Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-30
Touching Incident.


NJ. Juuker ives q celebrated physician, b
professor ni the University of Halle. Those
Who knew him personally, haye ofen heard
him relate the following anccdole.
Il He wus professor OF Anatoiny, and procur
ed Tor DISSECTION, the bodies OF wo criminals
who had bccn hung. The key Of the DIS
secilng room was not being found nj The mo
nent whenihey were caH,ed thither, he had
them placed ~ a cabinet adjoining his ap-
partncnt. Night came Dr. Junker, accord
ing to his custom, prepared himself To work
IN his room before gong 10 rect. II was al
most midnight all around were sleeping
when he heard a great n0se IN his cabinet.
Supposlng that cat had been by some over
sight. shut up with the dead bodies, he arose,
took a candle, and went TO see what was the
matter: What was his astonishmcnt and still
more, his fright. on prrceiving the cloak which
ervelopcd the two bodies, torn through the
niddle. lie went near. and found that one
of the two was no longer there The win
dUws were shut close-the doors also. 1t
was impossible that any one had stolen the
corpse. lie walked, tremblinay looking
round The cabinet and d-percerved the corpse
seated III a corner
DR.. Junker remained an instant mOtiunlcss
The corpse appeared to be looking nt him
he moved to the right, 10 the left, the corpse
followed him with his eyes. Any one would
have been terrified. The professor receded
step by step, keeping his eyes fixed on the
object OF his fright. aud holding The candle
IN his hand. until he came to the door Of the
cabinet. The corpse then rose and advanced
towards him. The hdeous figure, naked
and moving, the hour. the silence, ell con
spred TO throw his senses into the utmos.
disorder. lie let iall his only candle, which
was cxiinguished escaped then to his sleep
ing room and rushed to his bed:-he is pur-
sued, aud soon he feels the dead body EN-
braclng his knees and groanlng dreadsully.
| "leave me leave me = shrieked he,
many times loudly, striving at the same time
To- loosen the hold Of the corpse |: who cried
"Ah Mr.. llangman, have mercy upon
ms ~
Jnnker now saw what had caused his fright
aud was reassurcd. lie explained to the re-
suscitatcd man who he was, aud made
movement TO call some one.
you wish then to be the death Of me 2"
cried the criminal; "If you call. my adven.
ture will become public, | shall be taken and
executed anew. In the name OF humanity
save my life
The Doctor rclighted his candle, gave an
old dressing gown to the criminal, made hun
lake a cordial, aud then asked him what had
brought hun to the gallows?
/" IL would have been," said Junker, "an
unique tabeuu, TO have seen me, IN The md
die Of the night, seated tete-s-teie with
corpse 10 q dressing-gown."
The poor wretch told him that he was en-.
rolled in the militia, but that he had never
felt any desire for this profession, he had
hoped TO escape by deserving. But he had
unfortunately conhded in one OF the recruit
ing men-a bad man-who had gwen him The
addre-s Of u woman IN whose house he said
he would be concealed, that this woman had
betrayed his retreat, &c.
The Doctor was embarrassedto know how
to save Tho man; he couldn't keep hun IN his
house without ITS being known. 10 put hlm
out Of II, was to sacrifice him. lie resolved
to 90 out Of the city, which were well guard
ed. In this extremity, he habited hun IN one
Of his old suits Of clothes, covered HIN with
cloak, and early IN the morning walked to-
wards the country, his protege following him.
Arnyed at the gate of the CRY. where he was
well known, he said with hurried air. that
they came on account Of o sick man who had
been dying. in the suburbs. lie passed.
When they had arrived in the fields, the de-
serer threw himself a, the feet of his deliv
Iude receiving from him some pecuniary
,uccor, he departed, blessing him. H.
SVme duzen years after, Professor Junker
being III Amsterdam, was stopped on the Ex
change by u man well dressed ond Of good
appearance, who, they told him was one OF
he most respected merchants of the place
The merchant inquired IN very polite tone
f 1t was not Dr. Juuker of Halle, and on his
'eplying IN the affirmative, urged him with 4,
much earncstncss TO come and due with
nm. The Professor accepted the invita-.
Ion. II
Arrived at NJ. IS, he saw an elegant
Dansion, b 'auttul wife and two pretty chill. 4
lren, but he could hardly recover from his {
stonl-hment TO find himself so cordially re
eived ina family to whom he supposed he \
vas unknown aud without introduction. =
After dinner the merchant conducted him :,
o a room and said to him: IL
YOn do not know me, then :"
Not a, ALL he replied. u
know you very well, though. and shall b
ever forget you. You are my bcneiactor.- d
am he who returned 10 life IN your cabinet, Il
nd OF whom you took care. When quit.
ID you, followed the water To Holland. Ih
m good writer. pretty good accomptunt'
Iy appearance created an interest | became
merchants clerk. My good conduct and %
= zeal for the interests Of my patron, pro. b
red me his confidence and the love Of his o
'ugher. When he retired from business, I 8
came his successor and his son IN law a
ut for you | should never have enjoyed all II
IS. Regard, therefore. my house. my per y
N my fortune, ~ at your disposal" liz,
Any one Of the least senslbliiy may imag-
9 the feelings Of Junker lie had the JOY u
being, without knowing IL, the occasion of -
eat happiness 10 a fellow being. u