The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-07
EUGENE ARAM.

new novel which he is about to publish
Aram, though of respectable parentage, wa
obliged to contend with the disadvantages o
/, extreme poverty in his youth. By dint, how
: ever. of industry and close application, he be
came an excellent Greek, Latin, and Hebrew
scholar, IN the requirement of which languages
he owed much to the help of a most exIraordi
nary memory.
In the year 1884, he engaged to officate a
steward to an estate belonging TO Mr. Norton
AT this period he married, but as far from be
ing happy in the matrimonial connection.
We now proceed to relate the circumstance
which led to the commission OF The crime which
cost Aram his life. Daniel Clarke, shoemak
er OF Knaresborough, after being married few
days. circulated report that his wife en-
Titled to considerable fortune, which he should
soon receive. Hereupon Aram, and Richard
| Honseman, conceiving hopes of taking advan
tage OF tins circumstance persuaded Clarke &c
make an ostentatious show of his own riches, &c
induce his wife 8 relations to give him that for.
tune OF which he had boosted. There was sa.
gacity, If not honesty in this advice; for the
world in general are more free TO assist persons
in afiiuence than these in distress.
Clarke was easily induced to comply with a
hint SO agreeable to his own desires on which
{ he bought and borrowed on credit largo guam.
tlty Of silver plate, with jewels, Watches rings,
ed, that merchant in London had sent him an
order TO buy such plate for expectation; and no
doubt was entertained of his credit till his sud-
den disappearance in February, l745, when it
was imagined that he had gone abroad, or at
least to London, to dispose of his property.
when Clarke was possessed of these goods,
Aram and Houseman determined to murder
HIM, In order to share the booty; and on the
night OF the 9Th of February, l745, they per-
suaded Clarke to walk with them in the fields,
IN order to consult with them on the proper
method to dispose of the effects.
On this plan they walked into a field, and at
small distance from the town. known by the
name OF st. Roberts Cave. When they came
into this field Aram and Clarke went over
hedge towards the cave, and when they had got
within SIX or seven yards of it, Houseman, by
the ilght OF the moon, saw Aram strike Clarke
several times, and at length beheld him fall
but never saw him afterwards. This was the
state OF the affair, if Houseman's testimony on
the trial might be credited.
The merderers going home shared Clarke's
lll-g0lten treasure, the half of which House
man concealed in his garden for twelve month
and then took it TO Scotland, where he sold it.
In the mean time Aram carried his share to
London, where he bartcred it to Jew and then
engaged himself as an usher at an academy in
riccadiily where. in the intervals of his duty
IN attending the scholars, he made himself mas
tor OF the French, and acquired some knowledge
OF the Arabic, and other Eastern languages
Alter this he was usher at other schools in
different parts of the kingdom but as he did
not correspond with his friends in Yorkshire. il
was presumed that he was dead but, in the
l75S, as man digging for iin,sstonus, n~ur-
ST. Roberts Cave, he found the bones of a hu.
man body; and conjecture hereupon arose
mat they were the remains of the body of
Clarke, who, it was presumed, might have been
murdered.
Houseman having been seen in company with
Clarke short time before his disappearance,
was apprehended on suspicion; and on his ex-
animation, giving but too evident signs of guilt,
he was committed to York Castle and the
bones OF the deceased being shown him, ne de-
med that they were those Of Clarke, but direct
ed TO the precise spot where they were deposit
ed, and where they were accordingly found.
soon alter Houseman was committed 10 the
castle of York it was discovered that Aram re.
sided at Lynn, in Norfolk, on which warrant
was granted for him and he was conveyed to
foTk, and likewise committed to the castle
when Houseman had given his evidence re-
speeding this extraordinary affair, and all such
collateral testimony had been obtained as could
be adduced on the trial, Aram was called on for
his defence; but, having foreseen that the per-
turbatlon OF his spirits would incapacitate him
to make such defence without previous prepa.
ration, he had written an argument on tine evil
dence, which he read in court.
Aram was tried by Judge Noel, who, having
remarked that his defence was one of the most
Hlngenlous pieces of reasoning that had ever fall
en- under his notice, summed up the evidence
to the jury, who gave verdict that Aram was
guiity,in consequence ofwhich he received sem
tence of DEATH
After convicfiou ba ,uroto a latter 10 n Friano
from which the following is an extract:
| My conscience will noLohger suffer itself
to be hoodwinked or browbeat it has now go;
the mastery; it is nay accuser, Judge, and exc
cutloner; and the sentence it pronounced
against ME is more dreadful than heard from
the bench, which only condemned my body to
the pains of death, which are soon over; but
conscience tells me plainly, that she will sum
mon mo before another tribunal, where shall
have neither power nor means to stifle the evi
dence she will there bring against me; anC
that the sentence which will then be denounc
, ed, will not only be rrevocable, but will con
denim my soul to torments that will know NJ
end. 0 had | but hardened to the advice
which dear.bought experience has enabled mi
10 give should not now have been plunged
into that dreadful gulf of despair which | fad i
impossible to extrIcate myself from and there
fore my soul Is filled with horror inconceiva
ble."
Y When tho morning appointed for his execu
S ton arrived, the keeper went TO take him on
r of his cell, and found him almost expirin.
r through loss of blood, having cut his left arm
!. above the elbow and near the wrist, with a ra
zor, but he missed the artery. A surgeon be
i ing sent for, soon stopped the bleeding an
# when he was. taken to the place Of execution
he was perfectly sensible, though so weak as t
be unable to join in the devotional exercises.
In addition to the foregoing particulars, W
extract poem, but little known, founded upo
k the same event. Il first appeared in an annus
= entitled "The Gem" 1t has been justly Gale
5, one Of the most remarkable productions OF moo
5. ern poetry.
THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM.
BY THOMAS HOOD.
Ia Twas in the prime of summer time,
- An evening calm and cool,
% And four-and twenty happy boys
g Came bounding out of school
There were some that ram and some that leapt
Like troutlets in pool.
= Away they sped with gamesome minds,
And souls untouch'd by sin,
To level mead they came and there