Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-07-28

train TO their days work. soon diseov-
cred that had fallen nmonga party of
barris,ers, and their chief topic was = Pc
culiarly interesting case which was to he
| finished that day at tho L. assizes.
"He must sum up against the prisoner"
said o gentleman with fiat, horid face
and long sandy whiskers, who wore a
light ovcrcoat and Shepherds plaid trous-
ers. "The defense was complete failure,
and deserved TO be.i F.a eI arli.y,.. -sa
at was certainly rather. audaoious,h p
returned a clean shaEen young man with
q double eye-glsss, who sat opposite mo
"But / don't like circumstantisl evil
dence." can eyidoAce Is moro or less
circumstantiul, answered he Of the ilorld
complexion, "and thi. man Is rs clearly
guilty to rny mind as il there had beer 2
dozen witnesses to stand BY and see him
do the deed. That's my opinion, Hey
wood, and the oracle disappeared behind
his newspaper.
Feeling glad TO discover any topic that
would divert my thoughts from their
gloomy forebodings, I addressed myself
to Haywood, the young barris.er. with
whom had slight acquaintance.
"You seem muc, interested inthis trial
that Is going on" said. "May ask II
you are engaged upon itH" t
NO" he answered. "But 1t Is . se-
rious case. A man, y clerk dismissed from
his employment, is accused Of numbering
the cashier OF tho firm. The evidence
against him Is entirely cirClmstantial ;
but the defense broke down AZ the most
critical point, and the case certainly looks
very black for the prisoner" .....s %
The train is now Stacking speed, and
there was general risIng, | rose, too.
care you going TO get out here:" said
Mr.. Haywood, opening the door as We
glided into the station. '"lIavc you como
down Oh businessT"
YES" l said, wishing to goodness I
knew what the immediate business was.
Nothing very urgeut, though" " | added,
half to myself, as got our. 80
"If you hayo the time 70 spare, you had
bcttcr turn IN and hear the end OF the
trial." said Haywood. '"rhc court will
be crowded with ladies, no GOubt, but /
can smugglc you into corner.'t .'i
Not knowing what to do with myself
for tho next few houra, accepted tho
offer with gratitude. was soon seated
In an obscure corner OF dlnSy, ill-light-
ed, ill-yentilated courthouse, which
would have been ill-smelling too, had 1t
not been for the scent from the numerous
ladies who were presont. Ono OF these.
buxem female obstruction. who ought
to have known better, was just IN front
Of me, and blocked my view With an enor-
nous bonnet. I could net SEQ the pris-
oner nOr his counsel OF even tire clock
over his head, at which the people kept
looking eagerly Us the hour liked for tho
reconmencement Of the trial approached.
At last there was q stir and hustle.
caused by persons invisible to me, then o
call for silence, and, after few prelinl-
naries, the summing up commenced.
listened the more intcntly because l
could see nothing. The clear, cold, tell
ing sentences cut deep In my conscious
ness. How distinct and convincing II all
was! How all those minute facts, the
mute testimony OF footmarks and tho like,
arranged aud distributed by that power.
full intellect, grouped themselves into
damning proof Of guilt 'f'
cared nothing for the prisoner, had
no personal interestiu tic trial. but my
mlnd was wonderfully, fascinated BY the
tale Of horror. At length the 2eighty
tones ceased, and n murmur Of relief and
expectation rau round the assembly At
this moment the woman with the high
bonnet shifted her seat, and 1 obtained 9
full ylsw OF tho prisoner. Istartsd In
voluntarily. 4 Where had keen that fsce
The Jury returned after short absence; ;
the verdict was guilty, accompanied with
recommendation TO mercy. Again the
| judges solemn tones sounded through the
court, again they ceased. ......... ..,..
There was dead silence. Isprang 10 my
feet as II impclled to DO so by somie unseen
power, and looked steadily at ths prison
or. Ills face was lvertcd from ule for the
moment, but the looks OF the people show
cd mc that he was about to speak. Slowly
he turned round, and IN voice whose
deep, earnest tones could be heard all
over the assembly, he said i'.i@ -.." 'f@,S
"rhero lives but one man who can
prove me innocsnt-snd there he stands"
with white face and outstretched arms
be pointed--st me. I-gazed at him with
a sudden Assh OF recognition. Itwss tn.
man had seen under tile lamp. And by
u strange coincidence, al tliis mouent the
court clock struck twelve. r.-..
The plea that had been got up by the
defence Was al slibi. But there WAS
SPACE Of some two hours that could not be
accounted for, and the theory OF the pros
ecution was that the crime had Deon com
mitted during that time. Ny evidence
supplied the missing link, for the place ia
which had seen the man was 80 far dis
tant from the scene Of the murder that Is
wa, impossible for him 10 have beon any
where near at the time Of IT. occurrence.
And the dream? Only coincidence,
you will say, perhaps, or III Of indiges-
ton, or my timber contract. Nsvcrthe-
less, as have told II to you, 50 It hap
pened. Explain II away who can.
The stage from Santa Fe, rolling gently
.1A,,. .irnunk the clnuds OF ItI NxlIirh