, 1841-12-18

1t seemed as 1t nature opposed herself Il
the hanging ct an innocent nan. The cart
N which. loaded with heavy irons. and seat
ed upon straw. he was drawn towards th,
moor, broke down at the end of IT. frs
five miles, and It took a long time To repair
II. 1t was then discovered iha, the MAI
who had undertaken the terrible office of ex
ecutloner, and who. notwithstanding certain
savaye propensiiies Of his nature which led
him that way, WAS so much Of a novice II.
10 be nervous and uneasy. hid slipped off Sc
cretly; nor was ii tilt long search, had beer
made. that he was found. drinking large
draughts Of spirits in Il =" b'ic-hou>e. He
was then placed in the same cart with the
prisoner. and march recommended; tut sume
way father IN, in going mp a very steep hill
the horse that drew the cart fell down dead
in The harness. and a new delay took place
whIle another horse was sent for. Thus the
agony at that terrible journey was prolonged
Ia poor Frederick Pre,ot fr many hours,
and his frame, worn with imprisonment,
with struggle of hope and fear, with indIgna-
ton. anguish, and despair. seemed ready IN
sink under the protracred suffering thus in.
filcted on him. and mnnv ot those who ac-
r"npanied The procession seriously Thought
that he would die tei"re he re iched The foot
of the ra!l"ws. The clergyman who went
with him t. a.T,rd hin, spiritual con ISOLATION,
WAS of that opini"n. and mentioned i! To the
Sheriff.. who rode hy the side Of the cart
on horseback. adding that the prisoner had
tasted n" f,od that dav.
The Sheriff was n kind-hearted man, ard
Instantly approaching the prisoner. he said.
You seem iaInt. sin; will you take a little
vine at that public house. ar some brandy,
or any hing that y"n Iiker
'Sir.' replied Frederick, i will take roth.
ing tina, c: n rr"l"ng nv misery. even for a
moment nd again hr sank mo silence.
During The rrsi al the ~l"rir,,ey. the cler-
icyn.an spoke Ia him from time /, time, Chief.
I. Tor the ~rhIrT">e al giving him what com.
tort lr could; hnt nj Length approaching The
mn"r. and tie dark line nf The gall,ws was
seen ri,InI in the evening air, the good man,
IN n low tone. urged Frederick earnestly To-
confess the crime. The youn. priS. me- turn
ed 81 WY round upon him. and SAID. 'WouId
You have me die with n lie in my month"; !,
am innocent! and my innocence will some
day he prn,edr
soon after this. the fatal spo; was reach |
ed. ard asst was now beginning Ia grow iwi-
light. NIL The rest of the terrible proceedings
wrre hurried rs much rs possible. Frede-
rick Prrv"i showed frmnesS and readiness in
all, and m ,rr strength than people Rad be-
l:e,ei he possessed. Th"u.h the crowd,
whIci had been there from tn" morning. WAS
some VI nj diminished, The numbers were still
considerable, and while the execu,inner was
IN the ,ct at nd lu>iing the r'pe, the prisoner
turned 10 The people. and said in Il loud. clear
voice. Remember. every one of y.,u TINT Ia
the very last moment of my life. and with
the verv last breath. | declare that ! am in
~nnocent. Now he continued, turning to
the ~hangman, rs oil ready?
Yes. sIr,' replied the man. drawing the
cap over his face; and without wairin,
for any further word. Frederick Prev"r
threw himself Violently off the lad Ter. and
remained suspended between heaven AMI
earth.
A low mnrmnr ran through the people, and
II was II sad one too. for there was something
in The manner of his death which shook the
conviction even at those who had previously
felt more sure Of his guilt. Snne indeed.
went away, saying that he died game. but
the great majority Ct the multitude separn-
ted with a ferlin. that. on that moor, an in
nocent man had just been murdered.
Such was the convi.tion nf Il shepherd. m
elderly man, whn fed The flick Of a neigh.
boring squire. the lord of he manor; and
when he went home. he gave his wife an &C,
count of he whole proceedings. adding.
They NAV say what they like, bu' ] am very
sure ,ha, poor nen'Iemin dill not Kill the 9th.
er one. and | should not wonder if the truth
were moi found "ui some day?
As was usual with this cid man. in the
very grey "f the dawring Of the f~nIlnvin
dav. he led forth his sheep to pasture. and The
frrl,ngs he had experienced IN the pre-
ceeding night. naturally made him turn his
steps towards the ~gal'oNs IN the mnor.-
Though it WAS n terrible sight, 10 see the
body ola human being hanging there. loaded
with heavy chains. vet the ,ld man felt an
interest in all that had occurred, which made
him pause and look mp. In the meantime,
the sheep began Ia take n wrong direction
rnd he called to his dog To- turn them back,
What was hIs surprise. however. when he
heard a fain, voice which seemed n cnme from
the rihbet, inquire. SIS there nnv body thereY
and then add. Fur G m's sake! take me down,
or emf my life. for this is verv dreadful !
The Voice evidently came from the man
who had been hanged. although the cap,