Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-10-05
TlIE RACK.

The ushers retired from the all the clerks
bat withdrew the Lord of Masseran, also W ho
had renamed hitherto the accuser, slowly left
the hail, and the doors closed behind them ali, leav
ing Barnard de kohan still upon the sceiette, lt
Pierre Miliert standing before the Judges. One or
two OF the magistrates themselves looke d down
with pale couutenances upon the papers before the
aud u sensation OF awe took possession OF Barnard
&c Roman, from vague but indIstInct notion OF
what about to take place.
At length, when the doors shut, the preSi-
dent rang small silver bell which stood beside nm
and another pair OF doors, which hitherto had not
been opened, were thrown back. Bernard de RO-
han, he sat, could not see IN the chamber but
Pierre Ml!lcrt, who stood IN the Witness place,
did see, and Instantly seized With agulsh
shaking from head TO foot.
Monsieur de Rohan, sand the presldent,''it Is the
will OF tie king, of winch we, your Judges approve,
that you have not the east Gated but hav
maintained unwayerngly the same story, and have
neither refused to Plead nor challenged your ges,
YOU should not be subject TIE question ,xtraor-
binary. This man, however, Pierre Mlcrt, hay
ing shown himself a notorious prcvanc4tor, and un-
worthy OF belief under ordinary crcumsta nces, must
be taught, by the force OF corporeal PAM 10 speak
The truth
Il do beseech YOU sir, said Bernard de Rohan,
II 1t Is possible, spare the unhappy man. GA must
all perceive clearly that weak notion OF serv NJ
me, by coucealng suspicious circumstances, first
mised hun. ami that, since he has been N this
place, terror and folly have quite bewildered hun,
Il 1t be possible, and let the whole weight OF his
testimony 80 against myself.
1t impossible, sir, said the Judge. We must
not reject the means assigned to Us tor the purpose
OF arriving at substantial justice. Take him away =
he continued, addressing two men who had entered
the chamber OF torture, ana who instantly seized
upon the unhappy servant, and drew hun to-
wards the open doors, nOtwlthsa ldlng his prayers
and tears, and struggles | gong To say,
ffa
that, II you 20 please as you may be nculpated 10y
his confession, you may enter the chamber Of ques
ton, and hear The words he uses
Bernard de Roman shook his head. No sir he
SAID, no. Ii Is enOugh-It is much 10 know
that such borrId dealings taking place with a
fellow creature. | VIII not witness them; and
leaning his arm upon has knee, he buried his eyes
IN his nand.
Almost az he did so, a small, dark looking man
entered tie hail. ana spoke few words to tie pre-
sIdent IN low VOICE. The Judge replies emphati-
caly, 'FoFtes ct duies.'
Another few spoken words addrs ssed to
bun by the messenger from the chamber OF the tor
ture, and his reply was, Jusqu'a la mort-kven un-
10 death should It be necessary but You have the
surgeon there
The nodded his head and retired. Then
came an interval not exactly OF silence, but of low
sobs and OF stfed entreatles, ami OF sounds OF wall
ing OF person in deep grief and fear. The
young gentleman sat listening III horror and Indg-
nation OF hear, tll al length, IN about hve minutes
there Issued forth shrill and piercing cry OF
anguish from the cbambcT OF torture, that made the
whole hall ring, and blanched the lips OF the
Judges that sat at the table. Then came another,
another and another cry aud loud voice at length
heard TO say, y gu carrying 1t too tar re-
lax the wheel little
Il Will confess, VIII confess, cried the voice Of
the unhappy Pierre within. Il viii confess all
DO believe he murdered him-l know lie did vas
sure Of II at the time. 1t was he that made he
speak false. He WIS my master. my born master.
Oh God oh God Set me tree Set me free :!
But were you the accomphce OF the crime ? err
ed another voice from within. Did you know he
going to do the deed I!
oh n. no exclaimed the unhappy man knew
nothing. knew nothing. 1t was all another
fes u shrek interrupted what he was saying, as the
rack seemed to be more extended by the execution
er, and then suddenly came dead silence.
Set hun free, set him free, cried several voices.
lie Is gone
lie has only tainted. SAID the voice that asked
the questions.
He Is dead said another voice. probably that Of
the surgeon. Il told you YOU turning the
whee, too tar.'-t: T.. Is. James.