The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-06-09
From the NO. TroDic.
Billy Fono's Escape from Hune ~,

'PF'f '1iO'S ieStueu ~ the northern
part o. that State, good naiured, honest
sort OF fellow by The name az William Fame.
OF az ne was familiarity called, Billy Fame
Billy was fond Of whsiey, and when under
Ils potent and debasing influence. somo.
l'mes became annoying 10 those abouf him
u happened on bright summers dav in tho
month Oi August, that Billy found hmsoIf
N the store Of Joshua Peitinnale & Co and
Joshua PetIingale and Co. found Ral1 -"
ceeding noisy and troublesome. and G,r,6-
with tumbled him out Of the door into H.
highway. He reeled 10 the shade or
neighbOring tree and stretched himself ~
full length on the green turf and soon was
fast asleep. Dinner time came and Pet.
ungaie q Go. left the store Cor their dwell.
ling, alter slightly fastening the door: in
the meantime Billy awoke, good deal 50.
bered by his long nap in the open air. and
entertained serious thoughts Of proceeding
hOmeward, when he discovered that his bat
was missing. To 90 to the store. trv the
door, and after finding il fast, with oen;le
force urging i open, to pick his hat from
the fOor, put it on and slraighiway start for
home, was the work of very few moments.
Now, when the worthy vendors of various
commodities returned 10 their warehouse.
they were aslonished to find the door nm.
fastened and aiar They looked TO the lank
shelves TO see il any Of their wares and mer.
chandise was missing; they sought The slum.
bering Billy, but he had fed. The aiobrof
poor Billy was confirmation strong Thai he
WAS the culprit, and in less than no time a
constable was despatched with warrant
from Justice NoOdlebnry FOR lis Immediate
arrest The constable found Billy quietly
at work on his little strip Of land. aud IN
forming him of his business, babe hin fol-
low on to the dOmicil of the worshy magi-
srate. Mr.. Justice Of the Peace, Noodle.
bury, was one of your sedaie, goodnatured,
benevolent and very honest men, but wac
not half as we'll acquainted with the law, as
the late Judge OF The Criminal Court in
Mississippi, and when Billy was usllered in.
10 his presence, he was seated in an old
fashioned arm chair, with writing materials
and bound volume containing the laws of
the State, before him. There was no coun-
sci on either side. Messrs. Pelngale g.
| Co. told their story, which was coroborated
by Sc reral witnesses, two of whom saw Bill
Tvs f;Fcible entry into their premises, and
then Billy told bis tale, in bis own plain
straight forward way. After the parties had
been heard, the justice Pondered long and
thoughtiuIIy. The case was a clear one.
and Billy Fame was undoubtedly guilty Of
burglary! The squire put spectacIes on
nose and turning 10 the law relative TO the
case, 10 his horror found The punishment was
death, and not knowing there was any such
'hng as trial by jury, after some preliminary
remarks, proceeded To sentence Billy to be
hung on a certain day. Billy of course re-
monstraied, but the justice told him that.
though he believed he had spoken the truih
in relation to The affair, YET by The letter Of
the law he was guilty Of burglary, and the
penalty oG the law was death 10 any person
convicted thereof
There were no jails in that portion OF the
State al that time, and b Ely returned TO his
hume with soF~owing heart. The caresses
OF his wife and the innocent prattle of The
juvenile Fanes failed To rouse him from the
deep detection of spirits he had fallen inio.
He knew only, that on certain day he had
got to so and be hung, and that caused him
exceeding disquietude. He slrove TO labor
in his field for day or two, but the horror
of his situation rendered him poweress.-
The day fixed for his execution drew on
apace, aud Bily's anxiety Of mind was hor-
rible. Unable any longer TO bear up under
the thoughts that oppressed him, he went TO
! the magistrate TO learn if any thing could
5 possibly be done TO save his neck from the
halter. The squire condoled with him,
commiseraied his hard fate, and expressed
deep sorrow that the stern mandate of the
law required sacrifice so great; but there
was the law and he, its sworn administrator,
could do nothing but see its requirements
! fulfilled Squire Noodlebury could devise
no way to save Billy, unless on fair repre-
senlation Of the case being made 10 the
! Governor, he should inlerpose the Execu-
! tive clemency and pardon him. According
, ly he made fair statement Of the cases
vOuching for Baly's honesty, and regrettng
! the necessity thai had compelled him 10 pass
: sentence of death on him, begged his ex-
, celency 10 pardon him.
The next day saw Billy Fame mounted on
Stout gelding, making his way With all
, convenient speed 70 tie capital, some four
DAYS ride distant, TO endeavor 10 procure
pardon from the Governor Arrived al the
Governors house, Billy entered, found his
excellency at home, aud with great humility
!, handed him squire Noodebury's letter.
The Governor read il attenlvely. and with
}, great difficulty suppressing the rising mirlh
(which the righteousness of the affair provo
4 ked. Excusing himself for moment, odd
Poins, retired TO a shaded grass plot near his
mansion. and rolling on the ground gave
yant to 4 loud and continuous volley Of
cscbinations thai could ne longer Be sun
n-sssed. and when be was able "a resume
b;s erasily and usual dignity Of dsmeanor.
J, resagned % the anxious culprit and wrote
4 nm 81 unconditional pardon, aud afser uri-
go; $50, ! note 70 the worthy Squire, informing