The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-09-11
A JOKE on JUSTICE.
Case Always Used as an Argument
Against CircumstantiaI Evidence.

liam SHAW ha0 DeeQ hanging III Chains
from the gibbet near Edinburg. In
daylight and darkness, in sunshine
and storm, the poor husk of that un-
fortunate man swung and creaked.
Such a spectacle was not uncommon
two hundred years ago, but usually
the victim had friends or sympa-
thizers, who gave the passing tribute
of a tear. William Shaw, however,
was an object of general execration,
and passers-by shook their fists at
his swaying form, and said his fate
was too good for him. Parents took
their children to see that shrivelled
relic of humanity, for no moral les
sons could be too violent in those
days, and cautioned them to mark
and remember the punishment of a
man who slew his own daughter, as
bonnie a lass as there was in Edin-
boro town.
Then one day a clergyman and
several officers of the law, followed
by many citizens, went to the way
side gibbet and tenderly took down
all that was left of William Shaw.
The remains were borne to the con-
secrated ground of a church ceme-
terry and there buried with all pious
forms. The minister made a talk
that melted all the hearers to tears,
and representatives of the law plant
ed a flag on the grave when the dirt
had been filed in.
For justice had made terrible
blunder, and was doing what she
could to remedy things. 1t wasn't
much, and William Shaw was too
dead to appreciate it.
Shaw was a quiet, industrious,
God-fearing man, who occupied one
side of a double house in Edinburg,
his daughter, Catherine, being his
housekeeper. She was a beautiful
girl, who had many suitors, and,
with a perversity that has distln-
guished many beautiful girls since
the world was new, she chose as her
favorite a man who was unworthy.
He was found holding his wassall
with reckless companions; he looked
upon honest toll as a nuisance, and
there were many stories concerning
his criminal exploits. Catherine had
winning smiles, for this undesirable
citizen, but she had nothing but
frowns for a certain Aleck Graham,
who wanted to marry her so bad that
his bosom ached.
Aleck was all young man should
be. He worked like Sam Hill and
saved his money, and already owned
considerable property. He had no
bad habits and he was handsome and
agreeable. Many a damsel longed to
be his bride, but he yearned for Cath
crime, and Catherine yearned for her
black sheep.
1t was not strange that William
Shaw was grieved and aggravated.
Any safe and sane parent would be
incensed over such a condition of af-
fairs. Many and many time he talk
ed to Catherine, pleading and argu-
ing with her, trying to induce her to
appreciate the merits of Graham, and
to turn the other man down. Neither
is it strange if he lost his temper
once. in while, when the girl stub
bornly protested that she'd marry
the man of her choice or die an old
maid.
The other side of the double house
was occupied by a man named Morri-
son, and it seems clear that Mr.. Nor
rison had long nose and longer ears,
for when the trouble came upon
Shaw Morrison could repeat from
memory entire dialogues he had
heard with his ear to the keyholes.
One evening father and daughter
had a longer discussion than was
usual, and morrison was Johnny on
the spot, lintening to every word. He
heard the girl say: Cruel father,
thou art the cause of my death.
Then Shaw left the room and went
into the street, and when he was
gone, Morrison heard the girl groan-
ing, as though in great pain. He
didn't know just what had happened,
but he thought something was seri-
ously wrong, so he notified the au-
thorities, and presently several Off
GERS arrived and entered the Shaw
abode. Catherine was lying on the
floor in pool of blood, a knife by
her side. She was too far gone to
speak, and when the officious Morrl-
son asked her if her father had stab
bed her she nodded her head and ex-
pired.
All the evidence was against Shaw,