Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-02-04

out u was atulOuteu 70 ulsease Few ua1s altet
this decease, Mrs. w. went TO a merchan, in an
adjacent village and requested him 10 receive as
loan 5000. She said il was present to her child
ren, from friend. and she did not wish Mr.. w.
TO know anything OF the matter This cireum.
stance is mentioned here in consequence OF the
indlrec, bearing il has on the sequel OF our tale.
But to return. Judge X. was near neighbor OF
MIR. W. and very familiar man in his habits he
often visited his house at The most unexpected
hours and though he discovered nothing there that
would have excited the suspicion Of lessperceptye
mind, he saw many things that forced upon him the
conviction that the lost money must be in their pos
session. Though both would converse with perfect
ease on the subject Of their misfortune, and lament
with apparent sincerity their loss still guilty con.
science would beiray itself, in some slight way not
perceptble 10 the multitude. Convinced as he
was, he could attempt TO gain further knowledge OF
the matter. Accordingly he left his chamber, un-
known to his wife (who by reason Of i'll health oc-
cupied another bed in the same room) and for four
teen nights in succession, lay upon the piazza OF
Mr.. VS. house directly under the window Of their
sleeping apartment.
lie could perceive them talking in low tone
a, al times OF the night. but so indisncty that he
could make out nothing Of any conseouence-
However, by some means or other he came to the
conclusion that thew were about IN leave The conn
ate effort to ascertain the correctness of his suspc-
ions. Accordingly he impaired 10 Mr.. +. his as.
sociate bondman. full account Of all he had been
witness to. and his strong belief. that they had or
knew something octhe money. They Immediately
concerted plan to test the truth of their suspc-
ions ; as a precautionary measure. a physician Of
eminence was consulted. as 10 how long a person
might be kept under water and be resuscita,ed.-
As il might be thai they were about 10 remove. no
delay in executing the scheme was considered safe
The same morning therefore Judge. K. sent 10 Mr..
w. wishing him 10 come to his house some time in
the day, and make final settlement. About I 4
o'clock Mr.. w. arrived at the house of the Judge.
and under pretence of talking the matter over free
from interruption, he proposed awaIk. They, in
company with Mr.. F., left the house, and proceeded
across the lots toward piece of woods They
walked on ill thew were nearly half mile from
any house and had come to the side of a muddy
brook. entirely hidden from view by surrounding
hills. and woods. Wholly uususpicious Of what
awaited him. what must have been Mr. WIS aston
ishment, when Judge X. stepped before him, and
with countenance and in tone Of voice not 10
be misunderstood, told him the intent for which
they had brought him there, and charged him with
the embezzemont Of s33 900 Of public money,
their reasons for thinking so, and telling him if he
did not disclose where il was, they would drown
him on the spot Unawed by these threats, the
hardened man, with an i'll affected look of inno-
cence, exclaimed " know nothing Of the mat.
ter" No sooner was this said, than with prompt
ness Characteristic Of the man. Judge X. throw
ing off his coat, seized Mr. W. and plunged him
into the water. Mr. +. held watch, and counted
seconds, that they might not drown the man,
Amer as much time had elapsed as could, with safety
TO the unhappy man, he was raised from the water.
II was sometime before he could speak-but when
he did, il was only to protest his innocence, but in
manner, and tone ofvoce, that bore witness to