The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-02-28
AN OLD LAWYERS STORY.
THE CASE OF WALLACE HARPER


to say why sentence should not be passed
upon your"
A solemn hush parvaded the court
room as the judge addressed the young
man in the p isoner's dock as above.
Wallace HHpsr turned his gaze f0r
an instant toward me. had defended
the young prisoner to the best Of my
ability, and the outcome was a verdict
guilty. From the outset l expected
this, although in my inmost soul | be.
lieved the unfortunate man innocent
Crcumstantial evidence, however, had
encompissed him round SO completely,
it was impossible to override it. Ioouid
give the prisoner no look Of encourage
mont / merely looked dumb. perlEp
stolidly Indifferent although 1Was faI
from feeling SO.
Wallace Harper rose slowly to his
feet, until lie lowered full six feet q
noble stature, and gazed fixedly at III,
idge. His fics was pale as death, ant
hen he opened his lips and poke the
worls sounded hollow and unnatural.
Your honor, what can / say on ar
occasion like thisf l was foredooEet
from the start, Our family has always
baen unfortunate. My father was killed
in battle Gettysburg, and my poo
mother died of broken heart, Ny
eldest brother fell in Que of the bat
ties in the West, the youngest died oi
yellow fever at Memphis, some. year
ago, and am the last of the race /
it seems, am doomed to die on the gal
lowsl"
He paused here hot flush shooting
into either pale cheek. Would ho breal
down and beg for meroyP 1t was no
in keeping with his cool courage during
the trial. could not help pitt ing him
and feeling that it would lave beel
much better had he refrained iron
sp 'aking at all l dared not look at hi
face for some moments At length h
was ,p 'aking again, and l ventures
once more to look toward linn. Tn
flush had dis;.Ppe red, and tile prison
er's fice was as ptlid as before.
u know what the sentence must be
your honor, continued he. with awfl
calmness. II have only this to say:
am an innocent man. lay up nothin
against the members Of tho jury. The.
thought they were pstformlng duty
but if there is future life. in that fuI
ure the truth will be with me, and
shall be vindicated.
He bowed his head and ceased t
speak. His words had been impressive
10 me they we're convincing / ha
moved for a new trial when tie verdiC
had been rendered, ON the previous day
and now had no more to say.
Hanged by the neck until dead
Friday, November 9th,
These were all the words that reache
my ear l rose to leave the room. I'll
prisoner was led past / glanced int
his white face A look Of settled d,
spair rested ON every lineament. / ber
forward and whispered word Il hop
mentioning the fIob Of my determine
ton to move all the powers for ne
trial He said nothing, and soon tt
court room was empty.
"It's justice, Il was an infamol
murder
started at sound Of voices at my e
bow. Two gentlemen were discussin
the prisoner and his sentence.
paused to listen.
II knew Wallace Harper we'll. A
his family have died violent deaths L
had a good show with Donald Ddnhar
He had been with the old gentleman tv
years. think the trouble was all {
account of the girl, who, they say,
quite sick because of the death of Ii
father
"Did the girl think anything of &
clerk9"
"Some say 30. Idon't know It seer
twas on her account that Harper p
poison in the old mans wine. 1t was
foolish as well as wicked crime.
walked on. The details Of the mu
der had been recited too many times
interest me now. It had apl feared
The trial that Harper was in love wi
his old employers only daughter. a.
that Durham had quarreled with ]
confidential clerk in consequence.
On the evening when he (HarpeF) W
TO depart Mr.. Dunham called him in
tile library and requested him to dri
a social glass of wine with him.
seems that Harper assented An ho
later Donald Dunham was dead
had died in agony, and with his lat
breath accused his clerk OF havi
poisoned him. The dregs Of one Of I
wine cups were found to contain arsen
the other being harmless The cor
Dental clerk was at once arrested, a
in one Of his pockets a package of arsei
was found. Such evidences was ov
whelming Wallacs Harpersent for q
and undertook his defense made
good fight as possible under the {
cumstances
The Rntemortem testimony Of Don
Dunham, together with the fact that
two had quarreled, and the finding
the poison in the pocket of Harper, y
evidence that could not overcome.
Twent from the court room to
own pleasant home feeling a weight
nay mind that l could not shake of,
few hours later messenger came 10
from the prisoner, requesting an
teryiew.
/ at once repaired to the jail
Wallace Harper greeted NE witt
pleasant smile. and held out his hand
Il am satisfied that you did all thG
human being could do, Mr. Nelson,