The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-02


or death, but it came not. Often was he
on the point of avowing his guilt, and sur.
rendering himself up to justice. But no,
he would exclaim, as he paced his room,
with a hurried step, IS cannot submit yet
to hea. the multitude cry out 'see there
the murderer !" A year passed away ana
Ellis was but shadow of what he once
had been. He and his little daughter were
the sole tenants of his house. WIN her
ire refused to part, and other society he
peremptorily rejected. +,
About this time, Mr.. Randall, VINO
lived on Connecticut river, happehed, wheh
half intoxicated, on hearing Mr.. Hamilton's
name mentioned, 10 boast that he knew
more of that mans fate than he chose 10
reveal Randall was, as well as Hamilton,
a cattle drover, and was known to have
had some difficulty with him. Suspicion
was excited. He was placed under arrest
and the examination proved that he had
left public house few miles west OF the
Housatonic about midnight; ami he took
breakfast at another, about tine same DIS
lance to the east of that place; and that,
consequently, judging from the time that
Hamilton left Albany both must have cross
ed the ford on the same night and nearly
the same time. A quantity OF gold was
seen in Randall's possession, and so strong
were the circumstances against him, that
he was ordered to be conveyed to the place
where the crime was committed, to he
tried for his life. Ellis was necessarily
present. He related the circumstance al.
tending the finding of the body, but was
silent on the unfortunate Hamiton's having
passed the night under his roof. The evi-
dence was of course circumstantial, but it
was deemed satisfactory, and a verdict OF
equity" was returned by the jury. The
next day was appointed for the unhappy
Randall to receive the sentence and the
room in which the court was held was
thronged at an early hour. At ten, the
Judge took his seat, and ordered the prls-
oner to be brought before him.
At this instant a movement was heard at
the outer door. The eyes of all were
instinctively turned that way, and to their
surprise, Ellis, with his little Marcia in
his arms was seen making his way through
the crowd. This indeed required no great
effort, for the spectators involuntarily
shrhnk from his glance. His eyes were
rolling wildly around !; his whole frame
trembled violently and cold drops were
clustered on his emaciated features, as he
made his way TO the bar. The Judge was
astonished; and thinking that the mental
alteration under which he had, as was
supposed, so long labored had reached its
crisis, and become confirmed insanity, re-
qnested an officer to attend to the wishes Of
Mr. Ellis.
Hear me for moment, and then bid
your officers to do what they please with
me :" said Ellis with startling energy.
The Judge waved his hand for silence.
I" you have ordered the murderer of
Hamilton to be brought before you, to
receive the sentence of DEATH" said Ellis
in hollow tone. t" He now stands before
you. murdered the unsuspecting Hamil-
ton. alone did it!''
The multitude held their breath as this
fearful declaration was made. The falling
of feather might have been heard.
Ellis continued; 81 give myself up to
die. do it to avoid living death. o
conscience, conscience what have |
suffered from thy reproachesi And yet
there is one thing more ] would say. 1t is
but one; !" and he held up his beautiful
Marcia as he spoke while frighted at the
multitude, she chung closer around his
neck. 81 would that this child might be
spared the cold contempt of an unfeeling
world; that she might be spared the re-
proach Of being the daughter of murder
er."
+" Mr.. Ellis" said the Judge, in tone of
commseration, "you are laboring under
some strange infatuation-yonr reason
81 know what you would say" inter
inptei Ellis, "you would say-you would
hope--that am maniac. Would to God
/ were. But am not; and you will find
the proof1hat | am not that all say is the
truth-at the foot of the precipice, little
below where the murdered Hamilton was
found. There is that gold, every piece of
which has been to my touch liquid fire.
But my child-my Marcia-will not some
one be to her what her own mother would
have been. had not my unkindness and my
crimes sunk her to the grave? | would die
with the consciousness that this more than
orphan will hereafter become kindred
spirit to her who IS now in the sky, and
meet where I-shal never-never." His
voice faltered-the unfinished sentence
died on his lips-he Ieeled-feIl-and was
dead The deep intensity of his feelings
had broken the slender tie that now bound
him to existence although there were not
wanting those who imagined that he had
used some means TO accelerate his death,
and thereby avoid the ignominy of public
execution.
The examination to which his words had
given clue, demonstrated the truth of
his declaration; and the innocent but i'm
prudent Randall, was set at liberty, having
been taught lesson which he never forgot.
REFINEMENT. A Grand Jury of Han