The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-01-27
ccllallenms.
THE COLONEL'S TALE

1t was latc-aiter midnight-and as we GOT
up from the whist table and gathered around
the fire, Colonel Thornton said "If you mer
are not too tired, and don't mind sitting ur
for another half an hour, think can tell
you good story"
we protested we were never less tired, and
could sit up till morning if Unnecessary. So the
! Colonel began:
My flthcr, rs you know, was q parson
but he took orders late in life after having
ncen liteen years ut the bar, and the events
am TO tell you he himself told me as having
come directly uner his eye when he was
barristcr.
at was at the Monmouth assiZgs, in 1S-.
that u case was tried which became the talk
OF tie neighborhood and country for years
after. My father was sitting in the court of the
assistant Judge when q note was brought
nm from friend in the adjoining court, ask
ing him to come and hear a case Of more than
usual interest, the facts of which are these:
some time before farmers house, near
Monmouth, had been broken into and rob-
bed by men disguised and masked, the farmer
murdered and his servants shockingly i'll
treated. Among other things which were
stolen were two old.fashioned silver brooches,
curiously inlaid with maachite, heirloonls of
the family, and, although unremitting search
was made and the description of the lost arti-
Giles mads widely known, no trace of the muir
Gorcr 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
sipatcd-looking sailor lying on pallet and
resting his head on a small bundle. He ask
ed him what it contained, and was told that
it was 'only his kit The officer, not satisfied,
opened the bundle, and almost the first things
to tnll out were two brooches made of silver
and malachile. Struck by their curious beauty,
and wondering how such wretChed-looking
fellow could have become possessed of them,
he suddenly remembered The advertisement
and description ofthe stolen articles.
How did you come by these ?" he in
CURED
The 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 a
good price for them, although they were use
less to me. And that's all about it,"
The police officer, still dissatisfied, took
him into custody. He was sent to Monmouth
jail, the brooches were identified, and he was
committed for trial at the assize on the
charge of theft and murder And" continu-
cd the Colonel, imprcssively, "as my father
entered the court this man was being placed
in the dock.
"rall beyond the then average height of
men and gaunt, with an unkempt beard and
an evil, yellow eye, and though evidently
suffering from his long imprisonment, lie vet
presented powerful and imposing front.
The trial had begun, and he had lust been
asked the usual question: Are you guilty
or not guilty ? and had answered in n hollow
voice: Not guilty, my lord when the en-
trance Of the court officials with gentle
man stopped the proceedings for awhile. And
here | must explain this interruption.
"a few days before, quiet, gentlemanly
man, Captain Forsyth, of His Maiesty's
navy, had arrived at the chief hotel of the
town on 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 it came to pass, that as the prisoner
took his place at the bar, Captain Forsyth
sent his card to the Judge, who gladly allow
ed him, as was then the custom, seat
on the bench.
"The case proceeded; witnesses were call
ed to identify the brooches, the servants
swOre to the figure of the murderer; no wit
nesses were called for his defence-no one
defended him; everything pointed TO his
guilt, and the jury retired to their room. In
few minutes they returned, and amid the
breathless expectation of the crowded court,
the foreman announced their opinion that
the man was guilty
directly this word was uttered, the prison
or, who had been leaning rs if for support
against the side of the dock, raised himself
TO his full height, stretched out both hands
above his head, and, looking up, exclaimed
in broken voice, Not guilty, not guilty.
THE Judge then asked him, as was usual,
if 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 limo.
cent OF this crime. | never set my eyes on
the murdered man did no murder. Oh F.!
Captain, Captain, in his vehemence he i'd |
dressed the Judge as if he was his officer-I |
am as innocent fthis crime as the babe I'M
born He paused then suddenly, in voice |
choking with feeling, he exclaimed Yes, |
yes, only one mao can save me now but he |
can do it, swear what you may. The Lord |
be thanked that man is here
"a buzz of establishment ran around the |
court; the feeling OF awe that had held the |
audience changed into one of amazement
OllII OuI W 6ulu tnb UuuHP.
"The man who can save me- replied the |
prisoner, sits there beside you,' pointing to |
the asto1ished Captain Forsyth
"The Judge turned to Captain Forsyth and |
said This man appears to know you. is
1t the case p
Certainly not" he replied, much surpris-
cd. Il never saw him before in my life.'
oh, Captain, broke in the prisoner, yes, you
needn't start, know you, Captain Forsyth.
You are never going to swear away an inno-
cent mans life like thatP
"1t is curious, my man. the Captain repli-
ed, that you know my name; but repeat
that never saw you before in my life p
"'What? Not know John Williams, of
the Neptune? The coxswain of the Captains
cutterP
ayes, l know John Williams; but you
are not he. John Williams was the smartest
man that ever served under me, and never
likely to stand where you are now