The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-17
A SINGULAR Case
Where Circumstantial Evidence
Played Justice False.
HANGED AN INNOCENT MAN.

Sequehce OF Events Seemed to Point
Conclusively to the Guilt of Harry
Blake, Who Was Accused of Murder.
It began In the Blue Horse tavern
on the highway leading to Albany.
toward the close Of an autumn day
half dozen men sat in the old bar.
room discussing events which then
were leading to the outbreak of the
American Revolution. At such a time
arguments We're very likely to be rath,
er moro vigorous than ordinarily would
be the case. And this was no excep.
ton. Fearing that trouble might re-
suit, one of the men exclaimed: Come
W1ckliffe. stop this. Such a dispute
Is nonsense"
Wlckiife was an ugly looking fellow,
short and stout, with q dark, sallow
race. black eyes, low. wrinkled fore
head and lips that barred bis teeth on
occasions like dog preparing to bite.
MY quarrel is with Harry Blake"
he snarled. ut Is none of your affair"
"Well, Wickliffe," Blake cried good
naturedly. III you will quarrel, won't
Ill say no more"
evidently Wickliffe was bent on
trouble, for he muttered something
which brought cry Of "Shamew from
every one In the room. Blake's face
became deadly pale. "Wickliffe." he
said steadily, II didn't hear what you
said, but l dare you to repeat 1t. If
you do and there's one improper word
In 1t, this hour will be the bitterest of
your life"
Once more the offensive words were
flung at him, and In an instant Blake
had seized Wickliffe and thrown him
across the room. For e moment he
lay stunned. but presently, his face
dark with hatred. be rose and, shak.
Ing his fist at Blake, exclaimed:
You may take your measure for a
coffin. You will need one."
mot before you" was Blake's reply.
Shortly after the quarrel Wickliffe
left the Blue Horse for his home.
Blake. whose road lay In the same d.
rection, followed soon. Ten minutes
later two more of the loiterers, also
going over the highway taken by
Wicklice and Blake. started on their
homeward way.
The last two travellers had ridden
several miles. talking earnestly of the
stirring events which then engaged
mems minds. when q loud cry was
heard at little distance. In q moment
It was repeated.
Mercy" the voice pleaded, and then,
"Oh, Harryw
| "Can Blake be settling scores with
Wickliffe" exclaimed Grayson, one of
the two riders.
In a moment they had galloped
around copse of trees at q bend in
the road. Within twenty yards Of
them, on his back In the dust lay
Wickliffe dead. Bending over him
stood Blake. grasping a knife driven
to the haft In his bosom.
'oTaken red handed" Grayson cried,
while Walton, his companion, himself
a magistrate, sprang from his horse
exclaiming. "Blake, charge you with
murder"
"Why, didn't kill him." Blake said
earnestly. "You are mad. l found
Wickliffe lying dead and was about to
pull this knife from the wound when
| you came up."
| GraysOn shook his head. II wish
could believe you. Harry" he said,
"but as hope to be saved l saw you
| stab him. did"
1t would be hard to imagine a situa-
ton more likely to convince a jury Of
the prisoners guilt. Conan Doyle in
his widest fancies in deduction never
| presented more damning evidence to
| Sherlock Holmes and DR.. WatsOn-the
| quarrel In the Blue Horse tavern, the
epithet resented. the fight, the counter
threat Of death, the departure of both
while their temper yet was warm and
| then the terrible tableau on the high
way.
What might man expect even now
! with the thousand loopholes that the
| law provides for escape? There could
be only one conclusion now, as then,
and that conclusion the jury reached
without leaving the courtroom. Blake's
prOtestations were vain. He died on
the scaffold declaring his innocence.
Three months after the execution the
| judge who presided at the trial was
summoned to Albany to see prisoner
under sentence Of death. Grayson,
whose testimony chiefly had convicted
Blake, also was summoned. Much in
wonder, they entered the cell together.
"You." the prisoner said to the
| Judge presided at the trial Of Harry
| Blake"
IL did"
"And you." turning to Grayson,
"swOre you saw him stab Wickliffe.
On your testimony he was hung"
IL saw Blake stab him." Grayson