Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-10-24

Ills name was Jason Creel, DIS place oI Tlsl'
dence said to be Virginia. He had been take
up while travelling from the Northwards to his
home, and tried and convicted at country town
some miles distant, for the murder of traveller
who had borne him company from the Lakes,
and was ascertained to have large sum Of mon
ey with him, and who was found in the room
in which they both slept, at country inn, near
Redclif, with his throat cut. Creel always had
protested his innocence, declaring that the deed
was perpetrated by some one while he was a.
sleep; but the circumstances were against him ;
and although the money was not found on him,
he was sentenced to be hung, and had been re-
moved to the old stone jail at Redclf for secu-
rity, the county Jail being deemed unsafe. This
was the day the execution was TO take place
the scaffold was already erected the crowd
pressed round the building, and frequent cries of
I" Bring out the murderer" J" were heard.
The sun at LAST told the hour ofaeleven, and
there could be no more delay; the convict's cell
was entered by the officers in attendance, who
aroused him with the information that all was
ready for him without, and babe him hasten to
his execution; they laid hands upon him and
pinioned him tight, while he looked up towards
heaven in wild astonishment as one new born
and only said, The dreum--the dream!"
"What dream, Mr.. Creel ?" said the sheriff;
"you would do me great kindness if you would
dream yourself and me out of this disagreeabls
business"
81 dteamed," replied the convict, " that while
you read the death-wlrrant to me on the scuffold
q man came through the crowd and stood before
us, in grey dress, with white hat and large
whiskers, and that bird Auttered over him anc
sang distinctly, This is Lewis, the murderer o
the traveller"
The officers and jailor held a short consulta
ton, which ended in determination to lool
sharply after the man in grey with the whit
hat; accompanied with many hints of the res
lgnatlon of the prisoner, and the possibility o
his inoncence being asserted by supernatura
agency. The prison, doors were closed, an
Cree, pale and feeble, with a hymn,book in hi
hand, and a mein all meekness and humility
was seen tottering from the prison to the scat
fold. He had no sooner ascended it, than hi
eyes began to wander over the vast concours
of people around him, with scrutiny that seem
ed like faith in dreams; and while the sheri
read the warrant, the convict's anxiety appeare
to increase he looked, and looked again; the
raised his hands and eyes moment towards th
clear sky, as If breathing a last ejaculation
when, lo as he resumed his first position, tn
very person he described stood within six feet
the ladder The prisoners eye caught the sigh
and flashed with fire while he called out "Ther
is Lewis, the murderer of the traveller" and tn
hjailor at the came moment seized the strange
by the collar. At first he attempted to escape
but being secured, and taken before the magi'
trates, he confessed the deed, detailed all tt
particulars, delivered up part of the money, il
formed where another part was hidden, and WI
!. fully committed for trial-while Creel was S
, at liberty, and hastened like a man out of b
senses from the scaffold
|, Three days had elapsed Creel had vanish
y Immediately after his liberation, when the pl
=, tended Lewis astonished and conlounded the m
= gistrates by declaring Creel to be her husban
that she had concealed the disguise, and pertor
- ed the whole part by his discretion; that he
. given her the money, which he had successful
y concealed and that the whole, from the pris
" to the scaffold scene, was contrivance to eff
y his escape, which having affected, she was
gardess of consequences.
l. Nothing could be done with her-she v
set at liberty, and neither she nor her husba
= was heard Of again.