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

We had been out Of court twenty-fouI
hours, and stood eleven to one The cast
was plain-at least, we eleven thought So
A murder of peculiar atrocity had beer
committed, and though no eye had wit.
messed the deed circumstances pointed t.
the prisoners guilt with unfailing Ger
tainty
The recusant juror had stood out from
the first. He acknowledged the cogency
of the proofs, confessed his inability &C
reconcile the facts with the defendants
innocence, and yet on every vote went
steadily for acquittal. His conduct. was
inexplicable. IL could not result from .
lack Of intelligence for, while he spoke but
little his words were well chosen and
evinced a thorough understanding of the
case.
Though still in the prime of manhood
his locks were prematurely white, and his
face wore a singularly sad and thoughtful
expression. He might be one Of those whC
entertained scruples as to the right Of so
ciety to infliet the death penalty. But no,
It was not that; for, in reply to such "A sug
gestion, he frankly admitted that brutal
men, like the vicious brutes they resemble
must be controlled through fear, and that
dread Of death, the supreme terror, is in
many cases the only adequate restraint.
At the prospect of another night Of fruit
less imprisonment we began to grow i'm
patient and expOstulated warmly against
what seemed an unreasonable captions
ness, and some not over kind remarks
were INDUCED in as 20 the impropriety OF
trihing with an oath like that under which
we were acting
And yet, the man answered, as though
communing with himself rather than re
pelling the impntation, sit is conscience
that hinders my concurrence In a verdict
approved by my Judgment
How can that befn qGeried several al
once.
Conscience may not always dare to fol
low judgment"
"But here she can know no other guide
II once would have said the samen
"And what changed your opinionp
Experience"
The speakers manner was visibly agi
tated, and we waited in silence the ex.
PLANTATION which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion, as il in answer tc
our looks Of inquiry, he continued:
Twenty years ago was a young man
just beginning life. Few had brighter pros.
poets and none brighter hopes. An attach.
ment dating from childhood had ripened
with its object. There had been no verbal
declaration and acceptance Of love--no for
nal plighting Of troth, but when l took
my departure TO seek home in the distant
west it was a thing understood that when
had found it and put it in order she was
20 share it. Life in the forest, though soil.
tary, is not necessarily lonesome. The kind
of society afforded by nature depends much
on ones self. As for me, lived more in
the future than in the present, and hope is
an over cheerful companion. At length
the time came for making the final pay
ment on the home which had bought. II
would henccforth be my own; and in few
more months my simple dwelling, which
had spared no pains TO render inviting
would be graced by its mistress.
"At the land office, which was some sixty
miles of, | met my old friend, Georg,
c.. He, too, had come 10 seek his fort
une in the west, and we we're both delghtet
with the meeting He had brought will
him, he said sum of money which he de
sired TO invest in land, on which it was hi
4 purpose to settle. ! expressed strons
I wish Go have him for a neighbor, and CAV
I him cordial invitation to accompany nj
Z AANANt tttfAAfr ~ 80 fttA hAAFNA AAtAh HE NbMh
4 nowhere make a better selection than II
that vicinity. lie readily consented AM
we set out together, We had not riddeI
many miles when George suddenly recol
lected commission he had undertaken 70
a friend, which would require his attend
ance at public land sale on the followin
day. Exacting a promise that be woul
not delay his visit longer than necessary
and having given minute directions as t
the route, continued my way homewart
while he turned back
II was about retiring to bed on the nigh
OF my return when summons from with
out called me TO the door A strange
asked shelter for himself and his horse Il
the night. ! invited him in. Though
stranger, his face seemed not unfamiliar
He was probably one Of the men had see
at the land office, place at that time niue
frequented. Offering him seat 1 wer
TO see to his horse. The poor animal, q
well ms | could see by the starlight, SCENE
to have been hardly used His pantin
sides bore witness of merciless riding, an
tremendous shrinking at the slightel
touch betokened recent fright. On reel
tering the house | found the stranger W;
not there. His absence excited no surpris
he would doubtless soon return. IL was
little singular, however, that he shoul
have left his watch lying on the table.
E AT the end of half an hour, my que,
/ not returning, went again to the stabl
thinking he might have found his wa
4 thither TO give personal attention TO Il
wants Of his horse Before going out, fro
mere force OF habit-for we Were as vet n
infested by either thieves or policemen
took the precaution Of putting the stra
gers watch in a drawer in which kel
my own valuables. found the horse as
n had left him. and gave him the food viii,
= he was now sufficiently cooled to be allow,
4 70 eat; but his master was nowhere to
s; seen. As ] approached the house CROW
:. Of men on horseback dashed up, and w
commanded, in no gentle tones. to stan,
N In another moment I was in the clutch
l. of those who claimed me as their pr
4. oner'
II was too much supplied az first 20 A.
what it all meant / did so at last, al
/ the explanation came--it was terrib
My friend, with whom had so lately s
:, out in company, had been found mi
= dered and robbed near the spot at viii
N !, but alone, knew we had separated
was the last person known to be with hi
Z, and was now arrested on suspicion OF I
(, murder A search Of the premises W
Immediately instituted. The watch v