Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-12-11
A STRANGE CASE.
Why Wallace Harper Would Not
Prove His Innocence.

prisoner at the bar, what nave you
to say why sentence should not be
passed upon You?"
A solemn hush pervaded the curt
room as the Judge addressed the young
man in the prisoners dock as above.
Wallace Harper turned his gaze for
an instant toward me. had defended
the young prisoner to the best of my
ability and the outcome was a YER dict
of guilty. From the outset 1 expected
this, although in my utmost soul | be-
lieved the unfortunate man innocent.
Circumstantial evidence, however, had
encompassed him round SO completely,
it was impossible to override it. l
could give the prisoner no look OF en-
couragement. merely looked dumb,
perhaps stolidly Indifferent, although l
was far from feeling so.
Wallace Harper rose slowly to his
feet, until he lowered full six feet of
noble stature, and gazed fixcdly at tho
Judge. His face was pale as death, and
when he opened his lips and spoke, the
words sounded hollow and unnatural.
"Your honor, what can | say on an
occasion like this? | was foredoomed
from the start. Our family has always
been unfortunate. My father was
killed in battle (Gcttysburg) and
my poor mother died of broken heart.
My eldest brother fell in one of the
battles in the West, the youngest died
of yellow fever at Memphis, some years
ago. and Tam tho last OF tho race. |, it
seems, am doomed to die on the gal
lows!"
He paused here, hot flush shooting
into either pale cheek. Would he
break down and beg for mercy? 1t was
not in keeping with his cool courage
during the trial. could not help pity
ing him, and feeling that it would have
been much better had he refraincd from
speaking at all. l dared not look at
his face for some moments At length
he was speaking again, and ventured
once more to look toward him. The
flush had disappeared, and the prison
cr's face was pallid as before.
81 know what the sentence must be,
your honor" continued he, with awful
calmness. II have only this to say:
am an innocent man. lay up nothing
against the members of the jury. They
thought they were performing a duty
but If there is future life, in thai
future the truth will be with me, and
shall be indicated"
He bowed his head and ceased tt
speak. His words had been impressive.
TO mo they were convincing. ] had
moved for now trial when tho verdict
had been rendered, on tho previous day
and now had no more to say.
Hanged by the neck until dead
Friday, November o."
These were all the words thatreachet
my ear. rose to leave the room. TIT
prisoner was led past. glanced int
his white face. A look of settled de
spair rested on every lineament.
bent forward and whispered word o.
hope, mentioning the fact of my deter
mination to move all the powers for
new trial. lie said othing, and sool
the courtroom was empty.
ITS justice. 1t was an infamou
murder"
| started at sound of voices at m,
elbow. Two gentlemen were discussing
the prisoner and his sentence.
paused to listen.
81 knew Wallace Harper we'll. Al
of his family have died violent deaths
He had good show with Donald Dun
ham. He had been with the old gen
tleman two years. think the troubl
was all on account of the girl, who the
say is quite sick because of the deaf
of her father"
Did the girl think any thing of tn
clerk?"
'Some say so. don't know 1t seem
twas on her account that Harper pu
poison in the old mans wine. 1t was
foolish as we'll as wicked crime"
| walked on. The details of the mul
der had been recited too many times t
interest me now. 1t had appeared o
the trial that Harper was in love wit
his old employers only laughter, an
that Durham had quarreled with hi
confidential clerk in consequence.
On the evening when he (Harper) wa
to depart Mr.. Durham called HIM int
the library and requested him to drin
social glass of wine with him.
seem that Harper assented. An hor
later Donald Durham was dead. II
had died in agony, and with his late.
breath accused his clerk of having pei
oned him. The dregs of ono of tn
wine-cups were found to contai
arsenic, the other being harmless. III
confidential clerk was .. once arreste,
and in one of his pockets package
arsenic was found. Such evidence W:
overwhelming. Wallace Harper SCI
for me, and undertook his defense.
made IS good a fight as possible und'
the circumstances.
The ante-morteni testimony of Do
aid Durham, together with the fact TIL
the two had quarreled. and the flndiu
Of the poison in the pocket OF Harpe
was evidence that could not overcom
I went from the courtroom to z