Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-08-16
Mistellane9Ms.
ALMOST A LIFE

never think of my first case as
prosecuting attorney without qualm Of
fear, though so many years have elapsed
since Richard Short was on trial for his
life.
The evidence was clear against him.
Cecil Torrey. II wealthy planters son.
had been found dead in the street and
Short was surprised by party of young
men AS he was bending over tho body.
He was running away when captured,
and on his person were found papers and
money belonging to the dead man
Everything seemed dead against Short,
and it was proved that he had served u
term in prison before, but up to the night
before his trial, be still protested his in-
noccncc.
had hoped no would make full con-
fcssion, because it is II terrible thought
to imagine you are hanging All innocent
man.
In the midst of some worried rcnec-
ton regarding the case Of the man who
was going to DO hanged on the morrow,
| was sent for by Charles AVIAN. an i'm
portant witness at tho trial and friend
of the dead man.
Within half an hour, for the distance
| had to go was short, was alone with
Mr. AVIAN in bis chambers. A marked
change had come over his appearance
since we had last met. His faco was
worn and haggard and there was a nor
vous twitching about tho mouth when
he spoke.
"Thcre--thero is something | have
on my mind to tell you" he said with
hcsitating tremor in his voice.
motioned him to go on.
II was witness, as you know. on
tho trial Of Richard Short"
81 remember" replied land you
testified that, on the night Of tho muir
der, Cecil Torrey had remained with you
here till II o'clock and then departed
alone"
(Which was strictly true" no added
"but there was more which | should
have told"
| bent forward, eager to catch his
next words. But he remained silent,
as If in doubt whether to continue.
"If there be anything within your
knowledge" | said solomnly, (which
can shed further light on the late terri
bic tragedy, or, per adventure, may pre-
vent the commission of frightful act
of injustice, there is but little time to
speak,
The words seemed to arouse him, and
with an excited, rapid utteranco, he thus
proceeded
Cecil Torrey was my bosom friend.
The ties between us were strengthened
by the fact that his sister Helen, who
died broken hearted with grief at her
brothers death, was my betrothed. Il
was but the other day saw her laid by
his side, and, oh how | longed to keep
them company! But it is not of this
that | would speak
"On that last fatal night a dispute, so
trivial, that can scarcely now recall its
origin, sprang up between Cecil and my
self over a game Of cards in which we
were indulgiug for pastime.
"Both of us were rash and hot-tem-
pered and one word led 10 another, till
Cecil, springing up with flushed face,
exclaimed in tone of menace:
DO you accuse me Of cheating 2
"If it was thus you would demand a
disclaimer | returned in q manner as
defiant as his own. Il decline TO give it.
1.-THE reply was blow. which at once
set my brain on fire. A small gold
mounted dagger mere toy-lsy on
the table. My eye fell upon it, and
catching it up in my insane fury made
a quick thrust ut Cccil's breast be-
lieved, at the time, that his raised arm
parted off the stroke, for no showed nc
sign of being hurt In an instant | re-
allied the folly of my act, and. fiinging
away the weapon, grasped my friends
hand.
- Forgive me Cecil ? | cried.