The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-11-08
The Eleventh
.yuryman,
he Was Obstinate, but Had
Reasons For His Obstinacy.

Q Reasons For His Obstinacy. @
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
We had been out OF court p4 hours and
stood II to 1. The case was pIain-at
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
iuexplicable. 1t could not result from
lack of intelligence, for, while he spoke
but little, his words were well chosen aud
evinced q thorough understanding OF the
case.
Though still In the prime OF manhood
bis locks were prematurely white, and
his face wore singularly sad and
thoughtful expression. He might be one
of those who entertained scruples as to
the right Of society to infiict the death
penalty. But no, 1t was not that, for In
reply to such 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
cartiousDess, and some not overland re-
marks were INDUCED In as to the impro-
priety Of tr1ing with an oath like that
under which we were acting.
"And yet the man answered, as
though communing with himself rather
than repeliing the imputation. sit Is con.
science that binders my concurrence In a
verdict approved BY my Judgment"
How can that beT Queried several al
once.
Conscience may not always dare to
follow Judgment"
"But here she can know DO other
guide"
az once would have said the came" :
"And what changed your opinionT'
The speakers manner was visibly agi.
tsted. and we awaited in silence the ex.
plnnation which he seemed ready to give.
Mastering his emotion. as if in answer
to our looks of inquiry. he continued
Twenty years ago was young man
just beginning life. Few had brighter
prospects and none brighter hopes. An
attachment dating from childhood had
ripened with lts object There had been
no verbal declaration and acceptance Of
love, no formal plightlng Of tToth. but
when took my departure TO seek home
In the distant west II was thing under
stood that when had found n and put.
II In order she WIS to share It. Life In,
the forest, though solitary. b not neces-
sarlly lonesome. The Kind of society Of
forded by nature depends much on ope-
self. As fer me. lived more In the fu.
ture than In the present. and hope Is an
overcheerful companion. At length IN
time came for making the fnal payment
on the home which had bought. II
would henceforth be my own, and 10 q
few more months my simple dwelling.
which I had spared no pains 20 render In
viting. would be graced By Its mistress.
"At the land Office. which was some 90
miles off. I 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. lie had
brought with him, he said. cum Of
money which he desired to invest In land,
on which II WIS his purpose to settle I
expressed a strong wish to have him for
q neighbor. and gave him cordial in
vitation to accompany me home. giving
1t as my belief that he could nowhere
make better selection than Ia that vicin-
lty. Ho readily consented, and ve set
out together. We had not ridden many
miles when George suddenly recollected
commission be had undertskrn for q
friend which would require his attend
ance at q public sale on the following
day. EXacting q promise that be would
not delay bis visit longer than necessary.
and having givcn minute directions as 10
the route, cont'nupd my way hpEeward,
while he turned back.
81 was about retiring TO bed on the
night of My return when q summons from
without called me to the door. A stranger
asked for shelter for himself and horse
for tho 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, o place al
that time much freQuentrd. Offering him
seat, ! went 10 see to his horse. The
poor animal. as well US could see By thr
starlight. seemed to have been hardly
used. His painting sides bore witness ot
merciless riding. and tremendous
shrinking at the slightest touch bptokened
recent fright. On re-eniPring the house
found the stranger was NOT there. His
absence excited no surprise: he would
doubtless soon return II was little sin.
gular. however, that be should aare left
bis watch lying on the table.
"At the end OF half an hour. my CUES,
not returning. I went nRnin to the stable.
thinking he might have found his way
thithar 10 give personal attention to the
wants Of his horse Before going on.
frcm mere force Of babit-for we we're as
yet uninftsted by either thieves or police.
NEIL took tn" precaution of putting the
strangers watch In a drawer IN which !
kept my own valuables. found the
horse as had left him. and gave him the
food which be was now sufficiently cool.
ed TO be allowed to eat, but his master
was nowhere TO be seep. As l approach
ed the house q 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 cluimed me as their prisoner
81 was too much stupefied at first to
ask what 1t all meant. l did 50 at last
and the explanation came. II was terri
BILE. Ny friend with whom I had go
lately set out in company. had been found
murdered and robbed near the spot at
yhich |. bur I alone. knew We had sep2-
rated I was tho last narson known &C