e of the prisoner who was wounded upon the same
evening, and the pantaloons, it was claimed, had received the stains
upon them from the blood which had dropped while Bucholz was
assisting the bearers to carry the corpse to the house after the
preliminary investigation by the coroner.

With rare skill were these theories presented, and with desperate
energy these able attorneys led the forlorn hope against the strong
fortress of conviction which seemed to enclose their unfortunate
client. The audience, the judges and the jury were profoundly
impressed, but they were not convinced.

The judge charged the jury, and before the force of his sound, legal
utterances, the airy castles which had been so ingeniously builded
fell to the ground, and the hopes of the prisoner and his friends
were buried in their ruins.

The case was handed to the twelve men, and many scrutinizing glances
were directed toward them as they slowly retired to deliberate upon
their verdict. Faint hopes were entertained of a disagreement, but
all felt that conviction would be but a natural result.

Slowly the crowd of spectators dispersed, as it became apparent that
no report would be received that evening, and many ladies, moved by
that latent sympathy which is usually manifested for great criminals,
approached the prisoner, and, together with their condolences,
bestowed upon him their offerings of flowers and fruits.

At twelve o'clock the next day--during a recess of the court--a loud
knock was heard upon the door which led to the jury-room. Instantly
every voice was hushed and every eye was strained to watch the
countenances of these arbiters of fate who slowly entered and took
their seats.

Bucholz was laughing gayly with some acquaintances, but he became
instantly serious--the smile died away from his lips, and he
anxiously awaited the announcement that was to convey to him the
blessing of life or the doom of death.

Slowly the jurors arose and faced the court.

"Gentlemen of the jury, have you determined upon your verdict?"

Breathlessly they all listened.

"We have."

These words fell like a thunderbolt upon the assembly. The prisoner's
face grew pale; he grasped the railing in front of him and gazed
wistfully at the jurors who stood beside him.

"Prisoner at the bar, stand up," said the clerk; and Bucholz arose
immediately, turning his pallid face toward the jury-box.

The gray-haired foreman, whose elbow almost touched the priso