Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-08-30
THEsDEAfOCRATlG NORTHWESE THURSDAY AUGUST SO 1888

as the prisoner was brought IN. Con-
6nement and anxiety had done the
work OF years; that pale. haggard
face looked little like the glad smile
and eager glance 81 familiar to many
of them in other days. He evidently
felt keenly the ignominyof his posi-
ton, for his cheek flushed and his
glance wavered beneath the curious
eyes that were fixed upon him. But
it was but for q momedt. Raising
his eyes, they. fell 0upon the pale
countenance OF his betrothed. Had it
been possible, very gladly would
Susan have taken q seat by his side;
sharing his shame and proving to all
the world her conviction of his inno-
cence. As it was, she gave him re-
assuring smile, which endowed him
with strength and fortitude to pass
through the ordeal before him.
The counsel of the accused left no
stone unturned, no effort -untrled to
destroy the array OF evidence that as
brought forward; but az the trial por-
ceeded, the hopes that some had cher
.shsd gres Iainler and fainter, until >
number who took personal interest
|ihthe prisoner, and who supposed he
had committed tae deed in. the heat Of
passion, urged him to confess and
throw himself upon the mercy OF the
court. But this the accused, persist
ing in his innocence steadfastly re.
fnsed to do.
q Besides the dying declaration of the
murdered man, which was sufficient,
in itself, to convict him, there were
other circumstances that were strong
ly against him. A neighbor had over.
heard . violent alteration between
the prisoner and the deceased only
the day before, in which the latter
had said, that if he persisted in his
design, he should not marry a daugh-
ter Of his. Another testified to see
ing them walk by his house together
only short time before the murder
was committed. The accused did not
deny this. According to his own &C
count, he met the deceased just as he
was coming out of the gate, and they
walked along together until they
came to a cross road, where they
separated, the prisoner taking the one
that led to the village, and the de-
ceased proceeding further on, for the
purpose Of looking at some land he
had just purchased. He stated, also,
that no allusion was made to the sub
ject they had differed upon; his
uncle's, manner being unusually
friendly, so much SO as to create "a
strong impression on his mind that he
and was sdesirous of atoning
for his intemperate language the day
before. a M A
The defense called up a number Of
witnesses, who bore testimony as to
the character for steadiness and in
tegrity that the accused had borne
from his youth up, and the kindness
and even tenderness of his heart
His closing plea was masterpiece of
skill and oratory; he placed every
favorable Circumstance before the
jury in its most favorable light, con-
cluding with an appeal to them in be-
half Of his unhappy client, the elo.
lue.ce and pathos of which touched
The sternest heart among them.
The Judge, In summoning up the
case, destroyed the effect of this in % |
measure. He warned the jury, that |
while they were to allow the prisoner |
The benefit of every doubt, they were
not to forget that mercy to the crimi- |
nal is often cruelty to the community; |
that, biased by neither pity or preju- |
ilce, they were to decide the case ac-
,ording to the evidence before them,
eaving to the executive the preroga-
i've of mercy.
The jury returned from their brief
Elaboration. There was breathless
nash as the clerk put the. usual ques-
on: N q
sWhat say you, Mr.. Foreman, do
you find the prisoner at the bar
guilty OR not guilty.
.sGuiltyl' 49,. .,e .,-. 4 ,..v~f4
There, was a slight bustle at the
othsr end of the room, and then the
nsensible form of woman was borne
tut This did not escape the notice
II thesprisoner; hiseye folio wedit' to1
he door. and, as it disappeared, ,forl
.he frst time his feelings found audi
Die expression in low moan of
'mothered agony.
) The prisoner was then remanded,
md the people dispersed, with sad
lened hearts, to their homes.
The night before the day on which
1e was to be sentenced, Richard
Blake escaped, lit was suspected
through the ,eonnivauce, at least, of
one Of the officers OF the jail, though
nothing could be proved against him.
large reward was offered for his
apprehension, aud every effort made
to that end.
Susan Huxtou sat in the solitude Of
her chamber, her deep .nohrning at1|
tire rendering still more conspicuous
the change that had been wrought In
Ehe once joyous and blooming girl
a IA u . ~ -