Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-20
7WRMONT Frederick County, Maryland Thursday Februay% 1885,

to bear his former good character, &c.
The jury then retired and after an
hours conference returned to tho jury
box.
Every eye in the crowded court was
fixed on the twelve solemn men as they
took their places and answered to their
names.
"Gentlemen of the jury have you de.
cided on verdict Is the prisoner at
the bar guilty or not guiltyT
The stiffness of death reigned; every
breath was husbed as the foreman OF
the Jury arose to render their verdict
a verdict which was to be either life or
death to the prisoner.
"GuILTYW
The awful word rang clearly through
the crowded court room and every eye
was fixed on the prisoner who stood
pale yet resolutely on the dock.
"Gerald O'Conner, you have been
tried by jury Of twelve Of your coun-
trymen and found guilty Of the terrible
crime of murder. Have you anything
to say why sentence Of death shouldn't
be passed on you?" said the Judge.
The prisoner gazed around him for a
moment and tnen in a clear firm voice
said:
"My lord. and gentlemen Of the jury
I have been tried and found guilty of a
crime which l never committed-a crime
the most foul in the annals of history.
On the night of which the fatal deed
was committed l was returning from a
visit to a neighbors when terrible CRY
rang in my ears and seemed to issue
from ravine little way off the path
which l followed. Running in the d.
rection from whence it came, l saw q
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 while
little way off lay the body CT Jake
Rape. l stopped over the body Of Mr.
Blake and drew the dagger from the
wound. AS l did 50 the hot blood
gushed out and stained my hands. Their
was seized by Anthony Bell aud others
and taken to prison"
The judge put the black cap on and
arose to pass sentence.
Just then terrible commotion arose
outside the the court room and two mer
entered bearing between them the form
of man whose face was half hidden
by a red handkerchief which was tiec
around his head.
This man was Jake Rape who had
that day recovered his senses and or
hearing that young O'Conner was or
trial for the murder of Mr.. Blake. re-
ouested that he should be brought tc
the court as he had important evidence
to give in the case.
A policeman advanced towards the
bench and whispered something to the
Judge, who ordered two policemen Il
guard the door and allow no one to leave
the court room.
The invalid was seated in chair or
the witness stand and after having beer
duly sword, deposed as follows:
His name was Jacob Rape. On the
evening Of the 29th Of July, the even
ing on which the murder was committed
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 black mask jump
from behind ditch an attack his mas
ter. He ran to his assistance and grap
pied with the assailant tore tie mask
from his face and as he did so he Wal
struck with some blunt instrument or
the head. The man who assaulted his
master and from whose face he tore The
mask was not the pri oner. 1t wa
Anthony Bell.
A tremendous uproar arose in th'
court room and rush was made towarc
the door.
Bell, seeing that his game was W
thought to escape, and caused the ex-
cltement just spoken Of but he wa
seized by the two trusty policemen ane
placed in the dock from which O'Con-
had been honorably released.
Seeing that all hope was gone hi
confessed his guilt and was made tt
pay the penalty Of his crime on th'
scaffold.
A year passed by since the above
transrired.
Bonfres blazed on the hillside, from
which the joyous shouts of the peaaan
tIy were echoed IN the valley below