Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-12-09
From a isosdea fsrrr.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE.


Many years ago, two respectable sea.iaring men 4
arrived late one evening al an inn in Grayescnd. 4
with the intention Of going aboard their respective
vessels as the tide served on the following 4
morning Although strangers 10 each other. their
similarity Of pursuits and intentions induced them
10 Join each others company. They suppcd togeth- .
err pariook OF bowl OF punch. and agreed 10 sleep
IN the same chamber. In the middle OF the nigh,
the Youngest Of the travellers was afflicted with
a Ut Of choc, which obliged hin 20 90 down 10 the
common CONVENIENCE. On reaching the door Of the
place. he found the string OF tho latch broScn. and
ho had no alternative but 10 return 10 the chamber
fetch his ciasp-kniie TO lift up the latch There
being no light in tho and the night very dark,
he by mistake took knife from the waisicol pocket
of the elder man and returned TO the place Of
venience, where nc was detained 4 considerable
time IN acute pain. Early in the mornng tho wait
er knocked at the chamber door, and called that
it time 10 rise, tie tide serving The Younger
man 90, UP aud dressed himself somewha, surpris-
ed that the elder did respond his nquest bu,
/ supposed tina, he should find him below.
On arriving in the parlor he asked the waiter for
his chamber fellow. The waiter replied that he
best knew, having slept in the with him.
IL being usual for travellers to present the waiter
with trIlng douceur, the young man drew from
his waisicoa pocket some loose silver, and knife
with King Williams guinea sticking in the haf.
/ The waiter Immediately recognized the guinea as
having been in the possession of the missing
when the latter discharged his quota Of the supper
bill on the proceeding night suspicion then a
rose that foul play had taken place, and the man
was detained aud a constable sent for examin-
alton followed, when the hands OF the young man
and the knife found in his possession were dscov-
cred TO be smcared with blood. lie was then
cusod OF having murdered the elder man, and taken
before a magistrate, who committed him to Maid
stone Gaol, at the ensuing asszes lac was found
guilty of murder and condemned 10 be hung and
eibbeted.
u The morning OF the execution was ushered in by
all the tcrrors of a winters storm. The place of
execution, Qhe accustomed heath) far distant from
the gaol, scarcely approached by the procession
when the sheriff gave the fatal signal. and left the
body siiifened with cold TO the attention OF his
officers, who, following his example, one by one,
proceeded home-the blacksmith who had contract
cd to put the corpse in chains with his men, alone
I remaining, who commenced their operations long
before the legal term OF suspension expired. In the
canrse of the succeeding night some friends OF the
fellow the gbbet down, disencumbercd the
body from the chains, and took IT to lone publ C
0 house, frequcnted by suuyglers, and whilst they
were standing around il of the friends discov-
? cred the region of the heart yet warm. Friction
, and cordials were administered the recovered
O and by the aid of the smugglers before day-breal
was placed on board their sloop in the river, which
Immediately proceeded TO Holland, whence he tool
9 a berth in merchant ship for the Indies, which
a vessel taken by pirates, who carried him tt
2 their rendezvous unirequented island, where
1 among many other captives he met with the mai
= for whose supposed murder he had lost his civi
5 rights and had on his account been hung and glib
= bctted.
10 Explanation on both sides followed. The eide
% man said that when sleeping in the same chambe
% at the Gravesend with the younger, he was avail
ened by his eroans and apprehensive, from his
Is naming below stairs long that he sunern
- severely, and that ho required assistance he sgh
10 y dressed himself and proceeded down stairs an
through a door way which opened into lane. :
that moment prcss-gang was passing, who, SUI
posing that he was cndeavorng 10 escape from ben
pressed, took him with them, Notwithstanding h
representations, and carried him to the receiving
&C ship, where he was draughted TO a gaie, and pr
cceded to a foreign station, where he found an o.
poriunty and he engaged himself on board me
Sc chairman, which almost Immediately taken
81 the pirates.
- The two friends determined to endcavor 20 efe
&c their escape from the pirates which, after much
iculiy, and experiencing many privations, they {
iec,ed, and landed in England, where, under leg
tin advice the younger applied to the court of king
III bench at Westminster for reversion of the jud
ct men, passed upon him at Gladstone, which "
granted and the records of the court bear witne
10 his having in this miraculous manner recover
"a his civil rights and liberties.