Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-02-10

THE COLONEL's TALE.

1t was late-after midnigh as
we got up from the whist table and
gathered around the fire, Colonel Thorn
ton said IF you men are not too tired
and don't mind sitting up 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 neces-
sary. So the Colonel began:
my father, as you know, was a par
son; but he took orders late in life,
after having been fifteen years at the
bar, and the events am to tell you he
himself told me as having come directly
under his eye when he was barrister
at was at the Monmouth assizes, in
18-, that q case was tried which be-
came 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 thnnu sual
interest, the facts Of which are these.
"Some time before farmers house,
near Monmouth, had been broken into
and robbed by men disguised and mask
ed, the farmer murdered and his SER
wants shockingly ill treated. Among
other things which were stolen were two
oldfashioned 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 murderer could DO found.
"a month or two after the murder,
however, police officer, in going
through a common lodging house in
Bristol. noticed a dissipated looking
sailor lying on pallet and resting his
head on a small bundle. He asked him
what it contained, and was told that it
was only bis kit The officer, not
opened the bundle, and almost
the first things to fall out were two
brooches made Of silver and malachite
Struck by their curious beauty. and
how such wretchpd- looking
fellow could have become possessed of
them, no suddenly remembered the adj
and description of the stolen
articles.
"'How did you come by these :: he
inquired.
THE sailor replied: BY chance.
When | came ashore sometime ago, with
plenty of money in my pocket, | met an
Did seaman who was down on his luck,
md offered to sell me these things,
which had belonged to his mother.
was pretty flush, and gave good price
or them, although they were useless to
ne. And that's all about it,
1.-THE police officer, still dissatisfied,
,ook him into custody. He was sent to
Jail, the brooches were ideD-
siied. and be was committed for trial at
The assize on the charge of theft and
murder. And" continued the Colonel,
mpressively, "as my father entered the
,ourt this man was being placed in the
lock.
"Tall beyond the then average height
If men and gaunt, with an unkempt
beard and an evil, yellow eye, and
,hough evidently suffering from his long
he yet presented a power
'ul and imposing front.
The trial had begun, and he had just
,een asked the usual question: Are
you guilty or not guilty ? and had an
Iwered in hollow voice: Not guilty.
ny lord when the entrance Of the court
officials with gentleman stopped the
proceedings for awhile. And here |
must explain this interruption.
"a few days before, quiet gentle
manly man, Captain Forysth, Of His
navy, had arrived at the chief
lotel Of the town on fishing excursion,
put the weather had been SO adverse
hat be was obliged to look elsewhere
or amusement. Turning to the land
ord for information, he was told Of this
rial as exciting considerable interest;
md so it came to pass, that as the pris-
,ner took his place at the bar, Captain
Forsyth sent his card to the Judge, who
gladly allowed him, as was then the Gus
sum, seat on the bench
1.-THE case proceeded, witnesses were
called to identify the brooches, the SER
wants swore to the figure of the murderer;
no witnesses were called for the 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 an-
nounced their opinion that the man was
guilty
Directly this word was uttered, the,
prisoner, who had been leaning