come, and that to attempt to set up any
technical defense would only result in greater hardships to his clients.
He, however, made an eloquent and touching appeal for the exercise of
judicial clemency. He referred in feeling terms to the youth of the
prisoners, to the groups of weeping and stricken relatives, whose
prayerful hearts were echoing his appeals. He urged that the evidences
of sincere repentance had been manifested by all of the prisoners, and
that, as this had been their first offense, the exercise of gentle mercy
would be both grand and productive of good results.

His words were not lost even upon the prosecuting attorney, and when Mr.
Kirkman had concluded, that gentleman arose, and in a few words echoed
the sentiments of the attorney for the defense. He also expressed the
conviction that, while justice called loudly for sentence, yet there
were elements in this case in which the wisest judgment would be that
which partook of the qualities of mercy.

At the conclusion of this request, the judge, with a delicate regard for
the tender feelings of the assembled relatives, ordered an adjournment
of the court, in order that he might take the merits of the case under
advisement, and to enable him to administer such sentence, as, in his
best judgment, was demanded under the circumstances. Slowly the immense
audience dispersed, and for a few moments the prisoners were allowed to
converse with their weeping friends, after which they were again
conducted to their cells to await the action of the court.

A few days later they were brought quietly before the judge and their
sentences were pronounced. Dr. Johnson, owing to the existence of a
doubt as to his complicity in the robbery, was condemned to four years'
imprisonment on the charge of forgery, while Newton Edwards, Eugene
Pearson, and Thomas Duncan were each sentenced to an imprisonment of six
years on the indictment for burglary.

Thus ended this important case, and the action of the court received the
almost universal approbation of the community, while the relatives and
nearest friends of the prisoners were compelled to acknowledge its
fairness and justice.

But little remains to be told. The prisoners were soon conducted to the
state prison, and a short time afterward, having occasion to visit that
institution, I saw them again. They all bore evidences of the most acute
remorse and contrition, and their life in prison had produced serious
effects upon