The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-07-03
59liscel laneums.
A STRANGE CASE.


Innocence.
"Prisoner at the bar, what have you to say
why sentence should not be passed upon
your"
A solemn hush pervaded the court room as
the Judge addressed the young man in the
prisoners dock as above.
Wallace Harper turned his gaze for an in
slant towards me. had defended the young
prisoner TO the best of my ability and the out
come was verdict of guilty. From the out
set expected this, although in my utmost
soul believed the unfortunate man innocent.
Circumstanlial evidence, however, had en-
comprised him round so completely, it was
impossible to override it. l could give
the prisoner no look of encouragement.
merely looked dumb, perhaps stoidly indif-
ferent, 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
as pale as death, and when he opened his lips
and spoke, the words sounded hollow and
unnatural.
"Your honor, what can say on an occa-
sion like this ? l was foredoomed from the
start. Our family has always blen unfor-
tunate. NV father was killed in battle
Gettysburg, 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 am the last of the race. l, it seems, am
doomed to die on the gallows!"
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 plying him, and feeling that
it would have been much better had he re-
Trained 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 prisoners face was
pallid as before.
II 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
ofthe jury. They thought they were per
forming duty; but if there is a future life,
in that future the truth will be with me, and
l shall be indicated"
He bowed his head and ceased to speak
His words had been impressive. To me they
were convincing. l had moved for a new
trial when the verdict had been rendered, on
the previous day, and now had no more to
say.
November g."
These were sll the words that reached my
ear. rose TO leave the room. The prisoner
was led past l glanced into his white face.
A look of settled despair rested on every Inca
ment. bent forward and whispered word
of hope, mentioning the fact of my deter
to move all The powers for a new
trial. He said nothing, and SOC n the court
room was empty.
tits Justice. 1t was an infamous murder"
started at sound of voices at my elbow.
Two gentlemen were discussing The prisoner
and his sentence.
paused to listen.
81 knew Wallace Harper well. All of his
family have died violent deaths. He had a
good show with Donald Durham. He had
think the trouble was all on account OF the
girl, who they say is quite sick because of the
death Of her father"
Did the girl think anything of the clerk ?"
"Some say so. don't know. 1t seems
twas on her account that Harper put poison
in the old mans wine. 1t was foolish as
well as a wicked crime"
walked on. The details of the murder
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 daughter, and that Durham had quar-
relied with his confidential clerk in conse-
quence.
On the evening when he (Harper) was to
depart Mr.. Durham called him into the
library and requested him to drink social
glass of wine with him. 1t seemed that Har-
per assented. An hour later Donald Dun
can was dead. He had died in agony, and
with his latest breath accused his clerk of
so x;n poicnpad hin, ho Of rf
the wine cups were found to contain arsenic,
the other being harmless. The confidential
clerk was at once arrested, and in one of his
pockets package OF arsenic was found
Such evidence was overwhelming. Wallace
Harper sent for me, and l undertook his de-
fence. l made as good fight as possible
under the circumstances.
The ante-mortem testimony of Donald
Durham, together with the fact that the two
had quarreled, and the finding of the poison
in the pocket of Harper, was evidence that
/ could not overcome.
l went from the court loom to my own
pleasant home feeling weight on my mind
that could not shake off. A few hours later
messenger came to me from the prisoner,
requesting an interview.
at once repaired to the jail
"Wallsce Harper greeted me with pleas
II am satisfied that you did all that hu
man being could do, Mr.. Nelson, and want
to thank you for it, and to tell you that it is
my wish that you do nothing towards secur-
ing a new trial."
l expressed my surprise at this.
at would only postpone the inevitable"
he said. all luck runs IN our family. | sup
pose was born to be hung !" and the laugh
that followed made my flesh creep.
But you are innocent ?" l said, sudden
doubt coming, unbidden, to my brain.
II am innocent. hope you will never
doubt that, Mr.. Nelson"
A little later left him, promising not to
urge new trial. | was satisfied that new
trial could not be obtained, and | had Only
entertained the thought, to delay matters as
long as possible.
1t was two months to the 9th of November
Much might be done in that time if there had
been any foundation on which to stand. As
it was, tried to dismiss the prisoner from
my mind and attend to other business.
could not do this, however, and the days and
weeks passed, until one day remained before
the day set for the execution of the condemn
ed. On this day visited Wallace Harper
once more.
He had lost flesh, and could see that there
was much inward suffering. I became fully
convinced that something rested on his mind,
and urged him to make clean breast of it.
ut could do no good" he declared. 81 will
die without speaking" And then left him.
AS passed from the Jail another visitor was
announced-a yelled woman. 1t was doubt
less the mans sweetheart, come to visit him
for the last time. She had been too i'll to ap-
pear at the trial, and had never seen her to
speak with her since