, 1852-12-04

mission of the awful tribunal. The clerk
read an indictment, charging him with con-
spring against the liberties of the students :;
Witnesses were examined in due form the
public prosecutor addressed the jury aud
the judge summed up.
Gentlemen" said Downie, the jlke
has been carried far enough it is getting
late, and my wife and family will be getting
anxious about me. If have been too
strict with you in time past, ! am sorry for
it and assure you | will take more care
in future"
Gentlemen of the jury" said the judge,
without paying the slightest attention to this
appeal, consider your verdict; and if you
wish 10 retire, do So"
The jury retired. During their absence
the most profound silence was observed +;
and, except renewing the solitary candle that
burned beside the judge, there was not the
slightest movement.
The jury returned, and recorded YER
dict of +" Guilty"
The judge solemnly assumed a huge
black cap, add addressed the prisoner:
Richard Downie-The jury have unan-
imously found you guilty of conspiring
against the just liberties and immunities Of
the students Of Marischal College. You
have wontonly provoked and insulted those
inohensive lieges for some months, and your
punishment will assuredly be condign. You
must prepare for death In fifteen minutes
the sentence of the court will be carried in.
to effectp'
The judge placed his watch on the bench.
A block, an ak, and bag Of sawdusl were
brought into the centre of the room. A
figure more terrible than any that had yet
appeared came forward, and appeared to
act the part of dcAmster.
1t was now past midnight, and there was
no sound audible save the ominous ticking
of the judges watch. Downie became more
and more alarmed.
I" For any sake, gentlemen,p said the
terrified man, " let me 90 home. | prom
ise that you never shall have cause for com
plaint."
" Richard Downie," remarked the judge,
you arc vainly wasting the few moments
that are left you on earth. You are in the
hands Of those who must have your life. -
No human power can save you. Attempt
to utter one cry, and you arc seized, and
your doom completed, Lefore you can utter
another. Every one here has sworn a SOL
cmn oath never to reveal the proceedings of
this night. They are known TO none but
ourselves and when the object for which
we have met is accomplished, we shall dis
p5rsc unknown to any one. Prepare, then,
for death Another five minutes will be
allowed, but no more"
The unfortunate man, in an agony Of
deadly terror, raved and shriekcd for mer
cy but the avengers paid no heed to his
cries, His fovered, trembling lips then
moved as if in silent prayer; for he felt
that the brief space between him and eterni-
ty was but few more tickings Of that ON
inous watch.
Now" exclaimed the judge.
-Four persons stepped forward and seiz ID
Downie, on whose features a cold clammy
sweat had burst forth. They barred his
neck, and made him kncel before the block
Strike !" exclaimed the Judge.
The executioner struck The ak on the
fQor-an assistant on the opPSSite side lift
ed at the same moment a wei towel, and
struck it across the neck of the recumbent
criminalea A loud laugh announced that the
joke bad e last come to an end.
But Downie responded not to the uproar-
Ous merriment. They laughed again but
still he moved not They lifted him, and
Downie was dead
Fright had killed him as efiectually as ii
the ak Of a real headsman had severed his
head from his body
1t was a tragedy to ALL The medical
students tried to open a vein, but all was
over; and the conspirators had to bethink
themselves Of safety. They now in reality
swore an oath among themselves and the
ahrighted young men, carrying their dis
guises with them, le0 the body Of Downie
lying in The hotel. One of their number
told the landlord that their entertainment
was not yet quite over, and that they did
mol wish the individual that was left in the
room 10 be disturbed for some hours. This
was TO give them all time to make their es-
cape.
Next morning the body was found. Ju-
dicial inquiry was instituted, but no satisfac-
tory result could be arrivedai. The corpse
OF poor Downie exhibited no marks of yio-
lence, internal or external The ill-will
between him and the students was known.
1t was also known that. the students had
hired apartments in the hotel for a lhealri-
col representation that Downie had been
sent for BY them; but beyond this, nothing
was known. No noise had been heard, and
no proof of murder could be adduced. Of
two hundred students at the College, who
could point out the guilty or suspected 6ftyi
Moreover, the students scattered over the
city, and the magistrates lhems Ives bad