clusive argument to the simple child of the woods,
that, Mary did not love her husband. The Indian
woman of those days never dreamed of infidelity in
her sex.
"The Black Eagle shall no longer repose in the bosom of the bird. The blood of but one"-and here checking herself, she, after a few moments, continued "Let the brave long nurse his fawn !" And then dashed off into the forest toward her home.
Segard slowly followed.
A week has rolled by since that night-a dreadful week-and the rough court-room of the settlement is filled with a dense throng. There, congregated together, you might have seen, the stalwart hunter in his picturesque dress -the merchant from the far, far East -the Indian in his sweeping blanket and braided moccasins ; and the attorney, who, even there, assumed the knowing look and professional swagger. Nor should we forget to mention the judge in his leggins and hunting-shirt.
Suddenly a silence as of death fell upon the motley throng. The clerk arose and read an indictment for murder, closing with these words which have struck terror to the hearts of thousands- " Guilty or not guilty !" The prisoner calmly arose, and in a deep, clear, unfaltering voice answered, " not Guilty !" Courage still sat on the brow of Henry Segard--pale as it was with mental suffering. The trial commenced. The state's attorney opened by informing the jury (though they knew it before, ) that, they were to try the prisoner at the bar for a murder on the body of one Charles Grayson. He then went on to give the usual recital of facts connected with the affair, and wound up with the stereotyped phillipic of almost all gentlemen, holding his legal situation , against crime. The witnesses were then called ; and the testimony was, in substance thus : Segard had left his home on the night of the murder, saying, that he was to join a hunt-that no hunt took place, nor had any been contemplated-that the prisoner had been seen going in the direction of Grayson's lodge -that Grayson had been found stabbed and dead - that Segard had often been heard to threaten the deceased's life-that his wife had refused to speak on the subject, and was unable to attend the trial, owing to illness produced by grief- and that Yantee, the wife of Grayson, had not been seen or heard of since the night of the murder. The cross-examination produced nothing worthy of mention, and the case here rested . After the argument of counsel, Segard attempted to rise and address the jury, but was dissuaded by his advocate.
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And Henry Segard was found guilty of murder in the first degree.
Oh! those awful thirty days ! one by one the doomed wretch sees them glide away-he counts every sun- he numbers every hour- he sees the eternity gradually approaching-at last the scaffold-dark and awful meets his quailing eye ; the last hour is here. We need not describe the execution-the first which Horror chilled every had ever occurred in heart, and some shed tears. They remembered Segard's bravery-frankness, nobleness, services, and they wept those stern, iron-nerved hunters ! The last moment has arrived :-Segard stood up, and in a voice, long remembered, exclaimed, "I am innocent !" He was urged to go on, but with a scornful smile said, " The brave do not fear to-day ! I am innocent !" He then knelt and prayed for his wife, father, mother and brothers. "I am ready," said he in a firm tone, and the cap was drawn down- the word was given ; he, the young, the lion-hearted was a- corpse ! " Save him ! Save him !" shouted a wild voice, and Yantee darted into the crowd. "Save him! Save him! the brave is innocent ! I slew the Black Eagle !" The crowd recoiled in horror. " I," she continued-" I met him going to our lodge-he made the bird of the forest believe that the fawn loved not the Eagle-then I had only one to hate -only one to kill . I flew to the lodge -he was asleep-I stabbed him. The daughter of a chief, " cried she, in a proud voice, and drawing herself up to her fullest height, " was revenged ! I fled to my home," she continued ,- " in the woods. I heard that the brave was to die for Yantee's deed . I flew to save him! Too late ! Too late ! The brave would have
slain the Black Eagle, but mine-mine was the right to revenge !" The girl overcome by weariness, grief and passion, sunk upon the ground-lifeless. The chord of life had been stretched too far, and it snapped.
The above tale is true in its leading details. It is almost impossible to execute a person in the section where the melancholy affair occurred, and indeed the whole State has become proverbial for its injudicious mercy toward criminals. Lawyers will tell you, that, Henry Segard, on the testimony, should have been executed. For my own part having read, at least once, the best work on evidence, I must agree with them. And now, reader, judge kindly of A TALE OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
