Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-08-14

! "oo wv CbtuCHts anu dS uC iaJ AZ eh'
store with bis feet and hands bound
with strong cords, looking dirty anC
ragged, with the blood dripping from
his arm, where a ball had lodged
from the revolver Of Dory, | could
not help plying the poor wretch
He must have read compassion in
my face. for making an effort to sit
upright, in which be was not success
Iul, he asked me for a drink of water.
| instantly handed him some, and af-
ter drinking heartily he appeared to
be relieved. | asked him il there
was anything else ] could do for him.
he remained silent for momentand
then said: s
"The Judge has appointed you to
see that the sentence is carried into
effect, has he not?" ma
81 am sorry to say that he has,
Morgan" answered. saJ -i
swell, never mind. | would ra-
ther it were you than some others
here. But have a particular favor
to ask Of you. Perhaps you will
laugh, aud think it weakness, but
| can't help ii. Have you a Bible in
your tentr' ,sr- si-a a
told him that | never Travelled
without one, and that | would be
happy to read it to him. 1900 a, a
"Thank you," he said, Sl have not
looked into one for years, more
shame to me; il had followed its
precepts, | should not have been
here" alwra1i hss5
| left him and walked back TO my
tent. How | hated myself for the
part had got 10 play in the murder,
for | could call it no better. 1t was
in vain that ! pondered plans to es-
cape from my task. | could see no
remedy, and the idea that ! must as
sist in the execution almost drove me
frantic. ia' ..-.a
1t was now about nine. Morgan
had one hour more TO live. ] went
10 the head of my bed, and taking
my Bible, left for the store where the
prisoner was confined. A large col
lection Of people had assembled from
the different bars, and were passing
the time away in taking one or two
drinks, TO give them an appetite for
the tragedy that was soon TO be en-
acted.
"Make way for the sheriff." shou-
ted one or two noisy fellows, as ! en-
deavored to force my way into the
presence Of Morgan.
"Looks a id sight more like a
preacher. Don't you see his bible?"
said another. l-
| passed into the store, where |
found Morgan seated on a box. He
looked pale and thoughtful, but
smile illumined his countenance
when he saw that ! had brought the
book with me. .GH 7fat1st,i
81 had almost given you up" he
observed as seated myself by him.
made no reply, but commenced
reading chapter in low voice.
In an instant every head was un-
covered within hearing, and all was
still within the store. Morgan lis
tened with. great attention, but by
the time that had finished the third
chapter, the loud voice OF Jones cal
led out: .llzaeisii ST u.L
"Time's up, bring out the priso-
ner." T9a ra}-Ffuest9 SIT
Isiowly closed the book and arose.
Morgan also arose, and | cut the
cords that bound his feet and stepped
towards the entrance Of the store.
He was now very pale, whether from
loss OF blood or anxiety, | did not
know. 11 GH- iIeli 3I'i-a a6i
Whi1e | had been reading to him,
they had drawn lots on the outside,
and six Of the best marksmen had the
chance Of shooting at the poor Eel.
low. Their rifles were taken and
loaded BY third party. two of them
with nothing but powder, so that it
should not be known who shot him.
We walked along with the priso-
ner to the spot that had been chosen.
# was high plain just back of the
store. | asked Morgan il be was
ready. 5'i = ~
"Out these confounded cords, and
take my jacket off, so that can
stand up like num- he answered.
| unbound his hands. and commen-
ced removing his jacket, when some-
thing tell to the ground. / stopped
to pick it up, and found that it was a
miniature. 1t represented a young
and beautiful. female, holding in her,
arms babe, apparently only few
months old. The mother. was look
ing at the child with such look as
only a mother can give, while the
child appeared TO be making a play.
full effort to reach ringlet Of her
hair, which fell in long curls about
her neck. ! looked upward and
asked: "Morgan, whose portrait is