The Somerset reporter., 1901-10-03
FALSELY !
ACCUSED \



George Parsons and | were enemies
from the first. We did not affiliate as
boys in the village school, and as we
passed together into the higher grades
we became even less friendly. We did
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 coquette, but 1t
seemed to take her long time to make
up her mind which one was to be the
happy man. When her choice was an
nouneed, 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 a retieent 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 tie morning it became known |
discharged our servant maid for fire..
quest nealect of duty. She was cha
grinea 1t her dismissal and soon spread
stoi.as ..3t Wore founded partly on
fae.s V W.fe had been seen in earnest
convefsatsall with Parsons the previous
da.. we Laid Il little tiff at the teatable,
and bad 1t returned home that night
til quite lie. 1t was plain to be seen
that pull opinion was forming against
me, rs i secalHe necessary that some
one must u suspected to give the Cos
siping Tongues an occupation.
In les th.t1 II week some boys found
a mans body in the river just below
the village. 1t had apparently been in
the water but short time, but the face
had been eaten by eels or beaten out of
human shape The skull had been
broken by blow. and tue medical ex.
aminer proved. TO lis 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 hut natural that my
arrest should follow.
| was as willing as any Ole that my
trial should take place It once. con-
fident that my innocence would some
how he proved despite the cireumstan-
tial evidence which Was gathering
against me. Accordingly TIE case was
entered at the term of court then in
session. As | recall the testimony do
not think a single witness, unless 1t be
our former servant, testified to any
thing but the truth.
My wife Lad fallen Ill, but her testi-
mony, even if it could have been adj
mitted, woulf have proved more against
than for me. II was easily determined
that Parsons and | were uHfrendly,
that we had quarreled, that was jeal.
Gus of my wife for speaking to him and
that it would be to my business adyan-
tage and domestic peace to have him
out of the way.
Could ! have proved that | 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 q sim
gle person abroad that night after 8
o'clock. When | returned home, the
streets were deserted. | was harassed
about business matters, vexed with my
wife and suffered from headache, but
when | explained this it was evident
that my story was not credited.
My 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 so
early, but so confident was | of acquit-
tai that | 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 brief one, and
the arguments of the lawyers We're
soon finished. To these and the charge
of the judge listened like one in a
trance. The jury passed out, and a
cheer and hope.
Hark! The jury Is returning. Surely
they cannot have made up their minds
4