Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-03-27

o'clock on Monday afternoon, pul
certain papers, which l desired should
reach Blankford without delay, in the
hands of a trusty man, former en-
ploye of the railroad company and
we'll acquainted with the men on the
road, with orders to board the first
train, freight or otherwise, going to-
ward Blankford, and to deliver them
as soon as possible; 1 mention this to
show how thoroughly in earnest I was
when business matters demanded my
attention, and to add something OF
emphasis to a statement am about to
make regarding my plans for my own
movements. My plan was this:
would execute certain papers at my
office, matter involving only little
time, and would then devote all the
time I could to other business, while
arranging to take the first train up
the road; 1 accordingly engaged a
hack driver to come for me in season
for the first train up; he was to come
for me at eleven o'clock at night if no
freight had arrived before. Well, the
hackman came at eleven o'clock; no
train had arrived from down the road;
I learned later that the heavy storm
along the coast-a storm which had
struck Blankford early Sunday even
ing and which was raging when l left
there Monday noon--had delayed the
freight traffic: the weather was cloudy
and threatening here, but we had no
storm. l went to the station. l saw
the train come around the curve. /
saw a man go down upon the rails,
evidently stunned by his fall. I sprang
down before the engine. 1 dragged
the man from the track. l was none
too soon. The engine almost touched
me as l sprang to a place Of safety.
The first person who came to my as
sistance was the man 1 had instructed
with the papers l wished delivered at
Blankford; there had been no train
down the road. Well, I got so inter-
ested that I missed my train; l spent
the remainder Of Monday night in
hearing something of the story Of the
tramp whose life l had saved; l rec
ogniZed him as q man who had got on
to the train, Monday afternoon, some
ten miles from Boomville. I gave the
rescued man work: when he had shown
money for his work; when-but that
doesn't matter
"Gentlemen of the jury, you have
heard me say that this tramp rode in
brought me from Blankford on Mon
day: you have heard me say that no
train left this city, in any direction,
until the express train on Monday
night; you have heard me say that l
dragged this tramp from the danger
Of sudden death when the train came
in; you have heard me say that I was
with him until Tuesday morning Gen.
tlemen, on my oath, and on my honor
as a Christian gentleman, that is the
truth.
1.-The indictment charges Gilbert
Sem with the murder of Constance
Craig, at a house three miles from the
railroad and more than fifty miles
from here, some time between the
evening of Monday, November fifth,
eighteen hundred and sixty, and the
morning of the Tuesday following. 1
swear that the tramp who rode into
Boomville on that day at two o'clock,
the tramp whose life I saved at mid
night, was no other than Gilbert Sem!
THAT is my testimony
"And now" turning to the prosecut-
ing attorney, "do you wish to cross
examine me?"
The bewildered lawyer shook his
head.
Your honor" said Aldrich, ad-
dressing the court, "the defense will
offer no more testimony and I shall
make no other argument than have
been forced by the nature of the case
to incorporate with my own sworn
evidence. I ask that the jury be
charged to acquit."
"This-is-remarkab said the
prosecuting attorney.
1T is remarkable" Aldrich said
quietly; "but it is as I have stated. l
shall make no attempt to combat nor
explain the wonderful circumstantial
evidence you have adduced. Your only
weak point was the fact that I could
prove an alibi for Sem; 1 have done
that. You desire justice. Will you
join me in asking the judge to charge
the jury to acquit?''
II will"
In five minutes the jury, without
having left their seats, presented their
verdict.
With all the solemnity of law, with
all the dignity of power, it was de-
clared in due and regular form that
Gilbert Sem was Not Guilty."
Day was done when they told Gill
bert Sem that he was free-that he
could go now, when he wished-and
where-to hide his pain and shame
and disguise as best he cOuld-that
the law had nothing more to ask OF
him on behalf of the woman who
faced an awful death in her lonely
home, ten years ago, and of which they
had shown that some one must be
guilty.
Day was done! The last rays of the
setting sun were falling coldly upon
the snow-covered hills. or touching
the treetops with wondrous glory.
Day was done! What day it had
been! What day for all those who
had looked and listened while this
strange drama of life and death had
worked itself out to the end. TO the
end. To the strange end it had reach
ed
Day was done. The spectators were
going home. Some were saying "Guil-
ty": some were saying as the jury had
said; but those who were saying as the
law had decided were few-very few;
the tide of public opinion. when the
strange end came, had been upon the
ebb: what power would ever be able
to make the dead waters of distrust
and prejudice flow again?