The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-10
The Eleventh
.Juryman
He Was Obstinate, but Had
Reasons For His Obstinacy.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

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We had been out of court pa hours and
stood IL to 1. The case was plain-at
least we IL thought so. A murder of
peculiar atrocity had been committed,
and though no eye had witnessed the
deed circumstances pointed to the prison
er's guilt with unfailing certainty.
The recusant juror had stood out from
the first He acknowledged the cogency
of the proofs, confessed his inability to
reconcile the facts with the defendants
innocence, and yet on every vote went
steadily for acquittal. His conduct was
inexplicable. 1t could not result from a
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 who entertained scruples as to
the right of society to infict the death
penalty. But no, 1t was not that, for In
reply to such a suggestion 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
fruitless Imprisonment we began to grow
impatient and expostulated warmly
against what seemed an unreasonable
captiousness, and some not overland re-
marks were INDUCED in as to the impro-
priety of trifling with an oath like that
under which we were acting.
"And yet" the man answered, as
though communing with himself rather
than repelling the imputation, sit is con-
science that hinders my concurrence In a
verdict approved by my judgment"
GLOW can that be?" queried several at
once.
Conscience may not always dare to
follow judgment"
"But here she can know no other
guide"
II once would have said the same"
"And what changed your opinion?"
The speakers manner was visibly agi-
tated, and we awaited in silence the ex-
PLANTATION which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion, as if in answer
to our looks of inquiry, he continued
''Twenty years ago | was a young man
just beginning life. Few had brighter
prospects and none brighter hopes. An
attachment dating from childhood had
ripened with its object. There had been
no verbal declaration and acceptance of
love, no formal plighting of troth, but
when l took my departure to seek home
in the distant west 1t was q thing under
stood that when l had found it and put
It in order she was to share it. Life in
the forest, though solitary, is not neces-
sarily lonesome. The kind of society af
forded by nature depends much on one
self AS for me, lived more in the fu-
ture than in the present, and hope is an
overcheerful companion. At length the
time came for making the final payment
on the home which l had bought. 1t
would henceforth be my own, and in a
few more months my simple dwelling,
which had spared no pains to render in
viting, would be graced by its mistress.
cat the land Office, which was some 60
miles off, | met my old friend, George
G. He, too, had come to seek his for
tune in the west, and we were both de-
lighted with the meeting. He had
brought with him, he said a sum of
money which he desired to invest in land,
on which it was his purpose to settle. l
expressed a strong wish to have him for
a neighbor, and gave him a cordial in
vitation to accompany me home, giving
it as my belief that he could nowhere
make a better selection than in that vicin-
ity. He readily consented, and we set
out together. We had not ridden many
miles when George suddenly recollected
a commission he had undertaken for a
friend which would require his attend
ance at a public sale on the following
day. Exacting a promise that he would
not delay his visit longer than necessary,
and having given minute directions as to
the route, | continued my way homeward,
while he turned back
81 was about retiring to bed on the
night of my return when a summons from
without called me to the door. A stranger
asked for shelter for himself and horse
for the night. invited him in. Though
a stranger, his face seemed not unfamil-
lar. He was probably one of the men
had seen at the land office, a place at
that time much frequented. Offering him
q seat | went to see to his horse. The
poor animal. as we'll as | could see by the
starlight seemed to have been hardly
used His painting sides bore witness OF
merciless riding, and tremendous
shrinking at the slightest touch betokened
recent fright On re-entering the house
l found the stranger was not there. His
absence excited no surprise; he would
doubtless soon return. 1t was little sin
gular, however, that he should have left
his watch lying on the table.
| cat the end of half an hour, my guest
not returning, went again to the stable
| thinking he might have found his way
thither to give personal attention to the
wants of his horse. Before going out
| from mere force of habit-for we were as
vet uninfested by either thieves or police
men-I took the precaution of putting the
strangers watch in a drawer in which
kept my own valuables. l found the
horse as / had left him, and gave him the
food which he was now sufficiently cool
ed to be allowed to eat, but his master
was nowhere to be seen. AS l approach
ed the house crowd of men on horse
back dashed up, and | was commanded
in no gentle tones to stand! In another
moment | was in the clutches of those
who claimed me as their prisoner.
81 was too much stupefied at first t.
ask what it all meant. l did so at las
and the explanation came. 1t was terri
blel My friend, with whom l had 81
lately set out in company, had been foun'
murdered and robbed near the spot
which [, but alone, knew we had sepa
rated. | was the last person known t.
be with him, and l was now arrested OF
suspicion of his murder. A search of tn
premises was Immediately instituted
The watch was found in the drawer il
which ! had placed it and was identihe
as the property of the murdered man
His horse. too, was found in my stable
for the animal had just put there wa
none other. |. recognized him mysei
when | saw him in the light What
said / know not. My confusion wa
taken as additional evidence. And whe
at length did command language to Civ
an ineligible statement it was receive
with sneers and incredulity.
The mob spirit is inherent in man-a
least in crowds of men. 1t may not a
ways manifest itself In physical violence
II sometimes contents itself with Lynch
ing character. But whatever its form
it is always relentless, pitiess, cruel.
"As the proofs of my guilt one afte
another came to light low mutterlne
gradually grew into a clamor for veng'
ance. and but for the firmness Of on
man. the officer who had me In charg
| would doubtless have paid the penalt
of my supposed offense on the spot.
was not sympathy that actuated my PR
tector His heart was as hard as h