The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-02-08
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE
GALLOWS.

| We have already alluded 10 the eAtraor-
dnary case of John TaImadge, of one o'
the interior towns Of ihe State Of New
York, who, after being indicted for murder
and imprisoned for six months, was ionnd
10 be wholly innocent. The case is one OF
the most remarkable on record, and shows
how careful we should be in our judgments
and verLicts. A correspondent Of ihe New
York Mirror gives the following thrilling
narrative of the incidents connected with
the affair. Nothing more fully imbded with
startling interest can be found IN the most
absorbing works of fiction:
GlALLsroa Sra, Dec. 2i,h, lsie.
The most singular and astonishing de-
velopments that ever characterised the pro-
ceedinss Of a court of justice, have just
been made before The Oyer and TermIner
now sitting in this place. You remember
the case OF John Tslmddge, indicted here
last spring for the murder of VIM. L.
Dodge. the engineer who was killed by the
running of the cars from The track. The
catastrophe was produced by stones placed
bv the accused on the inside Of the rails
TalnaIge was worthy and intelligent
and wealthy farmer of the higher grade. and
up TO the time of his arrest had maintained
character and standing that placed him
beyond the reach of cnlumny. Yet he
was high spirited and passionate deend-
er of his own and the rights of others
And as the railroad passed through his
farm, he had been coolly sujecied TO the loss
of several cattle. run over by The cars, for
which the company refused all ,enunera-
ton, and in consequence Of which. much
litigation and bitter animosity had ensued
between the parties.
Talmadse had been heard 10 say, he
.hopeJ to God the cars would run off, and
this, together with the circumstance refer
red to, had concentrated public suspicion
upon him, and he was indicted AT length
two witnesses, (Trishmen connected with
the road) were found. who saw Talmadge
place the stones on the track. Their story
was simple and plausible, and there SEEM
ed on the part Of tie accused no possible
escape from the eallows. The man whom
I all had esteemed, who had been honored
by the people with many high public
trust, ard represented them in the STATE
legislature, was soon, in the reluctant be-
I lief of all, to swing upon The scalold, AM
expa,e the crime of deliberate cold hl"'de'
murder. In this state Of things the dayo
trIal arrived.
Thousands from all sections Of the coun
try crowded 10 tie scene, eager to ca'c'
everv movement, and listen with tearlu
eyes TO every word that seemed to make
agains, the prisoner. The most eminen
counsel were employed on both SIDES
The prisoner. perslslng in his entire 'nno'
cence. with pale conn'enance and an eye
of wild agony, sat trembling and restless
in his box.
The two principal witnesses took the
stand. They were calm and apparently
honest in the natural and plausible story
which they told, from the effect OF which
!, seemed impossible for the accused 10 es-
cane, His wife who sat BY his side, and
who, up to this moment, had preserved an
unexamplei composure, now burst into
flood of tears. and by her sobs interrupted
the proceedings OF the court; and the
friends of Talmadge began TO abandon all
hope and to prepare their minds Tor the aw'
,ul sentence, and 'he still more appalling
scene that was soon TO follow It.
Al this pon, movement Of the crowd
took place toward the door oil The courl
room, Make way, make way!' resounded
through the spacious hall. Two men
pressed up to the prisoners counsel and
whispered, asta'ed and almost brea'aiess'
in their ears. A fellow Irishman, who
had long known that the story Of lhe*s '"o
witnesses was all a fabrication, TO oolain
the reward offered for the detection oil the
man who placed the stones, had oeeh
moved by conscience to disclose H. anu 10
conduct another person TO the proo', posi-
tive and undenable, that when the 'a'a'
catastrophe occurred, they were not IN this
country, but in Ireland.
This proof was now presented 10 Tue
nrisouer's counsel. The witnesses were
placed upon the stand. The evidence oil
Talmadse's entire innocence was clear ana
uudeniable-the attorney for the people at
once moved permission 10 withdraw the
prosecution. aud TO arrest the two false
Witnesses on the spot, which was granted.
and such shout as rang through the mul.
u,ude present, never before ,hundered from
the windows Of a court house.
Talmadse was borne off on the shou''
ders of the people, and the booming OF a
SIX pounder as expressive of their exu''a.
ton. closed up on one Of the most novel
and exciting scenes that ever transplred 10
any court or country.