Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-23
YriGdt0r HiSLifG;;
WITHIN THE SHADOW OF THE
SCAFFOLD.
81 sAJoa JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.
CHATTER XII.
TRIED ron HIS LIFE.

. stateliness that made popular specta-
Gle of the administration Of justice. His
lordship, the Judge, was brought to town
by the Sheriff in his chariot, with out
riders and trumpeters. The court was
opened with great form and loud procla-
nation; the judges and the lawyers wore
wigs and robes; tipstaves stood all about
10 preserve silence. With such show
and flourish was that drama in real life,
The trial of Ralph Courtenay, entered
upon.
The accused man sat between his coun-
sci and his wife. Both the Captain and
Blanche we're pale but collected, and
seemed unconscious of the vulgar curios-
tty of the crowd that gazed upon them as
upon a show. The courtroom was
thronged until either egress or ingress
was next to impossible. The windows
were sometimes darkened by the faces of
those who, unable to gain admission,
climbed up and peered in.
The accused was formally arraigned
Tor the murder Of Robert Barnwell on
the night of September third, and asked
to plead. He answered, Not guilty"
After the usual delay in examining and
challenging jurors, twelve men were ac-
cepted and sworn and took their places in
the box. Mr.. Attorney General then
rose to present the peoples case to the
jury.
He was both able and jealous, and in
long speech he set forth startling ar
ray Of facts which he said he would plain
iy prove, which together, he said, showed
the most deliberate, the most extraordi-
nary, and the cruelest murder ever COM
mitted in Essex"
@The prisoner at the bar" he went on.
lis young man of good family and posi-
zion in his Majesty's most honorable
military service; and these things add to
the enormity of his crime. 1t will be in
vain that you punish the low and the
vicious, if such offenders as Captain
Courtenay are allowed to escape. And
1t is proper that you should be warned at
the outset, gentlemen of the jury, against
D false sympathy for him on account of
the deluded young woman who sits by
his side, who abandoned one of the finest
homes in the country to link her fortunes
with this man after his arrest. I under
stand she has become his wife. God
help herl-but you and have nothing to
do with sympathy. We must do our
duty, plainly and sternly.
1t will be shown to you that some
months ago the prisoner and his victim,
Robert Barnwell, were rival suitors for
the hand Of this girl. The prisoner sue
ceeded in winning her affections. Some
trifing collisions between these men at
that time will be shown. There we're hot
words passed between them, but no
blows; yet this is significant in the light
of the dreadful occurrences of the night
Of September 5, for it will thus appear
chat the prisoner, though successful in
love over his rival, cherished bitter
hatred against him.
HOn the night of the fourth the prisoner
and the girl were to be married at Penn
broke Villa. The prisoner had obtained
weeks leave of absence from Ipswich,
where he was stationed and on the morn
ing of the second he left that place on
horseback. He arrived at Colchester in
the middle of the day; the distance is but
seventeen miles; and there he remained
over night.
we shall show you what his object
was in making this stop on his journey.
He had learned that his former rival, re-
duced in fortune indeed, in the saddest
straits of poyerty-was staying at Col
chester. The prisoner went about the
town inquiring for him. God only
knows what his object wasl I will not say
that, if he had found him there, murder
would have been done upon that day;
but / do say that the prisoners long wait
at Colchester, and his anxiety to find
Barnwell, seem now decidedly suspi-
cious.
He did not succeed in finding him.
Robert Barnwell left the town before day
light the next morning, going afoot
toward London; the prisoner did not take
his departure till some hours later.
Barnwell was q fast walker, the prisoner
rode in leisurely way; and it was not
until thirty miles had been passed. and
night was at hand, that the horseman
overlook the pedestrian. The point where
this occurred is near the coast, in sight
bf that well-known hostelry, the Red
Lion Inn.
The man who happened to see this
pvertaking and passing upon the road
stop, but kept right on. Yet that he rec
doubt-the later events of the night
show it.
aBarnwell turned from the road, and
Antered the inn for lodging and refresh
ment. He went into the little parlor of
The inn, and there, by himself, was par
Y taking of the lunch which he had or
dered, when the first of the series of
events occurred that show the deliberate
and bloody purpose Of the prisoner.
This was the coming of Ralph Court
hnay himself to the Red Lion.
Just pause moment here, gentlemen,
and ask yourselves why should he sus-
pend his journey, when he had notified
his betrothed that he would be with her
4 chat night? Why should he turn back
and stop at this inn?