Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-01
at the bar guilty or not guilty 2

"A verdict which was to be either liii
or death for the prisoner.
Guilty. =,
The awful word rang clearly through
the crowded court room, and ever,
eve was fixed on the prisoner, VIII,
stood pale, yet resolutely on the dock
Gerald O'Conner - spoke tn,
Judge, arising from his seat, you hav,
been tried by a jury of twelve of youl
countrymen, and found guilty of tn,
terrible crime Of murder Have yor
anything 10 say why sentence Of deatl
should not be passed upon you?'
The prisoner gazed around him fol
a moment, and then, in clear, firm
voice. said
My lord, and gentlemen of the
jury: | have been tried and found
guilty Of crime which | never com.
mitted-a crime the most foul in the
annals of history, On the night oi
which the fatal deed was committed
was returning from visit to neigh.
bor's when terrible cry rang in my
ears and seemed to issue from ravine
a little way of the path which fol,
lowed. Running in the direction from
whence il came, | saw sight which
chilled the marrow in my bones, and
made my blood run cold | saw my
best and dearest friend lying ON the
earth in a pool of blood, with dagger
protruding from his breast, while a
little way oil lay the body Of Jake
RARE. stopped over the body of Mr..
Blake and drew the dagger from the
wound. As did 50 the hot blood
gushed out and stained my hands.
Then was seized by anthony Bell
and others, accused Of being the mur-
derer, taken off to prison, and now |
have been tried and found guilty.
My lord. and gentlemen of the jury,
did not commit the horrible deed.
am innocent"
\ profound murmur welled from
the lips OF the crowd, and it was some
time before order was restored.
The Judge put on the black cap and
arose to pass sentence.
Just then Il terrible c0mmotiom arose
outside the court room, aud two men
entered, bearing between them the
form of man, whose face was half
hidden by red handkerchief which
was tied around his head.
This man was Jake Rape, who had
that day recovered his senses, and on
hearing that young O'Conner was on
trial for the murder Of Mr.. Blake,
requested that he should be brought
to the court, Il, he had important
eviderce to give in the case.
A policeman advanced towards the
bench and whispered something to the
judge, who ordered two policemen to
guard the door aud allow no one to
leave the court room.
The invalid was seated in chair on
the witness stand. and, after having
been duly sworn, deposed as follows
Ills name was John Rape. On the
evening of the 29th OF July, the even.
ing on which the murder was com.
mitted he was walking in field near
where the deed was done saw Mr.
Blake pass by; and when he passed
him little way. saw man with a
black mask jump from behind a ditch
and attack his master. He ran TO his
assistance and grappled with the assal.
ant. tore the mask from his face, and
rs he did so he was struck with some
blunt instrument on the head. The
man who assaulted his master, and
from whose face he tore the mask, was
not the prisoner The man was
Anthony Bell -
y tremendous uproar arose in the
court room, and . rush was made
toward the door
Bell, seeing that his game was up,
thought to escape, and caused the
excitement just spoken Of but he was
seized by the two iru>ty policemen and
placed in the dock from which O'Con,
ner had been honorabIy released.
Seeing that all hope was gone he
confessed his guilt, and was made tc
pay the penalty Of his crime on tht
scaiiold.
\ year passed by since the abov,
transpired.
Boniires bluzed GU the hillside
from which the joyous shouts of th'
peasantry were echoed in the vale,
below. where nestled the village o
BaIlyglen.
The marriage bells pealed fortl
their JOYOUS anthems, rs Il marriage
coterie entered the pretty little churcl
and advanced up the iowerstrewr
aisle and stood before the altar.
y very handsome couple they ar,
who are about to he joined in we,llock
The bride is dressed in lavender sill
and lace and wreath OF white flower
decoratcs her head Of golden hair-a
pretty Il bride as ever Il happy groom
led from the altar.
And 50 thought Gerald O'Conner n
the minister pronounced Molly Blak,
his welded wife.
And as our story comes to an en-,
we will bid them adieu, hoping that /
L.. I;l, u L.. IL L......;.,..r. LII l..