Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-12-15
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

stantial evidence and hung. About Tires
months after his death, the Judge who press
ded at the trial received a note from prisoner
under sentence of death, requesting to see him
! without delay, as his sentence was to bo Carl
ed into effect the day following. On his wa,
thither he Hertook an old man WALKING SLOW.
ly, who accosted him and recognized him to by
Caleb Grayson, who had been witness at Us
trial. and had a similar note Of his own, but e.
| qualify at loss 10 know the meaning of the
summons. They both entered the cell togeth-
er. The prisoner did not move, but raised his
head, when Grayson recognized having seen
him at tavern the night before Blake ey.-
cution and at the gaIlows.
swell Judge" said he, 81 sent for YOU 10
see if you can't get me out of this scrape.-
Must hang Tomorrow"
The Judge shook his head: dts idle to hope.
nothing can prevent your execution"
IAN application might be made to the high
est authoritiess" said the prisoner. ''Pardons
have come sometimes on the scaifDlJ.''
"None will come to your case" replied the
Judge, sit is needless for me to dwell upon
your offence now, but it was one that had uu
Pallistion, and you may rest assured, that what
ever may have occurred in other cases, no par.
don will come In yours. In fact, / unders aud
that an application has been made for one, by
your COuileSl, AM mas Deen refused" =
Fhe features of the prisoner under went 10
change; nor did the EXPIRE sslon of his face al
ter in the least. But after a moments pause,
he said: alt is true, Jndge-upon your ho.Iorr
sit IS replied the Judge.
''Fhen know the worst" replied the crin-
inal coliy, 'sand will n5w tell, what | haze to
communicate, which L would not have done,
while there was hope of escape. You," said
he, turning to the Judge, "presided at the tri Il
OF young Harry Blake, who was accused Of
murder, and sentenced him to death.'
81 did,"
Sand you,' said he, turning to Grayson,-
''were one OF the witnesses against him. leu
swore that you saw him stab Wickliffc. u.
our testimony principally he was hung.n
~ was" replied the old man; 81 saw him
with my own eyes"
The prisoner uttered low sneering laugh,
as he said turning to the Judge:
"fou, sir; sentenced an innocent man."
Sand yon," said he, turning to the other
''swore to a falsehood. Harry Blake did NOT
Kill Wicklitie. He was as innocent of the sin
OF murder as you were-nore innocent than
YOU are now
The old man staggered as if he had beeu
struck, and leaned against the table to support
himself; whilst the condemned felon stool vp-
posite him, looking at him with an indiiur, ut
air.
"Yes, old man. said he sterniy, 9vou have
blood an perjury on your soul, for |, l." sad
he, stepping forward, SO that the light OF The
lamp fell strongly upon his features. 81 muir
dered William Wickiiife. did it! Thank
God did {, for | had hong score to settle
with him. BIt Blake had no hand in il.
met Wickliife on that afternoon, aione-yith
none TO Interfere between US. | told bm OF
the injuries he had done me, and told hIm that
time vas come for redress. He endeavored to
escape but followed him up: | grappled sill,
him, and stabbed him. AS did so, heardthe
CHATTER OF horses he :, and leaps d into a clun,
of bushes, which grew at the road side As
that moment Blake came up, and found WicA-
life lying dead in the road. You know the rest.
The tale he told WIS as true US gospel. IIe
was only attempting to draw the knife from the
mans breast, when You came up and charged
him with the murderl'
''Good God. can this be possiblel" eiacul III
the old man. SIT cannot VilIain-you are d
liar"
"Pshaw!' muttered the man. "What colla
[ gain BY lie? Tomorrow de-"
al don't believe It'll don't believe it, exa
claimed Grayson. pacing the cell and wrn ring
his hands God in mercy grant it may be false.
that this dreadful sin may not be cast upon mef
The prisoner sat down, and looked at the
Judge and the witness with calmness who's
had something almost fendish in it, when con-
trasted with the extreme 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 assumed in the
midst of a peroxysm of remorse, that il even
overawed the criminal. said, "You are one
whose life has been tissue of falsehood iani
crime. You must prove what you have sad,
or I'll not believe it,
s.De it So" replied the prisoner, 81 saw the
whole transaction, and heard all your testimo-
nv at the trial, for l was there too. I'll now
tell yoa what occurred on the spot Of the mnr-
der, which you did not mention, but which ]
saw. When you rode W, the man with you
Jumped of his horse and seized Blake BY the
collar; yonr hat fell Of on the pommel Of youf
saddle, but Won caught il. before it reached the
ground. You then sprang of your horse, end
whilst Walton held Blake, yen examined the
BODY. You attempted 90 pull out the knife from
his breast, but 10 was covered with bfoodi slips
ped from your fingers. You rubbed your hn nd
on the ground and going 20 bush on the road-
side, broke of come leaves and wiped your hands
upon them and afterwards the handle of the
knife. You then drew il out and washed il in
small puddle Of water at the foot of the sumacl1
bnsh. As you did sp.vou looked at Blske, who
was Sdnfiny WIFI tDlueu Rims, ana VINO SAIL,
"Don't be uneasy ahout me, Caleb; didn't Kill
Wicklife, .,i don't intend to escape" Atore
time you we're within six feet Of where was.
It's lucky yei did not 6na re, for was really
AT that moment 70 send you to keey company
with Wickliie: but | saw all. even when ynu
stumbled ard droppcd your gloves, as you nfourf-
ted your horse"
"God have mercy on mew CALCULATED Grtvl
SON. This is all true. Bit one word mnres
heard wicklif'e. as we rode up, shrek OUT
'mercy, mercy, Harry'
"fle was begging for his life-my first name
is Harry
The old man clasped his hands across his
face, and fell senseless on the floor.
1t is needless to 60 into the details of the
prisoners confession, which was so full and
clear, that it left no doubt on the mind of the
Judge that he was guilty of Wicklffes nur,iet
and that Harry Blake was another who Rad
III IL, e f.