Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-03-27
DAYS
BY HUGH CQNW AY.
Author of "Cdll
[Continued from
CHAPTER
THE BLACK

There is silence, OF all
court. The buzz of suppf
sinks almost to nothing
ing as the judges marsh
gabbling through the mysterious proclama-
ton which begins "Oyez! Oyezi Oyez!" de-
clares the court open.
Philippa, still closely yelled, sits like a
statue Her hand, which ever grasps mine,
scarcely responds to the pressure by which
again and again l endeasor to bid her hope
now l could get her to consent to my lead
ing her away. dare not suggest this.
know that doing so would be waste of words.
The court is open. The rel judge is pc
rusing letters aid papers which lie i'll front
of him as calmly and unconcernedly as if
the life's happiness of, at least, one man and
woman did not greatly depend upon tho
view he takes of the case about to be tried.
He IA ;Ses one of his Bouquets and lnhales
the perfume of the flowers. How can one in
his position behave like an ordinary mortal2
Were we not here he might condemn an in
nocent man to shameful death! l won Ter
if, with such horrible responsibility resting
on him, q judge can ever really be happy
man2
These thoughts seem trivial; but my mind
is by now in strange state; it Is, indeed, so
sensitive that every slight incident, every
small ceremonial of to-day seems to be i'm
pressed forever upon it.
A bewigged gentleman-the clerklo assizes,
the man next me tellhiss neigh bor-rise and
calls name after name, until he has fixed
the twenty-three gentlemen needed to form
the grand jury. Thev STAN up III their
places and, in patches o; four. are rapidly
sworn. The absurd proclamation against
vice and immortality IS read; much good may
it do every one present. Then the clerk sits
down, nj tie judge, forsaking his papers,
begins his work
He arranges his roles to his satisfaction,
leans forward, and, placing the tips of hi
long, white fin gers together, addresses
charges. | am ted, is the right term-the
grand Jury i'll pleasant, colloquial manner
| strain every aural nerve to catch the pur-
port OF lis glib words. He is sure to say
something about this important murder
case shall, perhaps, be able to learn no"
it was that the man fell under suspicion.
Alas! the judge is one who, by years of
practice, has acquired thu knack OF using
his voice only just so much as is absolutely
necessary The grand jury is close to him
and cac. no doubt, hear him; but to those
who, ike ourselves are far away in the
back ground of the court, his remarks are in
audible. All l can catch is a closing caution
to the grand jury, to bear in mini that it is
not within its province to determine the in
nocence or guilt of the prisoners, but to
simply deci le whether there is OF is not suffi-
Gent evidence for the cases to go to trial,
The grand jury files out Of court to con-
duct its solemn deliberations in the place
appointed. The Judge addresses a few smil-
ing words to the sheriff and other magnates
who, By right or favor, occupy seats on the
bench: then he returns to the perusal of his
papers
For the first time since we entered the
court. Philippa speaks to me- care they
trying HIM now!' she asked in q low, awel
whisper, yet in voice so changed that L
know what the sI 'pense is costing her.
Briefly explain the procedure of the law,
so far as know it. Sh> signs, and says no
more.
More monotonous calling Of many names,
to which summons, however, another class
of MN respond. The common jurymen are
now being called Probably, to save time,
twelve men are sent into the box, where
they sit, some appearing to enjoy the dig
nifty OF the position. some with sto}il indlf-
ference, others with acute unhappin ass
plainly manifested I look at these men
with scarcely les; inteTe st til IN l look at the
Judge On them, or ON some of them, our
fate rests as much, perhaps more, than it
rests OH him. Those men are trying us
not only the man who will by and by stand
in that rail topped enclosure, into which we
look down.
Twenty long, weary minutes pass by. All
eyes turn to wooden gallery in the right
hand crrner of the court. A door i'll the
wall opens. The members of the grand jury
emerge AMI fill the gallery. The foreman
arms himself with a gigantic fishing rod, to
which he attaches a paper, which is con-
veyed by this clumsy method to that busy
gentleman, the clerk of assize. What idiotic
foolery all this seems to mel
The clerk detaches the document, glances
at it, and looks up at the gallery.
Gentlemen of the grand jury, you return
true bill against William Evans for MUIR
der?'
'.Wa do" answered the foreman with shy
solemnity.
grind ny teeth Fools! If men of cul-
ture and standing err like this, what can be
expected ii,ln a common jury! 1t is well
for ne that heard the caution just now
given by tie iudge. l take such comfort as
l can by thinking they have triel the evil
denca not the man? What can the evidence
be? All! we shall soon know.
The clerk turns, and ad lressing no one in
particular, says: Bring up the prisoner"
Once more l set my teeth. l feel my wite's
arm trembie; her hand grows cold. l hear
buzz, as of expectation, run through the
crowded court. Every eye turns in one di-
rect ,on-towarI the empty dock. For a
moment species o. dizziness comes over
me; objects sw IN before my eyes The SEN
sation asses away. recover myself. The
dock is no longer untenantel. In the centre,
vi IL a stalwart policeman on either side of
him, st;,u.ls the accused! The man who, if
needs tie, must be saved by such sacrificed
From my place, far back in the public
gall Try. l can, O course, see nothing more
of the rsoner than his blck. gaze at this
with intense curiosity, endeavoring to deter
mine the station of the man who is now
about to be tried FOR his life. l can but
gather this niucl: He is tall and slight His
d. SIS is OF a Sc :li-respectable nature, but
seems t. Lave seen muca service. He NIGH
be anyth ng from a broksn-lown clerk to a
gentleman's servant out at elbows. | re-
joice at lis poverty stricken appearance.
Judging from it, money will be welcome to
him. Let the jury but assert his innocence,
and feel certain that the liberal pecuniary
compensation which it is my intention to
mete out will repay him hundred times for
tn. ord al which he is undergoing.
Ordeal! Yes, it is the right word. 1t is
easy TO see it is a terrible ordeal to the poor
fellow No need to look at his face to he