Washington telegraph., 1850-02-06

A MARROW ESCAPE FROM THE GALLoWS.
Our readers will no doubt recollect the
story of John Talmadge. of one of the
interior towns of New York, who, after
having been indicted for murder. by
wantonly placing stones on railway
track, and imprisoned for six months, was
found to be fully innocent. The CORES
pondent of the N. Y. Mirror gives the
following thrilling narrative of the incl
dents connected with the affair. Nothing
more fully imbued with startling interest
can be found in the most absorbing works
OF fiction:
BALLsToN SPA. Dec. "a, lS49.
The most singular and astounding de-
velopments that ever characterized the
proceedings of court Of justice have just
been made before the Oyer and Terminer
now sitting al this place. You remember
the case of John Tamadge, indicted here
last spring for the murder of William l..
Dodge, the engineer who was killed 10y
the running of the cars from the track.
The catastrophe was produced by stones
! placed by the accused on the inside of
the rails, Talmadge was all intelligent
and wealthy farmer of the higher grade.
and up to the time of his arrest had main
tanned a character and standing that
| placed him beyond the reach of calumny.
Net lac hiSt spirited end passion
ate defender Of his own and the nights
OF others. And as the railroad passed
through his farm, he had been coolv sub
jecteG to the loss OF several cattle Eiu
over by the cars, for which the company
refuses all remuneration, and in conse-
quence of which much litigation and
bitter animosity had ensued between the
parties.
Talmadge had been heard to say he
chopped to God the cars would run off, "
and this, together with the circumstance
referred to, had concentrated public sns-
pcion upon him, and he was indicted
Al length two witnesses Irshmen con-
nected with the road) we're found, who
saw Talmadge place the stones on the
! track. Their story was simple and plausl-
BILE, and there seemed on the part of the
| accused no possible escape from the gal
| lows. The man whom all has esteemed,
who had been honored by the people with
many high public trust, and represented
them in the State Legislature. was soon,
/, IL
upon the scaffold and expiate the crime
of deliberate cold-bloodeJ murder. In
this state of things the day Of trial arrived.
Thousands from all sections of the coun-
try crowded to the scene. eager to catch
every movement, aud listen with fearful
ewes to every WORD that seemed 10 make
against the prisoner. The most eminent
counsel were employed on both sides.
The prisoner, persisting in his entire IN
nocence, with pale countenance and an
eye Of wild agony sat trembling and rest
less in his box The two principal wit
nesses took the stand. They were calm
and apparently honest i'll the natural and
plausible story which they told, from the
effect of which it Sc eemed impossible for
the accused to escape. His wife, who
sat by his side, and who, up TO this mo-
ment, had preserved All uneXampled COM
posure, now burst into flood of tears,
and by her sobs interrupted the proceed
ings Of the court, and the friends of Tai
madge began to abandon all hope and 10
prepare their minds for the awful SELL
tence. and the still more appalling scene
that was soon to follow it.
At this moment movement of the
crowd took place toward the door Of the
courtroom. Make way, make way"'
resounded through the spacious hall
Two men pressed up to the prisoners
counsel and whispered, agitated and al
most breathless, in their ears A fellow
Irishman, " no had long known that The
story of these two witnesses was all
fabrication to obtain the reward offered
Tor the detection of the man who placed
the stones, had been moved by conscience
to disclose ii, and TO conduct another
person to the proof, positive AID undenla-
ble, that when the fatal catastrophe oc-
Cured they were not in this country. but
III Ireland. This proof was now present
ed to the prisoners counsel. The wit
nesses were now placed upon the stand.
The evidence of Talmadge's entire in
nocence was clear and niable-the
attorney for the people at once moved
permission TO withdraw the prosecution,
and TO arrest the two false witnesses on
the spot, which was granted. aid such d
shout as rang through the multitude pre-
sent never before Numbered from the
windows Ot a courthouse.
Talmadge was borne off on the should
ers OF the people, and the booming OF a g.
FOUNDER, as expressive OF their exultatiou,
closed up one OF the most novel and eX-
citing scenes that ever transpired in amy
court or country.
WHAT's CoMING?-The N. Y Mirror.
speaking of "nore astounding develop
&c -, tL,t 81