Connecticut western news., 1884-06-11
VOL. XIII.

down the mass of evidence against me. I know am the only one who can be charged with the crime Still must say: Pause, beware of shedding inno- cent blood. May the Lord, in His un- erring wisdom, move your minds as seemeth best to Him: for in Him is all my trust-man cannot save me.
 ''The jury, after half an hours consul tation, returned the verdict-guilty. He heard it respectfully, but unmoved. Sentence was pronunced in the most impressive manner by the judge, in a long and pathetic address, often inter rupted by his emotion. He expressed no doubt of the prisoners guilt, and lamented the abuse of talents, the cor ruption of 8 mind once innocent, and earnestly recommended the unfortunate youth to confess his guilt, rather than rashly persist in protestations of inno- cence which could no longer save his life, and which precluded all access to divine mercy.
 'The prisoner then arose, and never did I see more expressive and con- manding countenance. It was no longer the despondency of fear and the gloom of hopelessness, but the triumphant, yet calm and modest look of one about to receive the crown of martyrdom.
 "I bow with submission, said he, 'to the judgment of my country, and, though I die innocent, I return thanks to the venerable judge who has just pro- nounced the awful sentence for the Christian tenderness with which he has treated one seemingly so deeply involved in guilt as I am; the jury, as men, could have returned no other verdict j; far be 1t from me to murmur against them; my doom was sealed in heaven. May the sacrifice of my life atone, if not for a crime of which I am innocent, at least for the many faults I have com- mitted. It is impossible not to recog- nize in this the hand of the Supreme Disposer of events. did at first cling to life, and cherish fond hopes that I might yet be saved and restored to my beloved father and the esteem of good men but think am now resigned to die, with firm hope that, if my days are cut short in their prime, if my hopes of happiness and honor have been blasted, and an ignominious death is to be my lot, 1t is wisely and mercifully de- creed, in order to redeem me from the errors into which I have fallen. to purify my soul from those feelings of self-ap- plause and pride which had made me seek human praise rather than peace with God
 ''During this affecting address the hall was hushed to perfect stiffness, and 1t was scarcely concluded when the deep, solemn silence was broken by these words: T thank Thee, Oh, God, he is innocent ? This exclamation, which struck upon the hearts of all, proceeded from an old man who sat not far from me, and who had fallen on his knees in an attitude of prayer, his hands convul- siyely clasPed together; his lips were moving, but his eyes were shut It was his father. A young and beautiful girl had thrown her arms round the old mans neck, and hung on his breast, pale and motionless. The prisoner started at the well-known voice, and in- stinctively sprang forward toward them; but he recollected his position, and, with look which went to my heart, sat o oe l-. relief. It would be difficult to paint the effect which so melancholy sight had on the assembly; tears flowed from every eye. Even the iailers, who came to lead the youth to the condemned cell, ap. peared affected.
 "The execution was to take place the following Monday. My late and re. spected uncle, whose life's work was tc visit the gloomy dungeon and shed or the still deeper gloom of benighted souls the beams of Christian truth, was unremitting in his attentions to the young Scotchman. But he told mt hat he went there not to administer but to receive, and that the edifying be. havior, the simplicity and resignation of the interesting youth, left no doubts of his innocence to all who visited him. Efforts were made, but too late, to save him. The day came. My uncle tool me with him to the prison. At tha time was young and very thoughtless but received there an impression whicl neither years, nor sorrow, nor joy hay, efaced, and which will remain to my dying hour.
 "On reaching the scaffold the con demned man ascended the platform witl firm step, supporting, rather than sup ported by his father. He addressed few words to the crowd, told them h, was innocent, that he hoped his inno cence would one day appear, but that h, was resigned to die, trusting to tn mercy of Him who died for all men. Af ter this his father and he kneeled dow in silent prayer-no words could hay, expressed the feelings of their souls then, while the executioner was adjust ing the rope and covering his eyes, the, sang a psalm together, in the mos heart-rending accents. The crowd wa still as death and nothing was heard bu these last supplications of the old ma and his son mournfully ascending on high The song ceased-the living mass belo7
 heaved back with simultaneous motto
 of horror-the happy soul had fled.
 "A few days after, while the poe
 father was yet too weak to bear the fs
 tigue of journey, the seizure of a house
 breaker led to the detection of one of tn
 darkest plots that was ever contrived b
 guilty man. The rufian, knowing ther was no help for him, confessed that h
 had been introduced into the house b | khn SlI