Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-05-12

~'"Veo bueNNg-tLfT0.- An m
stance OF a daring disposition WAS re-
Gently related to US, which by its result
might have proved so beneficial TO soci.
ETY. as almost to induce one TO exclaim
with Hamlet.
go that the Everlasting had no, 6x,d
His canon gainst self. slzughser,"
for such we consider duelling in all its
forms. But the instance Of which we
speak was so extraordinary in concep.
ton and continuance, evincing such
deep and regardless malice, vet 50 ad
mlrably suited TO the parties engaged,
and so perfectly fulfilling the design Of
this unchristian custom. that we hold
II duty to furnish its details as a use
ful lesson TO the fashionable murderer.
to whom we can give no better direc-
ton than, "go and do likewise"
In a Populous and prosperous town
OF New York. two peace breaking. RI
otou>. dlssoiute men, ct middle life
the dread and adherence of their neigh
bofhood, and almost nightly care Of the
watch, met at small grog shop 90 ca
rouse. They were jolly companion.
tor an hour or so. discussing tempe
rance societies and new rum. CRYING
down the anti-sabbath maj. folks, get.
ting over church and state, and never
tired of praising Jackson and Reform.
SO sweet and uniform concord of SEN
tlment ran through all their speech,
that their bosoms seemed the habita
tons OF twin souls. With mutual nod $
OF appreciation, they drained the glass.
But the incest instruments will some
times jar. and so at las, did those wor
tines. When about half upsv. they
quarreiled. and as the bitterness. ot
their wrath bore some proportion to IL.
stimulus. would have fought. had the
not been disabled by the depth of their
potatIons. Their blows, III. directed
and feeble. fell hurtiess. while their
anger va Inflamed by the conscious
ness OF imbeciliiy. They swore like
inadmen. and reeled and ragged, and
nourished thoughts Of murder; till in
deiirlum OF passion they proposed
to hang each other. The thought seem
ed TO spring IN either heart, so instant
was the acceptance. They procured
rope. anil with strange staring ewes,
ana fearful oaths. they staggered nto
the garnet of the building, an unfinish-
ed room with bare beams and rat,ers.
The rope was flung over cross nee
beam, and each proceeded with uns,ea.
dy hands Ia fasien an end TO the neck
of the other. One WAS mounted on n
bench and the other on a half bnsheI
and there they stood, swayins one way
and the other. each calling on his an
tagonist TO take his leap. Al leneh.
one. confident that his superior weight
would draw up the other. swung Off ;
but the rope would not PLAY over the
rough timber. and he had Il fair chance
OF choaking alone. lie made a despe
rate effort, how ever. and succeeded i'm
kiokIng the measure from under his
fellow. and they both swung fairly A.
bove the floor. like two rallows birds
paying their forfeit. They had been
watched As long as their movements
were merely ludicrous. the shop. keen.
er allowed them to proceed-but when
they were fairly strung up. and il got
10 be no joke, but downright hanging
matter, he ran up stairs and cut the
cord; and so cheated the ID of his
due The heavy man was terribly
enraged by the disappointment, declar
ing The interference unfair, ungentle-
manly, and contrary 90 the code Of no
nor; iamenting that he had not been
permitted to hang his neighbor by so
equal and impartial administration of
The rope. The fright, however, toge
ther with the gentle squeeze about the
wind pipe, had quite choaked the evil
spirit Of the other, who went away toll
erabiy sober and entirely thankful.
New Haven Advertiser.