The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-09

MI 10 ADOo1 Ci'
behold me! am innocent! You would
kill Il man for deed which he never
committed. You would basely murder
a man who would rather die than to
misuse you or yours. had not meant
resistance-but your own foolishness
has driven me to it. No, beware!
Death to him who attacks me!'
Tolliver's eyes flashed fury. AS he
stood confronting the merciless mob,
he was Il picture to be admired. He
was driven to desperation, and knew
not fear.
Taken somewhat aback by the dar-
ing speech, the leading members of the
mob held consultation, and concluded
that it would be unwise to hang him.
There was strong probability of his
innocence. Wise counsel, therefore,
deemed it best to take the man pris-
oner and let the law take its course.
The case was an unbailable one.
Tolliver was imprisoned in a low, damp
cell. His sensitive nature revolted at
the sight OF the dark, damp walls. He
cursed the land of justice and longed
again for the jungles of Africa, the
hordcs of savages, cruel and unfeeling,
vet more human than their civilized
brethren.
Time wore on. Tolliver, the traveller
-Tolliver. the scholar-was Tolliver
the criminal At night he would pace
his narrow cell. with his mind fixed
upon the cruelty of the human race.
Before his eyes Burns oft quoted lines
seemed to glow like letters Of fire:
Mans inhumanity to man
Makes countless millions mourn"
He grew to hate the world, and to
suppose that the world hated him. He
would have gladly welcomed death.
The day for the trial drew on apace.
TolIiver found himself in crowded
courtroom. Legal talent of renown
was there Men who had known the
traveller from boyhood were there.
The evidence was given in. and from
its flow it seemed that, without shadow
of doubt, Ben Tolliver was n murderer.
The last witness was on the stand.
Tolliver had modify hidden his face
in his hands and did not look up. Life
was a torture. What cared he now for
the drift of the evidence? He had no
friends on earth--none to testify in his
behalf. and already the evidence was
fully sufficient to convict him.
The witness was sworn.
What do you know of the murder?"
asked the attorney.
Enough" replied the witness. ITO
give that man (pointing to Tolliver)
his freedom"
The smothered conversation that had
been carried on in the courtroom was
hushed. A spell like the silence of
death fell upon every one. The sound
OF mans own breathing was painfully
loud.
Tolliver looked up. In the witness
box he beheld the pale young lad who
had summoned him to the scene of the
murder OH that fatal night and led him
into the snare which designing villains
had prepared for him.
The true murderers, who were the
chief witnesses against the young trav-
eler, turned pale.
The villainous plot was exposed.
Speak. boy" commanded the attor-
ney.
Those men," continued the boy,
pointing towards two OF the leading
witnesses for the State. murdered the
young lady.
"Did you witness the deed?"
II did"
But" exclaimed the States attor-
ney, chow came the prisoner at the
bar to be found with blood-covered
hands. over the PROSTATE body of the
murdered girl?''
LAS he himself has stated, sir. Twas
the boy who summoned him to the as
sistance of my mother, l said; but I
was merely tool in the hands of those
villains, who sought to bury their.
crimes in the heart of an innocent
man."
A friend was here at last. From that
moment public opinion was kind to-
ward Ben Tolliver. Further evidence
entirely freed him from suspicion, and
he was once more a free man. The
true murderers. Jake Lalflin and Bar
ney Lacey, two OF the travellers early
acquaintance, were sentenced 10 the
extreme penalty for the murder OF the
girl, who was a stranger None knew
who she was nor whence she came.
Her dress was very costly, and she
wore many magnificent jewels. She
came to the house of Lafflin and Sc
cured board. No amount of question:
ing served to CLEAN any item OF knowl-
edge concerning her identity. Herlife
was mystery. and mystery which
lies to this day with other deep and
strange things, unsolved. The mur-
derers killed her for the valuable jewels
with which she was decked.
Free again, for the second time Ben
Tolliver plunged into the jungles of the
Dark Continent from which he has
never returned. Whether he has fallen
victim to the awful fevers OF those
tropical regions, or whether he has
gone down before the spear of the saw
age, is question still unanswered along
the banks of the winding Kentucky.
The bluegrass reflects the smiles of
Nature, the roses are in bloom at the