Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-09-10
From the Household Words.
IS who Murdered Downie."

ischal College, Aberdeen, incurred the dis
pleasure Of the humber citizens, he was
assalled with the question who murdered
Downie 2 Reply and rejoinder generally
brought on a collision between town and
gown although the young gentlemen
were accused of what was chronologically
impossible. People have a right to be
angry at being stigmatized as murderers,
when their aceusers have probability on
their side; but the taking off, of Dow
ME occurred when the gownsmen, so ma
llgncd, were in swadding clothes.
But there was time, when to be BRAN
ded as an accomplice in the slaughter of
Richard Downie, made the blood run to
the cheek of many youth, and sent him
home to his books, thoughtful and subdu-
ed. Downle was sacrist or iantor at
Marlschal College. One of his duties
consisted in securing the gate by certain
hour; previous TO which all the students
had to assemble in the common hall,
where latin prayer was delivered by the
principal. Whether, in dischareing this
function, Downie was more rigid than his
predecessor in Office, or whether he be-
| came strcter in the performance of it at
one time than another, cannot now be
acertained but there can be no doubt
that he closed the gate with austere pune
| tuallty, and that those who were not in
the common hall within a minute of the
prescribed time, were shut out, and were
afterwards reprlmanded and fined by the
principal and professors. The students
{ taH ott Il IL
every petty means of annoying the sacrist;
he, in his turn applied the screw at other
! points of academic routine, and fierce
war soon began to rage between the col
legians and the humble functionary. Dow
ME took care that in all his proceedings he
kept within the strict letter of the law,
but his opponents were not so careful, ard
/ the decisions of the rulers were uniformly
. against them, and in favor of Downie
Reprimands and fines having failed in pro-
duclng due subordination, restriction, Sus-
! pension, and even the extreme sentences
OF expulsion had to be put in force and
in the end, law and order prevailed. But
secret and deadly grudge continued to
! be entertained against Downie. Various
/ schemes of revenge were thought of.
/ Downle was, in common with teachers
and taught, enjoying the leisure of the
! short New Years vacation--the pleasure
/ being no doubt greatly enhanced by the
| annoyance to which he had been subjected
! during the recent chickering's as he
was one evening seated with his family
III his official residence at the gate, mes
senger informed him that gentleman Of a
! nelghborlng hotel wished to speak with
hlm. Downie obeyed the summons, and
was ushered from one room into another
until at length he found himself in large
/ apartment hung with black, and lighted by
4 solitary candle. After waiting some
! time In this strange place, about fifty
! figures also dressed with black masks on
their faces, presented themselves They ar
ranged themselves in the form of a Court
and Downie, pale with terror, was given
/ to understand that he was about to be put
| 10 his trial
A Judge took his seat on the Bench
clerk and public prosecutor sat below, a
| jury was empaneed in front, and witness
ses and spectators stood around. Dow
ME at first set down the whole affair as
Joke; but the proceedings were conducted
with such persistent gravity, that, in spite
OF himself he began to believe in the
genuine mission of the awful tribunal.
The clerk read an indictment, charging
him with cOnspIring against the liberties
of the students; witnesses were examined
in due form, the public prosecutor address
sed the jury and the judge summed up.
Gentlemen, said Downie, the Joke
has been carried far enough-it is getting
late, and my wife and family will be get
ting anxious about me. If | have been
too strict with you in time past, am sor-
ry 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 to retire, do So
The jury retired. During their absence
the most profound silence was observed /;
and except renewing the solitary candle
that burnt beside the judge, there was not
the slightest movement.
The jury returned and recorded YER
dict of guilty.
The judge solemnly assumed huge
black cap, and addressed the prisoner:
Richard Downie the jury has unani-
mously found you guilty of conspiring
against the just liberty and immunitles OF
the students Of Marischal College. You
have wantonly provoked and insulted
those inofensive lieges for some months
and your punishment will assuredly be
condlgn. You must prepare for death.
In fifteen minutes the sentence of the
Court will be carried into effect
'Ihn i,nI1rn r,Innnd H. tnh IL,