Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-01-12
MISCELLANY.
THE GUILTY PHANTOM.
BY WALTER SCOTT.

/ !
of guilt-formed phantom which made con-
siderable noise about twenty years ago or
more. l am, think, tolerably correct
in the details though / have lost the ac-
count of the trial. Jarvis Matcham-
such, if am not mistaken, was the name
Of my hero-was pay sergeant in a regi-
ment, where he was so highly esteemed
as steady and accurate man, that he
was permitted opportunity to embezzle a
considerable part of the money lodged in
his hands for pay soldiers, bounty of re-
cruits, then large sum, and other char
ges which fell within his duty. He was
summoned to join his regiment from a
town where he had been on a recruiting
service, and this perhaps under some
shade of suspicion. Matcham perceiv-
ed that discovery was at hand, and would
have then deserted, had it not been for
the presence of little drummer lad, who
was the only one Of his party appointed
to attend him. In the desperation of his
crime, he resolved to murder the poor
boy, and make his escape. He medita-
ted this wickedness the more readily, that
the drummer, he thought, had been put
as a spy on him. He perpetrated his
crime, and changing his dress after the
deed was done, made long walk across
the country to an Inn on the Portsmouth
road, where he halted, and went to bed,
desiring to be called when the first Ports
mouth coach came. The waiter sum-
moned him accordingly; but long after
remembered, that when he shook the
guest by the shoulders, his first words as
he awoke were, "My God! l did not kill
him."
Matcham went to the seaport by the
coach, and instantly entered as an able
bodied landsman or marine, | know not
which. His sobriety and attention to
duty gained him the same good opinion
of the officers in his new service which
he had enjoyed in the army. He was
afloat for several years, and behaved re-
markably well in some actions. At
length the vessel came into Plymouth,
was paid off, and some of the crew, a
mongst whom was Jarvis Matcham, were
discharged as being too old for service.
He and another seaman resolved to walk
to town, and took the route by Salisbury.
1t was when within two or three miles of
this celebrated city, that they were over
taken by tempest so sudden, and ac-
companied with such vivid lightning, and
thunder so dreadful loud, that the obdu-
rate conscience of the old sinner began
to be awakened. He expressed more
terror than seemed natural for one who
was familiar with the war of elements,
and began to look and talk so wildly,
that his companion became aware that
something more than usual was the mat
ter. AT length Matcham complained to
his usual companion that the stones rose
from the road and flew after him. He
desired the man to walk on the other side
of the highway, to see if they would fol-
low him when he was alone. The sal
lor complied, and Matcham complained
that the stones still flew after him, and
did not pursue the other. "But what is
worse" he added, coming up to his COM
panion, and whispering, with a tone Of
mystery and fear, "who is that little
drummer boy, and what business has he
to follow us SO closely;"-"l can see no
one," answered the seaman, affected by
the superstition of his associate. "What!
not see that little boy with the bloody
pantaloons" exclaimed the secret mur-
derer, so much to the terror of his COM
rade, that he conjured him, ifhe had any
thing on his mind, to make a clear con-
science as far as confession could do it.
The criminal fetched deep groan, and
declared that he was unable longer to
endure the life which he had lived for
years. He then confessed the murder
of the drummer, and added, that as a
considerable reward has been offered,
he wished his comrade to deliver him up
to the magistrate of Salisbury, as he
would desire a shipmate to profit by his
fate, which he was now convinced was
inevitable. Having overcome his friends
objections to this mode of proceeding,
Jarvis Matcham was surrendered to us
tice accordingly, and made full con-
fession of guilt. But before the trial the
love of life returned. The prisoner de-
MED his confession, and pleaded NOT
GUILTY.-By this time, however, full
evidence had been procured from other
quarters. Witnesses appeared from his
former regiment to prove his identity with
the murderer and desertcr, and the wait
er remembered the ominous words which
he had spoken when he awoke him to
Join the Portsmouth coach Jarvis Match
am was found guilty, and executed.
When his last chance Of life was over,
he returned to his confession, and with
his dying breath averrcd, and truly, as