The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-07-10

thVy buo DtouShb NH thSiS Civ ShhAi
ed him with the embezzlement Of $685.
600 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. Unawed by
these threats, the hardened man with a
look of innocence, exclaimed, 81 know
nothing of the matter" No sooner
was this said, than with a promptness
characteristic of the man, Judge X,
throwing off his coat, seized Mr.. W.
and plunged him into the water.
Mr.. f. held a 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.--
1t was some time before he could speak,
but when he did, it was only to protest
his innoncence, but in a manner and
tone Of voice that bore witness to a
certainty of his guilt. All efforts 10
make him confess proving vain, he was
again plunged by the powerful arm Of
Judge X. into the water.
This time it did not fare as we'll with
him. He was kept under water so
long, hat when taken out he appeared
a ~lifeless corpse. 1t was a long time
before they were able, by their utmost
exertions, to restore him sufficiently to
speak. And when he did speak, it was
to repeat the same denial as before
The heart Of ar ordinary mar must
have failed in either situation--that Of
Judge X. or Mr.. W.--but the former
was we'll satisfied that the other must
know something Of the lost funds.
Placing himself in a position where
he could note the expression Of the fea-
lures Of the twice drowned man, he
thus addressed him:---"Mr. W., we
know that you have in your possession,
or know something Of that money!
Now disclose everything, or we will
sink you under the weight of a guilty
conscience, in that water, never to E.
merge with life; and we will hurry your
guilty spirit, without one moment for
repentance, before the tribunal ofHeav-
en-. to receive the recompense Of your
crimes. Disclose at once, or you die"
This was uttered in a tone and with an
emphasis that forced upon his mind the
absolute certainty of its lulflment.--
The guilty man trembled. Fore time
utterance failed him. The terrible ad.
versary was still sounding in his ears
the certain doom that awaited him.
He could conceal the truth no longer.
That power which aided him in the
commission of the crime, and till now
kept him from the disclosure, had for
saken him, and the thought of rushing
into the presence of his God, with his
sins unrepented, forced him to reply:
81 will tell you all | know about it,
your suspicious are correct; the money
is in our possession, or at least $4,000.
OF the remaining $4,000 know moth
ing. You will find it either in a black
trunk in our bed chamber, or under the
hearth" Judge X, leaving him in the
care of Mr.. F. until he should ascertain
the truth of the statement, started for
the house. He was seen by his wife,
and the lady by whom the tale was re-
lated to the writer, coming across the
fields covered with mud, and, to use
the words Of the former, "appeared like
a murderer" %
Alarmed at such a sight, his wife,
though from her feeble health hardly
able to walk, met him at the door with
the enquiiy y, "Husband, what have you
been doing?" As calmly as the cir
stances would permit, he replied:
.We have had the old fellow under
water, and made him own where the
money is" Judge.K. proceeded to the
house of Mr.. w. and enquired where
the woman was. He was told that she
was in her chamber, but did not wish
to see any one. 80 ofiasnrassu
Without cerimony Judge X. ascend
ID the stairs, as we may suppose, in no
careful manner, and knocked at the
Iooroftha anartmonf He haard a rtlsf.