The Rugby news. (Rugby, Morgan County, Tenn.) 1890-189?, 1890-11-29
A STRANGE CASE.
Why Wallace Harper Would Not
Prove His Innocence.

"Prisoner at the bar, what have you
to say why sentence should not be
passed upon You?"
A solemn hush pervaded the ourt-
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
i, ability and the outcome was "a verdict
of guilty. From, the outsetl expected
this, althoughin my utmost soul 1 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 1
was far from feeling so.
Wallace Harper rose slowly to his
feet, until he lowered full six feet of
noble stature, and gazed fxedly at the
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 Isay on an
occasion like this? I was foredoomed
from the start. Our family has always
been unfortunate. My father was
killed in battle (Gettysburg,) and
my poor mother died of a 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 l am the last of the race. L, it
seems, am doomed to die on the gal
lows!'
He paused here, hot flush shooting
into either pale ch eek. 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 refrained from
speaking at all. l dared not look at
his face for some moments. At length
he was speaking again, and I ventured
once more to look toward him. The
flush had disappeared, and the prison
er's face was pallid as before.
ct know what the sentence must be-
your honor" continued he, with awful
calmness. 81 have only this to say:
am an innocent man.. I 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 vindicated." :
He bowed his head and ceased tt
speak. His words had been impressi We.
TO me they were convincing. I had
moved for a new trial when the verdict
had been rendered, on the previous day
and now had no more to say.
Hanged by the neck until dead
Friday, November g."
These were all the words thatreachei
my ear. rose to leave the room. The
prisoner was led past. I glanced into
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 n othing, and soor
the court-ro ON was empty.
Its justice. 1t was an Infamous
murder"
| started at sound of voices at my
elbow. Two gentlemen were discussing
the prisoner and his sentence.
Ipaused 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 trouble
was all on account of the girl, who they
say is quite sick because of the deatl
of her father"
"Di d the girl think any thing of thu
clerk?"
"Some say so. I don't know. 1t Seems
twas on her account that Harper pu