Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-09-26
and the strongest Of US ~srs about

and the strongest OF us we're about
exhausted.
Once more the little slip Of white
paper, upon which We voted, were
read off and Tailed. As the last
slip was ished from the silk hat Of
the foreman. which rested on the
table, and was recorded, il was
found that We stood two against
ten. IL was then that Foreman
Spriggs began on me sshammer aud
tongs" fashion ss stated above.
Does the other gentleman en-.
tertain she same brutal and harbaric
feeling soward his fellow mans
suiferings = : asked he, N bissss.
scornful tones, addressing the 9th.
er Stubborn resister."
"Realizing the precarious con-
dition Of Gaines, and that he must
have immediate attention, | reluc.
tantly yield to save the man | know
to be innocent" he replied.
ga verdict has been reached:
come, gentlemen, sign it - said the
foreman, suiting the action to his
words, signing and then reaching
for his hat and coat.
Wet cloths that we're held to the
aching heads aud throbbing TEN plea
of the men we're dashed to the floor.
Exhausted men struggled 10 their
feet. A shout vent up. New life
seemed suddenly infused in all.
Gaines was carried bodily to the
table and bis hand made to trace
his name on the paper. In q few
moments eleven men bad signed
the verdict of-NHrder ia TIE first
deere
"Clogg's signature 10 not here.
Come, sign, and let us get out of
this horrible fx - they cried.
One iuryman wac pounding at
the door to attract the baiiiffs at
tent'on, which officer had been ever
and anon pacing the corridor, un-
locking the door at intervals and
peering.in in to inquire as to the prob
ability ofou. ever reaching a verdict.
"Are you all mad p exclaimed
loudly. There is no verdict. 4
sciH not sigR 90
Then followed O momentary ST.
lence, with CONSERVATION depicted
on every countenance.. All at once
pandemonium reigned. They
danced about me. entreating, plead
ing, even threatening my very life.
Some begging. others cursing, me.
May ! never be faced by ten such
men again
They were about to force my sig-
nature to the paper, or rather at
tempted to do so.
"YOu will be a murderer il you
persist longer in your stubborn
ness ~ cried one. Look, poor
Gaines is dying 7"
One glance ut his PROSTATE form,
his ashen face and labored breath.
ing, convinced me of the truth of
this last sentence.
While they surrounded Gaines. |
approached the table, cook the fatal
paper in my hand, caught up pen,
and, sinking into a chair, / signed
the-verdict +: No, but the follow
ing, hastily penned
I've, The jury, cannot reach
rerdict. The critical illness of one
OF our number makes il imperative
to secure medical aid for him at
once"
then turned to the group how
eriDg about poor Gaines and said,
simply !: Gentlemen, have
signed. "Signed where ?" they
asked, after scrutinizing in vain
the verdict for my signature.
"Here," / exclaimed with all the
energy left in me; "and | swrar |
shall sign no other so long as there
is breath in my BODY !"
Mentally distracted and physi-
cally broken, they began at last to
come around and attach their sig-
natures to my "verdict, and thank
God We are once more free.
Poor Gaines never rallied, but
passed away next day. The sc-
cused vas acquitted at his second
trial. but the perpetrstor of the
crime vas never founa.
Who was guilty of murder-was
the prisoner at The bar? Was Fore
MN Spriggs Y-or scas +?