Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-09-20
FALSELY
ACCUSED


George Parsons and l were enemies
from tie first We did not affiliate a.
boys IN the village school. and as we
passed together into the higher grades
we became even less friendly. We id
not use our fists on each other, but
within each breast there still ranked
the remembrance of unsettled old
scores. Later on we bestowed our af-
fections upon the same lady. Laura
Marshall was not a coquette, but il
seemed to take her a long time to make
up her Inind which one was to be the
happy man. When her choice was am
nounced Parsons was furious. and we
had bitter words before witnesses.
One day our townspeople were star
tied by the announcement that Parsons
had disappeared. His business affairs
were prosperous, and everything was
in good order. He was Il reticent sort
of fellow. but had he left of his own
accord he would naturally have left
some word with his clerk or at his
boarding place, but none could be
found. As time passed the mysterious
disappearance became the one topic of
conversation in our village.
on the morning il became known |
discharged our servant maid for a fire.
quent neglect of duty. She was cha
grined at her dismissal and soon spread
stories that We're founded partly on
facts. My Wife had been seen in earnest
conversation with Parsons the previous
day, we had a little tiff at the teatable,
and had not returned home that night
till quite late. 1t was plain TO be seen
that public opinion was forming against
me, as il became necessary that some
one must be suspected to give the Cos
siplng tongues an occupation.
Ia less than a week some boys found
a mans body III the river just below
the village 1t had apparently been in
the water but a short time, but the face
had been eaten by cells or beaten out of
human shape The skull had been
broken by a blow. and the medical ex-
aminer proved, to his own satisfaction
at least. that the man had been killed
before being thrown into the water. 1t
seemed to require no effort to identify
the remains as those of George Par
sons, and il was but natural that my
arrest should follow.
WIS as NliIl11 us any one lIldt NY
trial should take place at once. con-
tident that my innocence would some
how he proved despite the circumstan-
tial evidence which was gathering
against me. Accordingly the case was
entered at the term of court then in
session. As | recall the testimony l do
not think a single witness, unless il be
our former servant. testified to any
thing but the truth.
My wife had fallen ill., but her testi-
mony. even if il could have been ad-
mltted. would have proved more against
than for me. 1t was easily determined
that Parsons and | were unfriendly.
that we had quarreled. that | was jeal-
Gus Of my wife FOR speaking to him and
that ii would be TO my business adyan-
tage and domestic peace to have him
out OF the way.
Could | have proved that l passed
the hours from till II o'clock on the
night that Parsons disappeared in walk
ing upon lonely road all the other
testimony would have been worthless
but did not remember meeting q sim
gle person abroad that night after 5
O'Clock. When | returned home. the
about business matters. vexed with my
wife and suffered from headache. but
when | explained this it was evident
that my story was not credited.
Ny counsel was an old and tried
friend Of my youth, but he did not pos
seSs the ability TO show the jury the
dimsy character of the evidence of the
prosecution. II was against his advice
that the case had been put on trial so
early. but SO confident was l OF acQuit-
tai that l did not realize on what pre-
cariouS ground | stood. | felt that in
some way my innocence would be prov
ed. although | stood almost alone in my
belief. The trial was a brief one, and
the arguments OF the lawyers were
soon flushed. To these and the charge
OF the judge | listened like one in
trance. TIE jury passed out. and
few friends came to NE with words OF
cheer and hope.
Hark. The jury is returning. Surely
they cannot have made up their minds
in 81 short time to condemn q fellow
man to life Imprisonment In response
TO a request from the judge stand up
and face the jury. There is not
friendly eountenance among the twelve.
barely hear the ominous word
Guilty" which the foreman speaks
The shock ) 80 unexpected that
scarcely realize the meaning OF the
iud-eS cruel words as he pronounces