St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-01-17
Il STRANGE CASE.

n STRANGE CASE.
Why Wallace Harper Would No,
Prove His Innocence.
prisoner At the bar, what have YOU
to say why sentence should not be
passed upon you?"
A solemn hush pervaied the curt
room as the judge addressed the young
man in the prisoners dock'as above.
Wallace Harper turned his gaze fol
an instant toward me. had defended
the yon1g prisoner to the best Of my
ability and the outcome was . YER dict
OF guilty. From the outset 1 expected
this, although in my utmost soul be-
lieved tho unfortunate man innocent
Circumstantial evidence, however, had
encompassed him round so completely,
il was impossible to override It.
could give the prisoner no look OF en-.
couragement merely looked dumb,
perhaps stolidly Indifferent, although
was far from feeling so.
Wallace Harper rose slowly to his
feet until he lowered full six feet Of
noble stature, and gazed fixedly at the
judge. His face was palc as death, and
when he opened his lips and spoke, the
words sounded hollow and unnatural
"Your honor. what can say on m
occasion like this? I was foredoomcd
from the start. Our family has always
bcen unfortunate. My father was
killed in battle (Gcttysburg,) and
my poor mother died of broken heart.
My eldest brother fell in ono Of tho
battles in the West the youngest died
of yellow fever at Memphis, some years
ago. and am the last Of tho racc. I. 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 mercy9 1t was
not in keeping with his cool courage
during the trial could not help pity
ing him. and feeling that 1t would have
been much better had hc refrained from
speaking at all. ! dared not look 1T
his face for some moments. At length
he was speaking again. and vcntured
once moro to look toward him. Tho
flush had disappeared, and the prison
cr's face was pallid as before.
Il know what tho sentence must be.
your honor" continued he, with awful
calmness. 81 have only this to say:
am an innocent man. lay up nothing
against the members OF the jury. They
thought they were performing . duty;
but il there is future life, in that
future the truth will be with me. and
shall be vindicated."
He bowed his head and ceased to
speak. His words had been impressive.
To mo they were convincing. had
moved for . 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 o."
These were all the words that reached
my ear. 1 rose to leave the room. The
prisoner was led past glanced into
his white face. A look Of settled de-
spair rested on every lincament
bent forward and whispered . word Of
hope, mentioning the fact Of my deter
mination to move all the powers for .
new trial lie said othing, and soon
the courtroom was empty.
''It's justice. 1t was an infamous
murder" ......r|
l started at sound OF voices at my
elbow. Two gentlemen were discussing
the prisoner and his sentence
paused to listen.
II knew Wallace Harper well. All
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 death
Of her father"
Ibid the girl think any thing Of tho
clerk?"
"Some say So don't know. It seems
twas on her account that Harper put
poison in the old mans wine. 1t Was .
foolish as well - wicked crime"
Iwalked ON. The details Of the mur-
der had been recited too many times to
interest me now. 1t had appeared ON
the trial that Harper was in love with
his old employers only laughter, and
that Dunham had quarreled with his
confidential clerk in consequence.
On the evening when he (Harper) was
TO depart Mr.. Durham called hun into
the library and requested him to drink
social glass Of wine with him. 1t
seem that Harper assented. An hour
later Donald Dunham Was dead. He
had died in agony. and with his latest
breath accused his clerk Of having pois- |
oned him. The dregs Of ono OF the |
wine-cups were found TO contain !;
arsenic. the other being harmless Tho |
confidential clerk was st once arrested,
and in one Of his pockets package Of I.
arsenic was found. Such evidence was /
overwhelming. Wallace Harper sent |
for me. and undertook his defense. II
made as good fight Is possible under /
the circumstances
The ante-mortem testimony Of Don
aid Dunham. together with the fsct that
the two had quarreled, and the finding
OF the poison in the pocket Of Harpef, !
was evidence that could not overcome. /
! went from the court-roou to my I