Smyrna times., 1901-10-09


from the first. We did not affiliate as
boys i'll the village school. and as we
passed together into the higher grades
we became even less friendly. We did
not u;e 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 Il coquette, but it
seemed to take her Il long time to make
up her mind which one was to be the
happy man. When her choice was an
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. lie 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 it 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 were founded partly on
facts. My wife had been seen in earnest
conversation with Parsons the previous
day, we had Il 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 it became necessary that some
one must be suspected to give the gos-
Sipin9 tongues an occupation.
In less tLan week some boys found
a mans body in the river just below
the village. it had apparently been in
the water but a short time, but the face
had been eaten by GELS or beaten out of
human shape. The skull had been
broken by blow. and the medical eX-
amincr 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, ANA it was but natural that my
arrest should follow.
| was as willing as any one that my
| 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 l recall the testimony l do
not think a single witness. unless it be
/ our former servant. testified to any
| thing but the truth.
My wife had fallen i'll, but her testi-
mOny, even if it could have been ad-
mitted. would have proved more against
than for me. 1t was easily determined
| that Parsons and l were unfriendly,
that we had Quarreled, that | was jeal-
Gus of my wife for speaking to him and
that it would be to my business advan-
tage and domestic peace to have him
out of the way.
Could l have proved that l passed
the hours from till II o'clock ON the
night that Parsons disappeared in walk
ing upon a lonely road all the other
testimony would have been worthless,
but did not remember meeting a sim
gle person abroad that night after
o'clock. When l returned home, the
streets were deserted. l was harassed
about business matters, veXed with my
wife and suffered from headache, but
when l 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
fimsy character of the evidence of the
prosecution. 1t was against his advice
that the case had been put on trial sc
early, but so confident was of acquit
tai that l did not realize on what pre-
cariOus ground | stood. ] felt that il
some way my innocence would be prov
ed, although l stood almost alone in my
belief. The trial was q brief one, and
the arguments of the lawyers were
soon finished. To these and the charge
of the judge | listened like one in &
trance The jury passed out, and 9
few friends came to me with words Of
cheer and hope.
Harlx! The jury is returning. Surely
they cannot have made up their mind:
j in so short time to condemn fellow
man to life Imprisonment. In Response
to a request from the judge l stand VI
and face the jury. There is not ;
friendly countenance among the twelve
l barely hear the ominous wore
"Guilty!" which the foreman speaks
The shock is so unexpected that
scarcely realize the meaning of th'
judges cruel words as he pronounce