Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-05

cuuedNor 10 put stop TO the depredatiOn5
oil the horse thieves.
Shortly after this band commenced oper-
atoms, word was conveyed to the leaders Of
the Rangers that valuable horse. which
had been stole the night previous, could
then be found on the premises of man
namei Burt, locked up in the stable. Al
though Burt heretofore had been looked mp
on as an honest man and an upright citz-
en-, yet the Captain deemed 1t his duty to at
least examine his farm and learn the truth
or ialsty of the report
Accordingly he summoned some huff
dozen of his Rangers to meet him at a spot
not far from Burt's house, and before morn
ing set out for the same place himself. Day
/ light was hardly discernible in the east aud
the hazy light of coming dawn had not yet
penetrated the bottom whereon the suspici-
Gus man resided, as the Rangers, charged
with the fearful mission of life or DEATH 81
lently approached and surrounded the
dwelling. Leaving three of the band to
guard the entrance, the Captain proceeded
with the others to the stable broke open the
door, aud found the missing horse, as had
been stated, safely stalled inside.
Not lingering doubt now remained Of
Bnrt's guilt, and with a stern determination
TO make such an example of him as would
deter others from like transaction, the
Rangers returned to the house In tie
meantime Burt had arisen, and upon coming
TO the door, was seized by those ia waiting,
and upon demanding the reason, was IN
/ formed that a stolen animal was found in
his stable, and that he was considered the
thief Aluttering something, about he
knew 'twould come to this at last, he quiet
Iy submitted to whatever fate his captors
had in store for him.
/ A short consultation was held, and it WAS
resolved to hang the criminal upon large
elm tree that grew in front of his own
house, It being deemed that such an at
would strike terror and dismay into tie
ranks Of horse thieves.
Burt had asked half an hour to prepare
/ for his death, and the sun had risen in al
his golden majesty, ere the fatal moment
had arrived which would launch him INTO
eternity. In vain had his grey headed faith
err aud mother pleaded for his life. with
trembling tongues-the old lady totteriug
forth from the dwelling, and kneeling in
suppliant mood to his apparently merciIess
captors. In vain had the wife of his bosom
knelt IN tears OF agony, and entreated them
as husbands To spare his lile-ior each
Ranger had suffered more or less in person,
and they deemed the example absolutely NJ
cessary to deter others, aud it seemed as
though Burt must die.
The dreadful preparations were compile
ted-the half hour had expred-and tie
criminal was arranged under limb of the
stout old elm, over which rope was
thrnun oua apb hatu.r u,,e,1 ,.,,,,J A..
prisoners neck, and the other held by three
of the Rangers.
Then came moment Of dreadful silence
that awful stiffness, which precedes tie
launching Of a lellow-being into eternity
while the three strong men who held tie
ropes end, gazed hxedly upon the Captain
for a signal. 1t was given by raising tic
right arm and already the moose was tight
enlng around the doomed mans neck,
when the wife OF Burt issued from tie
house holding an infant, a little more than
year old, in her arms.
Rushing forward, she fell on her knee
directly in front of the Captain, and raising
the child with arms outstrelched towards
him, she exclaimed in tone that would have
pierced heart Of steel
I If you will not spare him for the SAX
of his grey haired parents or the wife Of his
= bosom, spare him, in the name of God, for
= the sake OF his infant boyp
Another dead silence reigned like pail
over the spot then, as though inspired by
heaven itself the child also outstretched its
e little arms towards its parent, and exclaini
: ed in a voice heard by all, the single word
, Father =
The muscles Of the Captains face quiz
cred in every fibre, and the men who held
the rope slowly relaxed the pressure around
e the neck of Burt, when the infant again VI
c tered, in distinct tones
Father iatherp
;, And then, as though desparing of sue
c cess, huddled into its mothers bosom and
d burst into a sobbIng cry.
1t was more than the Rangers could
a stand, aud after short consultation, the
a rope was taken from the criminals throat
t and the band left and Burt became re
= formed man through the powerful effects Of
: his Infants Appeal