The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-16
THE BLACK PIT.

tCt8oW AGftOu, V uusnks0 NCAA kA1VWn down in the bottoms" was arrested on a charge of murder, and upon a change of venue, was tried before Judge Plackes, an old man whose stern idea of justice is as immovable as the hills on which he read law. There was something about Peyton that interested him, and when the trial had been in progress for several days, he took occasion to say to the coun- sel for defense:
 "I don't know why, but l feel de- cided interest in your client. hope you will be able to prove his innocence, but l fear that the facts are against you"
 The proof was conclusive. Peyton and an old negro, named Dan Morris, had become involved in a quarrel. Peyton swore that he would kill him. Several days afterwards Peyton was seen coming from . corn field, and shortly after this the body of old Da. was found in the field.
 When the verdict of guilty was ren- dered, the counsel for the defense an- nounced his intention of moving for new trial, but Peyton, greatly to the sur prise of every one, arose and said:
 Genneman, dar aim no use in worry in wid dis thing no longer. did kill de man an know dat oughter be hung fur it, but let me say dis fack: want in my right mind. Two days fore killed him, l had tried ter kill myself. Er dark cloud seemed ter come ober me, an der didn't peer ter be daylight mo- whar. recolleck walkin' Tong de road skirtin' de 6el', an den ken jes' call ter mind hearin' guggiin' soun' in CT mans throat an seein' CT head chopped open wid CT hatchet. doan tell desc lacks ease think dat da1l hep me, fur ter tell de truth doan want'er be hepped. 1 mout take anuder dark fit and kill anuder good man. Pm by crazy man like am by mad dog. He oughter be killed. When CT dog runs mad, nobody keers whut CT good animal he wuz in de past, but da tostens all dar thoughts on how dangerous he is in de present. So, jedge, jes' pass de death sentence on me, ef yer please, an make de time jes' ez short ez yer kin"
 He was arrainged before the bar, and the judge, with more emotion than his friends had ever seen him exhibit, pro- nounced the death sentence, naming Friday, two weeks in the future, as the time when he should suffer.
 Preachers who had become interested in the man visited him in the jail, and even the judge. in defiance of precedent, called upon him.
 Gennermen," he said one day, yer needn' talk no mo- O dem christian words ter me"
 1You are not regardless of your future, l hoper said the judge.
 No, sah, it ain't dat. De Lawd alone knows how much oughter suffer fur dat crime. No matter how often l cries fur mussy,l is gwine ter git whut de Lavd and de Sabiour sees dat l 'sarves. ledge, yers been mighty kine ter me. When l uster heah O jedges, thought dat da sot on de bench widout feelin', an dat when CT pol man wur fotch up, dar want no kin'ness showed. It peers dat we larns faster when we aim got but CT little time ter lib. l sees now dat cour be CT useful man, but it's too late. Ef I'd CT libed in de neighborhood wid sich CT man as vessel jedge, doan blebe dat black it would hab ebes come ober me. Good by," he said as the judge arose. "Termor is Friday. Is yer comin' ter see me. hung, jedge ?"
 @No, Peyton, such thing was never known in Arhansaw. Even in coming to see you have violated custom. Good bye. May the Lord forgive you"
 Good bye, jedgs," with a convulsive sob. "Pse po' nigger, but pse got CT heart. l'se got CT heart jedge, dat warns when yer comes nigh me Yer wouldn' min CT DO man what's goin' ter pass mighty soon erway, sayin' dat he lubs yer, would yer, jedge. know dat yer is CT big man in de lan'-thank God yer aint proud"
 While the judge was walking along the street, after leaving the jail, he me, an old acquaintance who said:
 Been down to sec the condemned man, eh, Thomas ?"
 "Yes, and I feel much interest in him."
 Let me tell you something." The old friend drew the judge aside. Shortly afterwards the old juriss, almost breath less with exertion, climbed the stairs leading to the governors office. After