The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-01-09
/ FALSELY
7 ACCUSED


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
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 it
seemed to take her 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
had disappeared. His business affairs
were prosperous. and everything was
in good order. He was a 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 We're founded partly on
facts. My wife had been seen in earnest
conversation with Parsons the previous
day, we had 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 Cos
siping tongues an occupation.
In less than week some boys found
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 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 it was but natural that my
arrest should follow.
/ was as willing as any one that my
trial should take place at once. con-
fident 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
I %ho 10
not think single witness, unless it be
our former servant, testified to any
thing but the truth.
My wife had fallen ill, but her testi-
mony, even if it could have been adj
mitted, would have proved more against
than for ME. 1t was easily determined
that Parsons and l were unfrendly,
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 i have proved that l passed
the hours from till ii o'clock OH the
night that Parsons disappeared in walk
ing upon lonely road all the other
testimony would have been worthless,
but / did not remember meeting a sin
gle person abroad that night after 8
O'Clock. When l returned home, the
streets were deserted. l was harassed
about business matters, veXed with nv
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
flimsy 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 acuuit-
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 nv
belief. The trial was brief one, and
the arguments of the lawyers were
soon finished. To these and the charge
of the judge | listened like one in a
trance. The jury passed out, and
few friends came to me with words of
cheer and hope.
Hank! The jury is returning. Surely
they cannot have made up their minds
in SO short time to condemn a fellow
man to life Imprisonment. In response
to request from the judge l stand up
and face the jury. There is not a
friendly countenance among the twelve.
l barely hear the ominous word
GUILTY. which the foreman speaks.
The shock is SO unexpected that l
scarcely realize the meaning of the
Judges cruel words as he pronOunces
the sentence Of Imprisonment for life.
The hour la late, and he Is anxious to
be at home. He has no compassion for
me. They lead me back to my cell,
and, thanks to some unknown friend
who drops potion in my coffee,
soon fall asleep. Exhausted nature can
stand the strain no longer.
I am aroused in the early morning,
and a few friends come in to say fare
well. They realize the situation more
fully than / do. A short railway Jour-
ney, ride in a boxlike carriage, and
the prison is reached. answer a few
questions mechanically and exchange
my clothing for the striped dress Of a
convict. With an officer pass down a
flight of steps and through long corri-
dor lighted by single flame. l am
pushed into small. dark. i'll smelling
cell and for the first time 1Halize that
the judges last words to me were.
"And the first day thereof shall be in
solitary confinement"
EVERYTHING has been a dream nm 70
this moment, but the awakening is ter
rible. AS hear the last echo Of the re-
treating footsteps l comprehend my
position-alone in prison. 1t seems as
II shall go mad. A feeling of suffoca-
ton oyercomes me as in vain attempt
70 cry out and clutch at the bare stone