The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-12-26

1uClC WCiC uFO OthOA RhicOh~AS 49,
had been sentenced to various terms at
hard labor. also awaiting removal to
the penitentiary. We took evening
passage by steamer for Rockland. /
iroDed the five together, placing them
in the cabin on main deck. After the
were cast off invited Mills
upon the quarter deck. l did not place
the irons upon his wrists, not that de-
sired or intended to give him more lib
erty or better treatment than that ex-
tended to the other prisoners on board,
but looking upon him more as an I'M
fortunate victim of circumstances than
as felon. l shrank from driving the
iron deeper in his soul.
1.-THE steamer had passed through the
main channel. rounded white Head,
and was we'll out to sea, when we
reached the upper deck; the city's lights
were far behind us; the clear rays of
the cape light lent brilliancy along
the steamers course, and the waters
CLASSY surface looked like FURNISHED
silver. The moon was shining clear and
bright.
mo one could be seen as we paced
the deck fore and aft except the helms
man at the wheel and the watch on the
starboard bow. Mills was calm, but
there was despair in his every move
ment and written in every lineament OF
his pale face. In few hours should
deliver him to the warden to enter upon
his solitary confinement before execu-
ton of the death sentence.
ssvVr cfond,ncr o1opn s,rof ho 81
the wheelhouse. looking out upon the
moonlit waters, when l turned, and,
standing before him with one hand upon
his shoulder, 1 reminded him that he
had been under my charge for several
months; that during all that time his
department had been unexceptionable;
that he had been granted fair and inn
partial trial-he had been defended
by able and honest counsel-and while
/ doubted his gnilt, the presumption
was too great and the evidence, though
circumstantial, too strong for the jury
to report a different verdict from the
one announced, and l said to him he
could have no hope of executive Glenn
ency in his behalf; that he was guilty
because the jury had so declared and
the court had so adjudged, and nothing
could be gained now by falsehood or
equivocation. I charged him to tell me
the truth relating to the fire. and the
poor condemned man quickly turned
toward me, the light sea breeze tanning
the gray locks back from. his brow,
while the reflection of the pale moon
lent weirdness to his face, so full of
despair. and resting one hand upon my
shoulder, and with the other raised to-
ward heaven, he said:
Realizing the awful doom awaiting
me--that after the year of anguish and
torture in my solitary cell, which is a
part of the sentence pronounced upon
me, / am to suffer an ignominous,
dreadful death-by my hope of heaven,
I swear to you that l know no more how
that fire originated than yourself. OF
what avail would falsehood be to me
now? l have received but kindness
from you during my months of impris-
onment. / can not say that my trial
was not a fair one. / find no fault with
the Judge or jury, and my counsel were
untiring in their efforts in my behalf.
Yet, repeat-and this is all that is left
me now-that. as God hears me-that
great Judge, before whom l am soon to
stand--I am innocent
1.-The poor man staggered like one
blind. and sank to the deck. Never
shall forget the agony depicted upon
his upturDed face at that moment His
earnestness and his solemn words i'm
pressed me with awe. could no logger
doubt his innocence, and then made a
vow that would do all in my power to
save him from the gallows.
n delivered him, with the other
prisoners l had in charge, to the warden
of the prison, with papers of commit
ment. l could make no stay, as the
coach was waiting for my return to the
steamer. l hurriedly babe him good
bye, and to be brave. that would not
forget him. It was pitiful to see that
strong man cling to me, weeping like a
child, until he was forcibly removed by
the turnkey.
once conferred with the county attor-
ney, and communicated to him my ex-
per;ence and my firm belief in Mills
innocence. He heartily seconded my
efforts, and we soon had q petition
signed by the judge who presided at the
trial. eleven of the jury who composed
the trial panel, the county attorney. and
nearly all the county and city officers,
with large number of prominent citi-
zens. The prayer of the petition was
that the Governor commute his SEN
tence to Imprisonment for life. 1t was
presented to his counsel. the Governor
granted the prayer, and Mills life was
saved.
'Some five years later. at nine o 'clock
in the morning, white-haired man,
weighed down with sorrow, came into
my Office and inquired for me. An APP
parent stranger stood in the doorway.
He looked earnestly for moment. and,
seeing no recognition in my face, with
sad. tremulous voice, he said: is it
possible you have forgotten me?' Not
until then did l know that he was the