Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-21

drawer, chest, press or cupboard, forced
and their contents scattered over the floor
In the garret, to which place the pool
little creature had probably fed, MilliC
was found covered with blood that flowed
from a stab in her side, her little hand
grasping an old bed post, while around
her neck, a white handkerchief was slight
ly knotted.
Upon the floor of the hall one of the
neighbors picked up squirrel with one
fore paw gone and its head scalped by g
rifle ball A young man who had been
chopping wood in a neighboring grove
Immediately recognized it as one W
had shot that afternoon he was by, and
picking it up, remarked to W the ex-
cellent shot he had made. W left
him in the direction of Woods house, with
the squirrel in his hand. The handker-
chief unwound from Miles neck had the
letters N. W., in one corner. True, these
were the initials of Miles own name, but
her mother positively aYowed she owned
no such article. Satisfied with these cir
cumstances the officer at once arrested
W. From the time the murder was
discovered to that of VS. arrest was
just two hours.
The prisoner was hurried to the nearest
magistrate, and the evidence I have de-
tailed, given before him. In addition to
this, spots of fresh blood were found on
his coat sleeve, and as Woods had been
robbed of some gold and silver coin, of a
peculiar character, two or three Of the
pieces were found upon the unfortunate
mans person. This riveted the final link,
and the crowd grew furious. Little Mil
lie, SO loved and loving. all remembered
as child of their own, and she to be
butchered for gold-the law seemed too
slow and mild for vengeance; and the
great crowd, now sWelled to hundreds,
swayed to and fro shouting angrily for
blood.
A convict but lately from prison, has
tened forward with rope, threw it over
a post while some of the citizens in answer
to this mute suggestion, hurried the un-
fortunate prisoner towards the impromptu
gallows.
The Rev. gentleman paid little attention
to the talkative official. as they paced
along. He was meditating upon the
thorns that had lined the way Of the trans
gressor; but he camly meditatcd. Trou-
bles of sSch magnitude touched him as
lightly as did the cold of the December
night his well protected person, and he
looked upon their trials as quietly as he
did the patches of cleaning snow as they
passed, or the star-beams that struggled
through the wintry mist.
"Oh! gentlemenp' screamed the young
man, frightened at what appeared his in
evitable fate. "Have mercy upon me
l am nnocent-indeed am-have mer-
cy.'
His voice was drowned in a roar from
the crowd. "Who had mercy on little
Millie kill him kill himr' and again
they pushed him toward the fatal post.
ooh, God" " cried the unhappy man in
bitter anguish and trembling like child,
"willno one pity me? 1 have widowed
mother-mercy, mcrcy-wait a little
while.''
One, alone, answered this last appeal,
young lawyer Of eminent ability, and
personally popular, sprung forward, sew
cred the rope, and then in clear, silvcry
voice that rung out high above the tumult,
said:
"My friends. be careful of your acts.
You are about to do what, in this man
you condemn-an awful murder. Chain
him down, do what you will to secure the
criminal, but respect the Law" ''And
give Squire B. a chance to clear
him" interrupted the convict have men
toned.
"To that man fresh from the cells,
have nothing to say. But to you, my
companions, neighbors, friends, appeal
earnestly appeal. Why will you do
this cruel thing What right have you
to commit murder? How will you an
swer to the great Giver of all good for
this Where is your authority ?''
"He who sheddeth mans blood, by
man shall his blood be she'd" responded
harsh, solemn voice, and the crowd tur-
ming saw, where a torch waved over a
stern, unfeeling face, the countenancc of
their preacher. 1t was a time when the
gathered feeling checked by some great
obstacle, pauses in its rash career, and
for moment there seems doubt which
way the tide will flow. The awful pas
sage so solemnly quoted, fell on the crowd
at that moment, when the slightest word
would have turned them from their pur-
pose, and stimulated as it seemed to them
by command from Heaven, they once
more seized their trembling captive. when
the old captain, whom W had imPor-
tuned for a passage, claimed to be heard ;
Comrades . said he, I" Squire B
thinks we hadn't ought to hang this fel-
low Well, I'll tell you what we'll do
He wanted to sail with me this day. de
shall do So Wen take him outside the
Bay-tie him in an open boat and set him
adrift. Then the Lord have mercy on
him. What say you?''
A shout of appreciation was the only
response, and they hurried W to