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Show 60 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. after this ardent address, an attempt was made during the night to rescue Gordon. The next morning they entered upon the trial. Gordon was allowed every advantage that could have been accorded him by the highest and- best regulated court in the land. He was supported by able lawyers, who labored faithfully in his behalf. The verdict, "guilty," was rendered by twelve of the most respectable and responsible citizens of the country, and the sentence of death passed by the court and endorsed by the assembled hundreds. He was given time to make temporal and spiritual preparation for his unhappy end. Petitions were circulated for a reprieve, but without success. If to be hanged was inevitable, he wished no delay, for there was no reprieve from his conscience. From the depths of his misery thoughts came thick and fast of his misspent life, of the alluring woman who placed the red wine to his lips and led him to ruin-of the life he had taken-of the horrible death before him- of the hopes, prayers and tears of his gray-haired mother. In the words of Byron's " Manfred," " Though thy slumbers may be deep, Yet thy spirit shall not sleep; There are shades which will not vanish, There are thoughts thou canst not banish; And to thee shall night deny All the quiet of her sky." On the following Saturday, October 6th, as the sun was sinking behind mountains shrouded with mystic light, Gordon was led to the gallows. Rev. Dr. Rankin, Sheriff Middaugh and a few others, mounted the scaffold with him. Prayer for the doomed was offered, during which |