American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-19
STORY or "A .NAN SLATER.

ouu VI tnistFdOic peFpetIatOF OF " TIC deepest
and the most incurable wound. No time can wash
away the stains OF blood from the murderer's memo
ry,-no lapse OF years can assuage the anguish which
he endures day rolls on after day. but still his mis-
cries remain, and the sweet balm oil forgetfuness,
which drops in mercy upon human Affections, is
denied by Heaven to him. 1t is from experience
that | speak thus,-yes from experience. Bot
start not, reader, for trust the crime OF murder of
foul and deliberate murder, is cbargeabe against
my soul True il is, that The hand which is now
tracing these llneshat hand took away the lie Of
fellow mortal: yet, when you have read all, when
you have considered all, you will not think-l trust
in God you will not thnk-that is the hand OF u
mui derer But often. indeed do my own thoughts
vary as TO the nature Of my gut-olten do think
that the crime which committed was murder in
It's most hldeous shape,-that acted the part OF
base and cowardly as,assin.--and that fy the laws,
both OF God ard of man, my life ought to be Welded
up on the scafuld. Then II is that the awful de.
nouncement of the Almighty blood tor blood
flashes across my soul, and driven 10 the very
brink Of insanity Such as my crime is, however,
will disclose it, for il is right that it should be
Judged OF by my fellow men, as ii must one day be
Judged Of by my Creator.
In the confession which am now to make I will
spare myself the pain oil publishing my 10 the
world; Il might be injurious to many were 10 do
so, and II could be OF advantage TO none but lei
| 1t not be imagined on this account that what am
now 10 relate is fiction (would to God it were no
more y il real-t is all true and il the reader,
with my story before him, can give me any consola
tion, can whisper even single word ct comfort in my
ear, eDreat him TO refrain from doing SO.
For many years have been bearing burden al.
most too great for human strength ; and the bes.
sings OF the miserable will rest upon him whp shall
tighten me of that load though but by the weight ol
single straw.
About eght-and-thiIty years ago. was Student
OF Medicine in the University oil Edinburgh, and in
due time | received nv diploma as a Doctor OF
Physic. then went to Paris. (acco,d ding 10 the
fashion OF the etay) to spend few months in atteod
ing the Hospitals and Lecture rooms 10 that city.
before finally settling as practitioners IN my native
town in he north OF Scotland While in Paris.
met with young man. one Pierre Luhatk, who had
been my class eilow at Edinburgh, and with him
associated in all my professional studies and pur
suis. We listened together sedulousiy and attentive
ly to the lectures ei our eachers aud we endta av-
ored Afterwards, by practical experiments, to
tain the ruth of the doctrines which we had been
taught. 1t was our custom, in particular on STA
ted night each week to practise dissection, accord
ing to the instructions oi anatomical professor
rot had We any difficulty in procuring subjects Tor
this purpose, many murders and other violent
| deaths were then daily taking place at Pars.-Both
Luhack and myself we'e enthusiasts in our proie,.
sion and entered with esgerness and delight into
~
many were the bright anicipations OF iuure fame
which We yenured to entertain. Alas! how W TT
these antlcpations, with regard to me, blighed in
single moment
1t was upon an evening, about The beginning OF
the year 1889, that Luback and !. in walking through
the environs of Paris. happened to enter street
where public execution was Just about TO take
place. The crowd was great, and ielore we were
are, we found urselves in The middle o it, and
almost Of the loo Of The scaflold. The criminal
who was young man, apparently about twenty
years of age, stood the front Of the scafold, and
behind him were two priests, OF them with
crucihx in his hand. and the other bearing Bible.
The young man began 10 address the assembled
multitude in a low and broken voice. but he seemed
to gather confidence a. he proceeded, and the whole
crowd, they listened to him, became still and
mototle as marble pavement. He called God
10 witness that he was innocent of the crime tor
which he about to die. 81 am poor said he,
but have been honest and thank Heaven, in
this my last hour, that my conscience tells me not
that have ever wioDged any man. know that il
is too late to hope Tor mercy in this world, and
speak not of my innocence in the vain expectation
thai my Lille may yet be saved but ust that this
my last and dying declaration will induce my cuun-
trymen to spare me their reproaches till time shall
discover whether the oath which swear is /
nct.o He then again lifted up his hands, and
10 the most solemn manner, protested his Innocence.
was much struck with this scene. There was so
much earnestness in The young mans manner, and
his c0untenance bore such evident marks of SINGER
i;y and virtue, ths, could but think that lie
spoke truth. elt as il ] could have given all that
had in the world at that moment 10 have been The
bearer of his pardon The young man having fin
ished his address, turned round and in little whiie
the fatal preparations were completed; the rope
was placed about his neck, and white cloth was
drawn his handsome and sun burnt countenance
turned away faint ard sick hearted momena-
ry pause ensued; the noise OF The falling board was
heard and groan from, the surrounding multitude