Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-07


looking behind me for nearly a quarter OF
a mile and then I turned and ran back
swiftly upon my toes, for | felt a strong
conviction that something was wrong, al
though had no direct clue TO what it was.
! had taken sufficient notice Of the cottage
to reach it without any difficulty, and in
few minutes rather out of breath, | admit
i stood before it.
1t was one Of those cottages with door
in the centre, and latticed window at
each side, but there were shutters to the
windows on the inside, which provoking
ly prevented me from getting a glimpse
and there | stood, fancying there was some
secret within, but totally unable to find out
what it was. ianced, too, that / heard
the murmur of voices, and being resolved
not 10 5r foled, if possible, found my
way TO the back Of the cottage; there was
a little garden, the palings Of which / easi-
" surmounted, and thence got into kind
OF scullery or wash house. There was a
window exactly the level of my eyes, and
] at once saw into room, where a scene
was going on which transfxed me with
horror and astonishment.
The man and woman were both in the
room, and on a chair was placed small
common rough looking child's coffin. AT
the moment that looked into the apart
ment the woman was upon her knees, with
both hands uplitted as if in suppication,
while the man stood over her with his fist
cenched, and in an attitude as if to strike
her.
"Oh John, John 2" said she, you know
he is not dead. John have mercy-have
mercy. Do not 60 it. "Oh, God, do not
let him do it !"
'Peace, tool-peace | say, or YOU will
tempt me TO silence you most eflectually.
Get the child, get the child"
"John, John, it only slerps--it is not
dead. Oh God, oh God, it is not dead,
John. You know got the laudanum from
Mr.. Spragg, and you gave it. Oh no, no,
no. You cannot, now that it has come to
the point, put the living child in the cof-
fin. 1t will wakp-t will recover Oh.
oh! oh oh Kill me first"
"D--n you, you consented. You know
you consented and when Mrs. Blanchard
left you the twenty pounds, and said she
would not be back from France Tor year,
you consented to make away with the
brat"
81 was mad"
"You are mad now. But If you don't
get the child, will. 1t Won't wake till it
is under ground, in the morning, I'I be
bound, and then it don't matter. We
haven't killed it, after all. Didn't we send
for Mr.. Spragg, and didn't he look at it,
and say it was dead ~
'No, no, no, John. Mr.. Spragg came,
but he never went into the room where
the child lay. You know h. did not"
"Whats that to you Confound you,
the coffin is too small, or you should 90
into it as well. Oh, you won't leave 60,
won't you! We'll soon see about that
Take what you deserve"
A blow struck her down, and then he
stepped to a little bed that was in the room,
and took from it what looked like a sleep.
ing child, and crammed it into the coffin
HIS wife recovered sufficiently to see what
he was about, and clung to his knees
shriekinr. He struck her with his olsen
gagged hand, and commenced putting on the
lid of the coffin. ] ran round the housr
and snatchng mp stake, was about TO dast
in one of the windows, but / stayed my
hand, for ! thought | might do better.
John, John, John :" shouted, ga gen
tleman wants you at the Bull and Bush
directly"
hid myself instantly, and in about ;
minute the door opened, and the fellow ap
peared, shading a light with his hand.
"Who's that WHAT'S that % he cried
"who wants me? Mr.. Lane, is it, eh 3
Who called II must have iancied it
and yet it was so plain. | could hav
sworn it. Never mind"
He closed the door again, but | was no
disposed to give him any peace. He ha
given me hint upon which ! acted.
"John, john" ! cried again in a lou
voice "NIr. Lane wants you at the 'Bu
and BUSH directly"
AYho the devil is ii I" said he comm
to the door again in a moment "wher
are you Mr. Lane, did you say Pll CONF
of course, directly"
, He went into the cottage, as | guessed
to say something to bis wife and then i
about halt a minute be came out with h
hat on, and walked of in the direction {
the public house ! had named. l did M
/ now hesitate a moment, but went TO til
door of the cottage and raped at it. As
did SO, found that it yielded to my han'
, being merely placed close without faster
ing; so | went in at once, and passin
through the first room, reached the inn'
. one, where the woman was, whose con
, junction for the deed she had consented t
n had brought upon her so much III usage
> She was on her knees by chair, with h
q face hidden in her hardS.
I "Noman!" said ].
| She sprang up with cry of terror al
! laid my hand upon :he coffin lid, whlt
II | saw was nailed down. With my 9th
II hand pointed upwards and said, SGT
has seen this nights work."
e She shook for moment or two, and th'
fell into a swoon at my feet with hea'
] dab, as if she had been q corpse. har
mer and chisrl lay upon the next cha
id to that which held the coffin, aud my h
n care was TO wrench open the lid OF I
in death-lke receptacle, and rescue the chi
n The woman never moved and thong
p struck me that al once carried into pra
be tice. ] recollected having seen some loo
bricks in the yard, and dashing out, !