The Forrest City times., 1891-04-17
clutches of those who claimed me ss

their prisoner
 Il was too much stupeHed nt first to ask what 1t all meant did 60 at last and the explanation came-it was terrible! My friend. with whom had so lately set out in company. had been found murdered and robbed uear the spot at which l, but alone, knew we had separated. I was the last person known to be with him, and l was now arrested on suspicion of bis murder. A search of the premises was immediate. ly instituted. The watch was found in the drawer in which had placed it and was ideatihed as tho property of the murdered man. His horso, too, was found in my stable, for the animal had just put there was none other. l recognized him myself when 1 saw him in the light. What l said 1 know not. My confusion was taken as additional evidence. And when, at length. I did command language. to give an intelli- gible statement it was received with sneers and incredulity.
 1.-The mob spirit is inhere mt in man ---at least, in crowds of men. It may not always manifest itself in physical violence. It sometimes contents itself with lynching character. But what ever it's form. it is always relentless, pitiless. cruel.
 'As the proofs of my guilt, one after another. came to light, low mutterings gradually grew into a clamor for ven- geance; and but for the flrmness of one man-the officer who had me in charge -I would doubtless have paid the pen alty of my supposed offense on the spot. It was not sympathy that actu- ated my protector His heart was as hard as his office; but he represented the majesty of the law. and took a sort of grim pride in the position. As much under the glance of his eye as before the muzzle of his pistol, the cowardly clamorers drew back. Perhaps they were not sufficiently numerous to feel the full effect of that mysterious reflex influence which makes crowd of men so much worse, and at times so much better, than any one of them singly.
 ''At the end of some months my trial came. It could have but one result Circumstances too plainly declared my guilt l knew they lied. The absence of tho jury was very brief. To their verdict 1 paid but little heed. It was n single hideous word. but had long anticipated it. and 1t made no impress sion. As little impression was made by tho words of the judge which fol- lowed it and his solemn invocation that God might have that mercy upon me which man was too just to vouchsafe, sounded like the hollowest of hollow mockeries. It may be hard for the condemned criminal to meet death; 1t Is still harder for him who is innocent. The one, when the first shock is over. acquiesces in his doom and gives him. self to repentance; the heart of the other. filled with rebellion against mans injustice. can scarcely bring its- self to ask pardon of God. had grad ualiy overcome this feeling. in spite of the good clergyman's irritating efforts, which were mainly directed toward ex- tracting confession. without which he assured mo. he had no hope to offer.
 'On the morning of tho day fixed for my execution felt measurably re- signed. had SO long stood face to faoc with death. had so accustomed myself to look upon it as only mo- mentary pang. that no longer felt so- licitous save that my memory should one dsy be vindicated. She for whom l had gone to prepare home for had already found one in heaven. The tidings of my calamity had broken her heart. She alone. of all the world. believed mo innocent; and she had died with n prayer upon her lips that the truth might be brought to light All this had heard. and it had sooth- d as if sweet incense my troubled spirit Death. however unwelcome the shape was now portal. beyond which could see one angel waiting to receive me. 1 heard the sound of ap- preaching footsteps, and nerved myself 10 nlect the expected summons. The toor of my cell opened. and the sherifi and his attendants entered. He held ti hts hand a paper. It was doubtless l.y death-warrant- He began to read F.. My thoughts were busied elSe- where. The words full and free par ton were the first to strike my preocou- pied sensea They affected tho by Islanders moro than myself Yet % it se,la; was pardoncd for an osYense had never committed.
 .srhe real culprit mono other. it Is lae<Ale,sa to say than he who had sought and abused my hospitality. had lscap mortally wounded in recent htr-Ay in distant city. but had lived long enough to mako . disclosure, which had been laid before the gov ernor barely in time to savc me from a shameful death. and condemn me to : chccrless and burdensome life. This is ray experience. My judgment as yours in the caso before us, leads to hut snc conclusion. that of the pris- oner's guilt; but not less confident and apparently unerring was the judgment shkt falsely pronounced my own"
 We no longer importuned our fellow juror. but patiently awaited our dis charge. oa the ground Of inability to agros. which came at last.
 Tho prisoner was tried and convicted .t subsequent term. and at the last moment confessed his crime on the scaffold.
 sailing Vessels o6 she Future.
 Tho era Of tho wooden sailing ves- gal. accorvlinC tO tho captain of m