Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-18


tune and lament with apparent sincerity their loss,
still guilty conscience would betay itself in some
slight way not percephble to the multitude. Convinc-
ed he was, he would attempt to gain further knowl
edge of the matter. Accordingly he left his chamber,
unknown to his wife who by of i'll health occu
pied another bed in the same room) and for fourteen
nights in succession, lay upon the piazza of Mr. WIS
house. directly under the window of their sleeping a.
partment
lie could perceive them talking in low tone
at all times of the night, but so indstincty that
he could make out nothing of any consequence
Howcvcr,by some means or other he came to the
conclusion that they were about to leave the
country; and he Immediately determined upon
a desperate effort to ascertain the correctness of
his suspicious. Accordingly he impaired to
Mr.. f., his associate bondman, full accout of
all he had been witness to, and his strong belief,
that they had, or knew something Of the money.
They Immediately concerted plan to test the
truth of their suspicious as a precautionary
measure, physician Of eminence was consulted,
as TO how long person might be kept under
water and resuscatcd. As it might be that they
were about to remove no delay in executing the
scheme was considered safe. The same morning
therefore Judge K sent to Mr. W. wishing him
to come to his house some time in the day, and
make final settlement About | o'clock Mr..
W. arrived at the house Of the Judge, and under
pretcnce Of talking the matter over, free from
interruption, he proposed walk. They in
company with Mr.. f., left the house, and pro-
cccded across the lots toward piece OF woods.
Ihcy walked on till they were nearly half mile
from any house and had come to the side of a
muddy brook, entirely hidden from view by SUI
rounding hills, and woods. Wholly unsuspIc-
ious Of what awaited him, what must have been
MIR. WIS establishment, when Judge K. stepped
before him, and with countenance and in a
tone of voice not to be misunderstood, told him
the intent for which they had brought him there,
and charged him with the embezzlement of S33-
000 of public money, their reasons for thinking
SO, and telling him if he did not disclose where
it was, they would drown him on the spot I'M
aWed by these threats, the hardened man with
an Unaffected look of innocence, exclaimed 81
know nothing of the matter" No sooner was
this said than with promptness characteristic
of the man, Judge H., throwing off his coat,
seized Mr. w, and plunged him into the water
Mr. f. held watch, and counted seconds, that
they might not drown the man. After as much
time had elapsed as could, with safety to the
unhappy man, he was raised from the water. II
was some time before he could spcak-but when
he did, 1t was only to protest his innocence but
in manner, and tone of voice, that bore witness
to the certainty of his gut. AL efforts to make
| him confess proving vain, he was again plunged
! by the powerful arm of Judge X. in the water
This time it did not fare So well with him. He
was kept under water so long that when taken
out he appeared lileless corpse. 1t was long
time before they were able by their utmost OK.
crtions, to restore him sufficiently to speak
/ When he did speak, it was TO repeat the same
denial as before. The heart Of an ordinary mar
must have tainted, in either stnation-thqt o
Judge K or MIR. W-bu the former was wei
satisfied that the other must know something o
the lost funds Pllcing himself in position
where he could note the expression OF the twice
drowned man, he thus addressed him. "Mr w
we know that you have in your possession, O
know something Of that money Now disclose
everything, or We will sink your body, trembin!
under the weight Of guilty conscience, in tina
water never to emerge with life, and we vii
hurry your guilty spirit, without one monen
for repentance, before the tribunal of Heaven
| to receive the recompcnse of your crimes. Dis
close at once, or you die" This was utteeC
in tone and with an emphasis that forced upot
the mind Of Mr., w. the absolute ceranty of it.
tulfilment The guilty man trembIed. For
! time, utlcraucc failed him. His terrible advcr
sary was still sounding in his ears the certain
doom that awaited him. He could conceal tn,
truth 10 longer That power which had aideC
him in the commission of the crime, aud till nov
kept him from the disclosure, had l0rsakcn him
and the thought Of rushing into the presence O
his God, with his sins unrepcnted, forced hin
to reply: 81 will tell you ali | know about it
your suspicious are correct the money is in on
possession, or at least $50 SEQ. OF the remain
ing $4,000 | know nothing. You will find j
either in black trunk, in our bed-chamber Of
under the hearth" Judge X leaving him in tht
care of Mr.. f. until he could ascertain the trutl
fthis statement, started for the house He wa
. seen by his wife, and the lady by whom our tall
was related 10 the writer, coming across the fell
covered with mud, and, to use the words of tn
former "appeared like murderer" Aarme
at such a sight, his wife, though in very fcebl
health, met him at the door with the inquiry
"IIusband, what have you been doing" A
calmly as the circumstances would permit h
replied
1--WE hapc had the old tciiop undcr rate ;, an
b madc him ocn chcrc the money is" Judge L
y proceeded to the house of Mr. w. and inquire
E where Mrs. w. was. He was told that she W;
:, in her chamber, but did not wish to see any ON
= Without ceremony he assembled the stairs, as "
. may suppose, in no careful manner, and knocke
! at the door pointed out He heard rustIn
- within, but no step. He called but no voic
n was heard. In rage he set his foot against Il