Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-01-28

n. Door fellows voice faltered; eachI
az the court, on rising to retire,
warmly pressed his hand, and Kelly was con-
Quoted 70 his confinement, more than ever an
ol,;ec. If interest to those who had witness
I'd the weakness as well a. the noblest OF has
IRE wife Of the man who had escaped was
nrodnced "a evidence at the court-martial,,
which shortly after took place. Her test'mo-
nv corrobor1ted the circumstances gwen IN
Kellv's confession; with the additional TACT
that he had. on leaving her husbands cell,
given her the only shilling he possessed, desf-
ring her to procure nutr'ment LOT tne cn"o' i
Other evidence was produced, ito prove
the fact Of the woman's having boosted OF fur
nisl,;np her husband with the means Of hber-
alton, thus establishing the aegravating cir
cumstance Of Kelly's misconduct having been
the cause OF the criminals escape.
However. in consideration Of his previous
GOOD character. and voluntary confession, the
Hottest punishment that could be gwen tor
such an offence was awarded him. Had 1t
Ibecn a sentence Of death, Kelly would nave
heard it without shrinking; but as II was, u
almost robbed him Of his fortitude-to under
90 that degradation which TO a proud spirit
% worse than death--to be tied up TO the tri-
angle, in the sight OF those comrades who had
long looked upon him as the standard OF m'l'-
itarv proprietv, such a prospect presented TO
his sensitive mind terrors scarcely endura-
bic. .
As he bent, however, to the judgment Of
the court. and retired with his guard, his firm-
mess and calmness Of manner returned, and
none but the most scrutinizing eye could DIS
Germ aught of the struggle within.
| During the time that elapsed between the
sentence and ITS execution, unwcaried efforts
! Hhn dol. frOf
punishment, but to no purpose; the sentence
had been as light as, consistently with militia
nv regulations, it could be, and no further
mitigation could be granted.
| Every face wore an air of gloom, from that
of the field officer of the day to the little
drummer, who gazed at distance. when
| Ke!ly appeared on the parade-ground to re-
,ceive his punishment. They beheld before
them a man Of known merit, about to suffer
for breach of duty, which did as much hon.
our to his humanity as it was free from all
moral blame-atout to suffer degrading
corporal infection, from which his proud and
manly spirit shrunk with horror.
| Kelly bore his punishment: with that IN
iflinchinc firmness which might have been ex-
pected from his character. As, however, he
walked with firm step to his quarters, his
eve shrunk from an encounter with his COM
rades. and his countenance betrayed a mind
subdued and broken by shame and hum'lia-
Ition.
/ .sI'he man is ruined.'' said the corporal,
who had followed him to the door OF hrs room,
where the surgeon was in attendance to ms
Ilacerated back; ''the man is ruined. l could
not get a word from him, IN answer to my
Questions Of how he felt"
..Was he in such pain thenf'' asked yourg
soldier from the crowd that had gathered
round the corporal, to inquire after their
comrade. .
"Painr: calculated the veteran, with a
glance of contempt: "think We Michael Kelly
regards pain Think We he has faced death
so MANY wears. and received three gun-shot
wounds in the breast, to say nothing of bayo-
and not learned better than 10
shrink ct pain? Did we expect he would
vince at a scratched back? No, no lacs!
'tisn't the pain, but the shame, tina; has done
for poor Mike! saw him when he stood forth
to die for his friend Macdonald; 81 have since
been with him in many tough engagement,
he taking his place in the front rank, and my
self covering him. have seen him sink tor
loss of blood; but never, comrades, never saw
his cheeks so white as they were to-day, be-
fore even the cat had grazed him. Take my
word for it, Michael Kelly is lost man."
The corporal's opinion was prophetic; the
surgeon who attended the sufferer could .ex-
tract from him nothing bat vague monasylla-
bles, in answer to his professional inquiries.
Major Morton, whose body-servant he had
been, visited him in the afternoon. At the
sound of his former masters well known
voice, the poor fellow partly raised himself
from his bed, but Immediately resumed his
recumbent posture.
"When saw you last, sir" said he, while
his whole frame shook with emotion, s<when
/ saw you last, could look in your face with
honest confidence; noU l am degraded, dis
graced, and have forfeited in one evil hour
the good name had acquired by long and
faithful service. Why have lived till now!
Why did not perish at the moment when,