Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-11
THE COLONIES TALE.

ths hre COl. mormon salu' IL YOU nen
are not too tired and don't mind sitting up
for another half hour think can tell you a
good story"
We protested that we were never less tired
and could sit up till morning if necessary.
80 the colonel began:
"My father, as you know, was a parson,
but he took orders late in life, after having
been fifteen years at the bar, and the events
of which am going to tell you he himself
told me as having come directly under his
eye when he was a barrister.
at was at the Monmouth assizes in 1S-
that case was tried which became the talk
of the neighborhood and country for years
after. My father was sitting in the court of
the assistant judge when note was brought
him from friend in the adjoining court,
asking him to come and hear case of more
than usual interest, the facts of which were
these:
'sSome time before a farmers house near
Monmouth had been broken into and robbed
by men disguised and Masked the farmer
murdered and his servant shockingly ill
treated. Among other things which were
stolen were two old fashioned silver brooches
curiously inlaid with malachite, heirlooms of
the family, and although unremitting search
was made and the description of the lost
articles made widely known no trace of the
murderers could be found
"a month or two after the murder, how
ever, police officer in going through COM
mon lodging house in Bristol noticed dis
sipated looking sailor lying on a pallet and
resting his head on small bundle He
asked him what it contained, and was told
that it was 'only his kit The officer, not
satisfied, opened the bundle and almost the
first thing to fall out were two brooches
made of silver and malachite. Struck by
their curious beauty, and wondering how
such wretched looking fellow could have
become possessed of them, he suddenly re-
membered the advertisement and descrip-
ton OF the stolen articles.
"How did you come by theseF he inquired.
''rhe sailor replied: by chance. When
came ashore some time ago, with plenty of
money in my pocket, met an old seaman
who was down on his luck, and he offered to
sell me these things, which had belonged to
his mother. | was pretty flush, and gave
him a good price for them, although they
were useless to me- And that's all about it,
1.-THE police officer, still dissatisfied, took
him into custody He was sent to Monmouth
1au, the brooches were identified, and he was
committed for trial at the assze on the charge
Of theft and murder. And" continued the
colonel impressively, "as my father entered
the court this man was being placed in the
dock.
"Tall beyond the then average height Of
men, and gaunt, with an unkempt beard and
evil, yellow eye, and though evidently suf.
fering from his long imprisonment, lie yet
presented powerful and imposing front.
The trial had begun and he had just been
asked the usual question: Are you guilty or
not guiltyf and had answered in hollow
voice. Not guilty, my lord when the en-
trance Of one of the court officials with a
gentleman stopped the proceedings for
while. And here must explain this inter-
ruption.
"A few days before quiet, gentlemanly
man. a Capt Forsyth of his majesty navy,
had arrived at the chief hotel of the town on
IA fishing excursion; but the weather had
been SO adverse that he was obliged to look
elsewhere for amusement. Turning to the
landlord for information he was told of this
trial as exciting considerable interest, and SO
1t came to pass that, as the prisoner took his
place at the bar, Capt. Forsyth sent his card
to the judge, who gladly allowed him, as was
then the custom, seat on the bench.
"The case proceeded; witnesses were called
to identify the brooches, the servants swore
TO the figure of the prisoner as resembling
that of the murderer; no witnesses were
called for the defense-no one defended him;
everything pointed to his guilt, and the jury
retired to their room. In a few minutes they
returned and amid the breathless expecta-
ton of the crowded court, the foreman an
nounced their opinion that the man was
Guilty
directly this word was uttered the pTis-
oner, who had been leaning as II for support
against the side of the dock, raised himself to
his full height, stretched out both his hands
above his head, and, looking up, exclaimed
In broken voice, Not guilty, not guilty.
1.-THE judge then asked him, as was usual,
II he had anything to say before sentence
should be pronounced, and the prisoner cried
hoarsely: Not guilty, my lord, not guilty;
before heaven and man l am innocent Of
this crime. never set my eyes on the muir
dered man; 1 did no murder. Obi Captain,
Captain In his vehemence he addressed
the Judge as il he were his officer, Il am as
innocent Of this crime as the babe unborn
He paused, then suddenly, In voice choking
with feeling, he exclaimed: Yes, yes; only
one man can save me now; but he can do it,
swear what you may. The Lord be thanked,
that man is here
, "a buzz of astonishment ran round the
court; the feeling of awe that had held the
audience changed to one of amazement.
"tPoint him out to me- said the judge,
"'The man who can save me- replied the
prisoner, sits there beside you,' pointing to
the astonished Capt. Forsyth.
"The judge turned to Capt. Forsyth and
said: This man appears to know you. Is it
the caseP
"'Certainly not he replied, much sur
prised; Il never saw him before in my life
"tOh, captain, broke in the prisoner; yes,
you needn't start, know you, Capt. Forsyth
You are never going to swear away an in
nocert mans life like thatF
at Is curious, my man, the captain re-
piled, that you know my name; but repeat
that never saw you before in my life
"'What Not know John Williams, of the
Neptunei The coxswain Of the captains cut
terri
ayes, know John Williams; but you
are not be- John Williams was the snartest
man that ever served under me, and never
likely to stand where you are now
"'Captain' repeated the prisoner Il tell
you am John Williams A long illness, a
hard bout of drinking and this cursed i'm
prisonment have made me what am And
will prove it, captain; 1 will prove it if you
will only LISTEN
'The sensation caused by this dialogue was
immense. The judge, the members of the
bar and the spectators were equally aston
ished at the curious turn the affairs had
taken, and, though believing the man 10 be
guilty of desperate deceit to save his life, |
were eagerly awaiting what should come.
Captain continued the prisoner, Il am |
accused of numbering man here on June Is,
more than nine months ago. Now tell me,
sir, was not John Williams-your eoxswaip
invaded home from the West African STAY
hon on the last day of that month"; /
"'What the man says remarked CaptS