The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-27
the usual question as to his

espondent the usual question as to h
guilt o. innocence Of the charge.
~ once, "camly responded the prison
er-"I once knocked up pistol
pointed at my breast by robber.
went off and killed one of his fellows
and
Say, guilty or not guilty." sternl.
interrupted the clerk.
Not guilty, then, answered tn
other, determined, while going through
these preliminary forms, that his ac
cusers, the court, and audience, SHOULD
hear what. under other circumstances
he would have reserved for the more
appropriate time Of making his de
fence, or left to his counsel "Ay, moi
guilty: and that gentleman, he
rapidly continued, pointing TO Brush,
that gentleman, who has offered &c
free me if | would submit to be robbed
well knows the truth of what
say. The witnesses. whom he has
suborned. also know it, if they know
any thing about that luckless affray y
Liar shouted Brush. springing
up. in high excitement. as soon as he
could recover from the surprise and
confusion into which this bold and
unexpected charge mad thrown him.
1.-The mans insane evidently in
sane, your honors ~ cried Stearns,
who. in his anxiety to shield his
friend Brush, though not of the effect
of such remark.
. thank the attorney for the gov
eminent for that admission, may it
please the court" said knights. ris-
ing, with sarcastic glance at Stearns
Il may wish to make use of it. "
Are you counsel for the prisoner
sir?" sharply demanded the other
Il am. sir, "coolIy replied knights:
land you may find, before We get
through the trial, that what the pris
oner has said as much out of place as
it was. is not the only truth to be de
veloped. But before the case proceeds
any further, | offer plea to the iuris
diction Of this court, and at once sub
nit. whether man can be tried here
for an offence alleged TO have been
committed in another county, without
a special order from the governor for
that purpose. "
That order is obtained and on file,
sir. So that learned bubble is burst,
as will all the rest you can raise in
favor of the miserable wretch you have
stopped to defend. said Stearns, ex-
ultingly. Mr.. Clerk, pass up that
order TO the court =,
Are you satisfied now. Mr..
Knights?' asked Sabin, with undig
nified feeling, after CHANGING al the
order which had been lald before the
judges. Mr.. Stearns, proceed with
the cause. -
But that court. on whom the sub
servlent attonery and his corrupt ana
arrogant friend depended to convict an |
innocent man OF an infamous crime, |
that a private and nefarlous object
might thereby be enforced-that court |
were now destined to be arrested 10
their career OF judicial oppression be-
fore they had time to add another stain
to their already blackeneu characters:
for, at this moment, deep and pierre
ing groan, issuing from one OF the
prison rooms beneath, resounding
through the building so fearfully dis.
tinct, as to cause every individual of
the assembly To start, and even 10
bring the Judges and officers OF the
court TO dead pause IN their proceed
lngs. A moment OF death like silence
ansued when another and a sharper
: ''Nt' - - - "''.A'' = -. /
from the same lips, and swelling up to
The highest compass of the human
voice. and ending In prolonged
'creech OF mortal agony, rang through
.he apartment, sending thrill of
horror to the very hears OF the appalled,
Who! What: For Gods sake,
What its that exclaimed dozen
'ager and trembling voices at once, a.
learly the whole assembly started to
heir feet, and stood with amazed ANA
1erplexed countenances, inqulringly |
;azlng at each other
Don / your conscIences tell you
hat exclaimed the prisoner, lierrlot,
n loud, fearless voice, running his
tern, indignant eye over the court, its
Ulcers, and leading partisans around
he bar. Don't your consciences tell
gu what II was? Then l will! 1t
ras the death screech OF the poor muir
ered French. whose tortured spirit,
low beyond the reach of your power.
sent out with that fearful cry which
as Just assalled your guilty ears Q
Mr., Sheriff Mr.. Sheriff y sput-
cred Sabin, boiling with wrath, and q
ointing menacingly to the prisoner.
silence mere olabblng ms