounce the sentence of the
law, that you be taken from this place
to the county Jail and there be kept in
confinement until the second day of
March, when you will be hanged by the
neck until YOU are dead. and, may the
Lord have mercy oniyour soul1'
! Thelsolemn words ceased; the prison
er was Ted away, and Mr.. Kingsala,
making his way through the yielding
crowd to (theT still motionless figure
I which had been the object of his anxious
regard, found that she had quietly
tainted, She came to herself as quietly
under the combined effects of smelling
salts and fresh air; and, later in the day,
the lawyer obtained admission for alady
visitor to the condemned prisoner in his
cell.
The mental strain had worn upon
Rodney; he looked haggard and i'll in
! the dim light which sifted down from
the close gratings. A guard had al
ready been placed in his cell, but the
man walked away, leaving them COM
paratively alone. Then the girl swept
back the vail which hid her pale feat
ures and held out her hand. 1t was not
taken. A pang of self-accusation went
lthrough Rodney France as he looked
\ upon the pale, pale face, and into the
suffering yet compassionate eyes of Rose
Sangerfordg 81 rTCAly
@'.aaee~ You so many friends to-day,
Rodney, that you can afford. to despise
even me?" she asked, with a touch of
reproach, ,v-sry
t.Despise youl Oh, lRose,l Rose!, 1
don't deserve place in one thought Of
yours, but if you can, forgive me-for-
i give metz G
4 A great choking lump came into his
throat. For the first time since his
trouble had come upon him, he was I'M
nerved, unmanned.N He had wronged
this girl in a manner which few girls
would forgive, and now, when lit was
too late, it came home to him what a
different fate his might be had he but
4 been honorably trneito her.
There is no forgiveness needed be-
tween u.s. said Rose, pitifully. Il