ture by his treatment of his daughter at the examination; it was plain enough that he would have killed her if he could; and perhaps that would be the very thing. he would attempt if he should ever get his liberty.
These and similar arguments were being made for the propriety of executing lynch law. The more the men talked about it, the more excited they became, until they worked themselves into a fury; and oaths and scowling brows attested the ferocious spirit they had evoked among themselves. In vain the more peaceable citizens endeavored to persuade them or to shame them out of so unjustifiable a course. The excitement spread like a prairie-fire, until the mob greatly outnumbered the peacemakers, and had actually started, in spite of all remonstrances, toward the sheriff's house.
There they were resolutely met by the sheriff, constable, and others, who warned them off, and declared their intention to defend the prisoner with their lives. But the strength and artifice of'the lynchers soon overcame their defense. The house was forcibly entered, and the prisoner brought out, unmanacled, to be taken to execution.
A guard was formed in a hollow square, in the center of which the unfortunate man was obliged to march. His face was somewhat haggard, pale and sullen, but he showed no signs of fear or shrinking from the terrible fate before him. In answer to the jeers and execrations of the crowd, he only gave them defiant looks, but not one word of reply or of entreaty.
They had already arrived at the spot-a hollow between the bluffs-where the tree and the rope awaited him, and amid a sudden awful silence, were about to place the halter about his neck, when Allen, who had just been informed of the proceeding in time to interrupt it at the last moment, rushed hastily into the ring which had been formed about the gallows.
So unexpectedly did he appear, and so authoritative were the tones of his voice, as he raised it in vehement deprecation of their conduct, that it had the effect to check further action, and compel the attention of the crowd.
"Men of Fairview, listen to me! For aught you know to the contrary, the death you propose to execute on an unsentenced man may be a murder more cruel, and more willful and determined a great deal, than that which you seek to avenge. It is true that a man-a dear friend he was of mine too-has met his death in a manner which throws suspicion of the darkest nature upon Thomas Newcome, [suppressed murmurings,] and renders it our duty to hold him accused until he is proven innocent. On the contrary, the law bids us hold every man innocent until he is proven guilty. In respect to the law, Thomas Newcome is still an. innocent man: for he has only had a hasty examination, under exciting circumstances, and surrounded by minds so inflamed by passion as not to be able to judge in an unprejudiced manner of the real merits of the evidence pro-
