They brought to me his mangled corpse br And I feared lest I should swing. br "O tell me, tell me,--and make it brief-- br Why hast thou done this thing? br br "Had this man robbed the starving poor br Or lived a gunman's life, br Had he set fire to cottages, br Or run off with thy wife?" br br "He hath not robbed the starving poor br Or lived a gunman's life; br He hath set fire to no cottage, br Nor run off with my wife. br br "Ye ask me such a question that br It now my lips unlocks: br I learned he was the man who planned br The second balcony box." br br The jury pondered never an hour, br They thought not even a little, br But handed in unanimously br A verdict of acquittal.br br Franklin P.