Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-08-01

some relatives in Canada, deter
mined to make his fortune i'm few
years, then return to England, ant
win the consent of the girls parents
to their union.
On the eve of his departure fol-
the New World he went down tc
Gorton to bid Miss Dicely goodbye
and after two hours in her COMPANY
he returned to Gorton by the $3.50
tram to BarcheSter, and at six
O'Clock the next morning left the
latter town for Liverpool, en- route
to Canada.
The last witness for the Crown,
and, therefore, the last witness in
the case, was the blind man. His
evidence was followed with intense
interest by the crowded court. He
was asked by the counsel for the
prosecution whether he had caught
any of the words of the man and
woman who passed along the foot,
path in the grove close to where he
lay just before the shots were fired,
and when he said Yes every ear in
court was stretched to catch his evil
dence of the conversation.
What was said between the par
ties?' asked my learned friend.
AS they passed me- replied the
blind witness, / heard the man saw,
But your father objects to the mar
ria2e,' and the lady said, Yes,
and do not mean to marry without
his CONSENT They continued to
walk on, and few moments after /
heard the man in loud, angry
voice, say, NO one else will have
you.' Then there was a shot, and
the lady screamed then another shot.
My dog began to barkAand cried
out in terror, What is that?' The
man then rushed away. l could
hear the crunching of the bramble
and underground as he fed.'
rose to cross examine the old
man with some trepidation,' con-
tinued Mr.. Grimshaw. Before do
ing so / asked my solicitor, in a
whisper, what was the quality or
timbre of the prisoners voice, and
he replied that it was rather sharp
or acute in tone. ] had but one
question of Importance to put to the
witness. 1 trembled to put it, for
the answer to it might not, on the
one hand, do the prisoner any SER
vice, while on the other hand, it
might seal his fate.
Having. asked a few questions on
rather unimportant points, | put to
him the fateful question of which I
spoke, determined, of course, should
the answer prove unsatisfactory, to
drop that line of cross
at once.
What sort of voice was the voice
of the man in the Grove that even
ing" / asked, with all the uncon-
Germ which l could assume.
The reply of the witness followed
quickly on my question.
1T was a deep voice. said the
blind witness.
How my heart jumped at the an
sWer Here was the first impor-
tant point for the defense.
Would you recognize that voice
again? p l asked. The witness said,
Yes and every one believed him,
for the extraordinary keenness of
hearing in the blind is we'll
known fact. 1 began to entertain
some hope for the prisoner.
My Lord,' said, turning to the
Judge, l should like the prisoner
to speak a few words. l am sure
you realize how essential it is for
the purpose of my cross-examipa-
ton.
Certainly, certainly said the
Judge. Prisoner at the bar, be
pleased to address few words to me. ,
My Lord,' exclaimed the pris-
oner, in tones of the deepest feeling
before God, protest that am in
nocent of this crime.'
The voice of the prisoner was, in
its intense earnestness, shrill and
piercing. 1t certainly was not q
deep voice.
WELL said /, resuming nv cross.
examination OF the blind man, is
that like the mans voice you heard
in the Grove, before the shots were
fired p
No. said the witness, mot a bit
like it,
Are you sure of that?' l asked.
Il could not be surer of anything,
he again replied.
L scrutinized the foreman of tn,
jury. He seemed to be laboring un
der the greatest agitation. Wher
the Judge had reviewed the evi
dence, the jury retired, and after al
hours absence returned into court
AT last the foreman handed the ISSUE
paper to the Clerk of the Crown.
Gentlemen Of the jury, you agre
to your Verdict?' asked the clerk O
the Crown.
Ies,' responded the foreman in
: deep voice.
The blind witness, who sat in tn
we'll Of the court, just below me
: now started up, laboring under tn
most intense excitement, and, fixin
. his sightless eyes on the Jury box
. listened intently for the declaration
= Of the verdict.
You say the prisoner is guilty ;
: continued the clerk of the Crown. =.
Yes, my Lord, guilty. responde
, the foreman, in his deepest an
most solemn tones, and with a re
markable emphasis on the wor
guilty.
=. But it was not for the verdict tha
the blind witness had been listening
Y II was the voice of the foreman
the jury, which stirred him to th
soul, and when it fell second tim
4 on his ears, he loudly exclaimed:
My Lord, my Lord, that's tn
>. voice heard in Burton Grove ju
d before the murder! That's tn
;, man y and extending his right han
: he pointed in the direction of tt
It the foreman of the jury.
g You can imagine the profound @,