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EDWARD D. WORRELL. 101.

duct of the prisoner there worthy of particular observation;
and so do I; but we draw opposite conclusions from the same
premises. So soon as the travelers enter the house of Hutchin-
son, Worrell pulls ont his pistol, loads it in the presence of
all, and lays it on the mantelpiece in full view, conversing
the while with Gordon, who sits by his side. Is that the
action of a sane man while meditating murder in the pres-
ence of his victim? Is it the conduct of one who responsibly
conceives crime and desires to escape justice? This courting
of observation to his meditated deed, is it within the range
of sane experience? I know there is great variety in the con-
duct of exime; no two men commit it exactly alike; the action
ig varied by the circumstances, condition and character of
the criminal; but crime has nevertheless a distinctive aspect
to be seen and recognized. We know its countenance under
every variety of feature. The conduct of the prisoner ia out-
side the circle of variety. It impresses the mind with the
idea strongly presented in our homely vernacular, ‘that
there is a screw loose somewhere.’’ No indignation kindled
by the melancholy fate of Gordon can render us insensible
to thia impression. It lingers about us, haunting the reason
of every fair man, and suggesting inquiry to know more.

We go back a few days prior to the homicide and we find
the prisoner is a deserter from the army of the United States.
He has just left Fort Leavenworth, and passing down tho
Boonslick road he has sold a stolen horse and rides another,
stolen also. He is a sergeant, an orderly-sergeant, who haa
tisen from the ranks by his merit, and is on the eve of higher
promotion. He is loved and respected by officers and men.
‘Why did he desert? He is the best sergeant in the command.
He has committed no offense, he does not leave from fear of
punishment or disgrace, or the apprehension of lessened hon-
org; and he joined the army from choice six months before. He
has the pride of a disciplinarian; he loves the life of a sol-
dier; why does he desert?

The evidence explains hia conduct. You see him in the
hands of four or five soldiers, an insane madman. You seo
him rushing to the top of the stairs with s loaded revolver,

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