Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-14

found in.t the drawer In which had placed
it and was identified as the property of
the murdered man. His horse, too, was
found in my stable, for the animal ] had
inst put there was none other / recog-
nized him myself when | saw him in the
light. What / said know not. My con-
fusion was taken as additional evidence.
And when, at length, | did command Ian
guage to give an Ineligible statement, it
was received with sneers and incredulity.
The mob spirit is inherent IN man-at
least in crowds Of men. 1t may not always
manifest itself in physical violence. It
sometimes contents itself with lynching
character But whatever its form, it Is
always relentless, pitiless, cruel
"As the proofs Of my guilt one after an
other, came to light, low mutterings gradu-
ally grew into a clamor for vengeance; and
/ but for the irmness Of one man-the officer
who had me in CHARGE would doubtless
have paid the penalty of my supposed of
Tense on the spot. 1t was not sympathy
that actuated 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 mouths my trial
came. ~ could nave but one result. CIr
cams1anees 700 PLAINLY declared my guilt
Knew they lieu. Inc absence OF the jury
was very bfieI' 10 thelr verdict PAID bui
little need. u was a single hideous word
put had long anticipated ~ and u made
no impression AZ lltIe impression was
made by the words Of the Judge which tol
lowed y, and his solemn invocation that
God might nave that mercy upon mt
winch man was toe Just to youchsate.
sounded iikethe holloWes1o Of hollow mock.
cries. II may be hard Tor the condemned
criminal 70 meet DEATH 10 u stlll harder
Tor hlm who IS innocent. The one, when
the hrst shock y over, acqulesces IN his
doom and gives himself to repentance; the
heart OF the other, hlled with rebellion
against mans injustice, can scarcely bring
itself u ask pardon OF Cod. had gradu
any overcome TINS leeling, IN spite OF the
good clergyman's irritating efforts, which
were mainly directed toward extracting a
confession, without which, he assured me,
he had no hope to offer.
"On the morning Of the day fixed for my
execution | felt measurably resigned. ]
had so long stood face to face with death
had so accustomed myself to look upon it
rs merely momentary pang, that
no longer felt solicitoas save that my mem
DRY should one day be indicated. She for
whom had gone to prepare home had
already found one in heaven. The tidings
of my calamity had broken her heart. She
alone Of all the world believed me limo
cent, and she had died with prayer upon
her lips that the truth might yet be
brought to light. All this had heard
and it had snothed, as if sweet incense. my
troubled spirit. Death, however unwel
come the shape was now portal, beyond
which | could see one angel waiting to re-
ceive me- | heard the sound Of approach.
ing footsteps, aud nerved myself to meet
the expected summons The door of my
cell opened, and the sheriff and his attend
ants entered. Heheld in his hand paper.