Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-11-17
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

who presided at the trial. received a note
from a prisoner under sentence of death, re-
guessing to see him without delay, as his
sentence was to be carried into effect the day
following. On his way thther, he overlook
an old man walking slowly, who accostcd
him and whom he recognized to be Caleb
Grayson, who had been a witness at Blake's
trial. and had similar note of his own, but
equally at a loss to know the meaning OF
the summons. They both entered the cell
together. The prisoner did not move, but
only raised his head, when Grays0n recol-
lected having seen him at a tavern the night
before Blake's execution, and at the gallows.
well, Judge" said he, Z" | sent for you
to see if you can't get me out of this scrape.
Must | hang tomorrow
The Judge shook his head; " It's idle to
hope; nothing can prevent your execution"
An application might be made to the
highest authorities said the prisoner.
"Pardons have sometimes come, even on
the scaffoId"
None will come in your case" replied
the Judge; -" it is needless for me to dwell
on your offence now, but it was one that
had no paIIiaton, and you may rest assured,
that whatever may have occurred in other
cases, no pardon will come in yours. In
fact, | understand that an application has
been made for one, by your counsel, and has
been refused
The features of the prisoner underwent
no change; nor did theeXpression of his face
alter in the least. But after moments
pause, he said: " Is this true Judge-upon
your honor!"
1t is" replied the Judge.
Then know the Worst" replied the
criminal coIdIy, land will now tell YOU
what have to communicate, which | would
not have done. while there is hope Of cs-
cape. YOU said he, turning TO the Judge,
"prcsdcd at the trial young Harry Blake,
who was accused Of murder, and sentenced
him To daatII.'
] did,
And you," said he, turning to Grayson,
were one of the Witnesses against him.
Nou sworc that you saw him stab Wick
life. Ga your testimony, principally, he
was hung"
YES" replied the old man. Il saw
him with my own eyes"
laugh, as he said, turning to the Judge
You, sir, sentenced az innocent man.
And you,' said he, turning to the other,
"swore to a aSchood. Harry Blake did
nor Kill WrchIinn. He was as innocent Of
the sin of murder as You wcro-morc lnno-
cent than YOU are now
The old man staggered as ii he had been
struck, aud leaned against the table to sup
port himself whilst the condemned telon
stood opposite him, looking at HIM with
coId ind,llcieu. air.
Yes, old man" said he, sternIy, you
have blood ANA perjury on your souI, Tor /,
l." he continued, stepping forward, so that
Tie igh, OF the lamp fell strongly upon his
savage features, " murleredN lillian " TEX
nlIa! did it! Thank God did II. for
had a long score TO settle with him. Blake
Ind no hand in il. | met WlckIIlle that al
tcruoon, alouc-with none to Interfere be
tween us. told him OF the injuries he had
done me, and told him that the time was
come for redress He endclvorldto escape;
bu, followed him up; grapplcd him. and
stabbed him. As did SO. heard the cili-
tcrofhorsc's hools, and eapcdmto cump
Of bushes which crew at the roadside. Al
that moment Blake came up, and ioond
Wirklil,c living in the road. on know the
rest. The tale he told was true rs the Cos
pcI. He was only attempting To draw the
knife from the mans breast, when You came
up and charged him with the murder =.
Good God! Can this be possible:
calculated the old man. 1t cannot. WI
lam. Won are Il ljar!'
"Pshaw - mutored the man; what
could gain by lie! 10 morrow dle.
Il don't believe ii; | don't believe 1t
exclaimed Grayson, pacing the cell, and
wrineing his hands. God in mercy grant
that it may be false. that tins dreadful SIN
may not be upon me !
The prisoner sat down and looked at the
Judsro and the witness with a calmncss that
had something almost iendlsh IN 1t, when
rontrastod with the agitation OF the one, and
the mental agony of the other.
At last the old man stopped in front OF
him; and with calmness so suddenly as
sumed in the midst of his paroNysm OF re-
morse. that it even oyerawed the criminal,
said: You arc one whose life has been a
tissue of falschood and crime. You must
prove what YOU have SAID, or l'llnot believe
it,"
BE it So" replied the prisoner, " saw
the whole transaction. and heard all your
testimony at the trial; for was there too.
Ill now tell YOU what occurred at the spot
of the murder. which YOU did not menuon'
but which saw. When YOU rode up the
man with YOU jumped off his horse and
seized Blake by the collar; your hat Tell OF
ON the pommel of Your saddle, but YOU
caught it before it reached the ground. on
then sprang off your horse, and whilst Wal
ton held Blake, YOU examined the body.
You attempted to pull the knife from his
breast. hut it was covered with blood, and
sHpped from your fingers. Gourubhed your
hand on the ground, and, going to bush on
the roadside. broke off some leaves and
wiped your hands upon them. and afterwards
the handle OF the knife. You then drew II
out, and washed il in 4 small puddle OF wa
ter at the foot o( a sumach bush. As YOU
did So, YOU looked round nj Blake, who was
standing with his arms folded, and who said:
Don't be uneasy about me, Caleb; didn't
Kill Wicklitie, and don't intend to escape.