The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-29

nthe smallest DETAILS of tins dreadful
Sour. He let his hands and feet be
tied without making a sodnd l dared
not look at aim. but l felt his eyes
resting on me with an expression !
nave never forgotten. When we reach
ed the gulllotine he crIe1 twice: "I
am innocent" and the crowd chat had
been yelling et him suddenly grew
silent. At last he turned to me and
SAID: 50 YOU have come to see me
die. l hope you will enjoy it" He
embraced the priest and his lawyer
and calmly placed himself on the
board withou1 the slightest sign Of
fear, while l was trembling all over.
During the next days my mind was
SO confused that / hardly knew what
/ was doing The death of this niau
was my only thought My collea cues
tried to cheer me up, saying thac 1t
was always like that the first time.
believe them, but gradually the doubt.
of his guilt became stronger in me.
tried to convince myself that he
must have been guilty, but had to ad-
NIT that there was no absolute proos.
Then | would live over again the last
moments of The convict, his reproacl-
go N'NS anu SHS calm features dllG
hear his voice.
something compelled me to look
over the case again. L read over again
my notes and the documents hearing
on the case, and at first felt better.
until | discovered that it was merely
my own arguments that convinced me,
and thta there were no facts to Justify
a conviction. 1 did this SO long that
az last I came to the conclusion. by
weighing The arguments of the de-
tense against mine, that the man must
have been innocent AS if this were
not punishment enough in itself. ! was
promoted. 1t was the reward of my
crime in sending an innocent man 20
the guillotine.
Il felt that I could 90 nothing mA;e
10 calm my conscience than to send
in my resignation without giving any
reason. l travelled al lover the world.
but could never get away from my
troubled conscience. Then / devoted
my time to trying to find some way
of making up for the wrong l had
committed, but found it impossible, as
the man had been a tramp without
friends or relatives. Then there seem
ed nothing to do but to confess my
crime to the world, but my courage
failed me. l feared the anger and
scorn of my colleagues. Then l de-
cided to spend y fortune for the bene.
mt of men accused or even convicted
of crimes. What right had l to con-
denim a convict? gave up all thoughts
OF personal pleasure and comfort and
grew old, lonely, forgotten and miser-
able. | don't think anybody could
possibly live on less than / have al
lowed myself Look at this miserable
garnet in which I have lived for
months since have felt sick and
knew that the end was near. And
now l have a favor to ask of you
His voice grew so faint that I could
barely hear it and rather read the
words on his pale lips"
This story must not die with me.
You must tell it 60 everybody that il
may teach this lesson to ambitious
young lawyers-that the object of a
court is to see justice done, and not
20 punish at any cost"
II shall do this, SIR I promised.
An expression family resembling
happiness came into his face and he
whispered: This is not all, I still
have little money lef (which / not
have had a chance of giving away.
It is in that drawer. You will give
this to some unfortunate, not in my
name. but the name of Tranaille."
'"Tranaille!" I gasped. at was I