The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-10-16
from Dickens's Household Words.l
i" Who Murdered DOWnie ?"

tury; whenever any student of tn
MaFiSchal College, Aberdeen, incu
red the dispIeasure of the humber cit
zens, he was assailed with the question
"Who murdered Downie ?' Reply an
rejolnder generally brought on a coll
sion between TOWN and gown; ;" a
though the young gentlemen were ac
cused OF what was chronologically i'm
possible. People have right 10 be an
cry at being stigmatised as murdererS
when their accusers have probability OF
their side; but the taking off" o
Downie occurred when the gownsmen
SO maligned, were in swaddling clothes
But there was time, when to b.
branded an accom- Slice in the slaughte
. OF RichaFd Downie, made the blood rur
TO the cheek of many youth, ant
sent him home TO his books, thoughtfui
and subdued. Downie was sacrist o.
IJanltor at Marischal College. One o
his duties consisted in securing The
gate by certain hour; previous Il
which all the students had to assemble
in the common hall, where a Latin
prayer was delivered by the principal
Whether, in dischareing this function
Downle was more rigid than his prede-
cessor IN office, or whether he became
strlcter IN the performance of it at one
time than another, cannot now be as
certalned: but there can be no doubt
that he closed the gate with austere
punctuallty, and that those who were
not in the common hall within minute
of the prescribed time, were shut out
and were afterwards reprimanded and
fined by the principal and professors
The students became irritated at this
strictness. and took 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 colIegians
and the humble functionary. .Downie
took care that in all his proceedings he.
kept within the strict letter of the laws;;-
but his opponents were not so careful,
and the decisions of the rnlers were
uniformly against them, and in favor of
Downie. Reprimands and fines having
failed in producing due subordnatfon,
rustlcatlon, suspension, and even the.
extreme sentence of expulsion, had TO.
be put in force and. in. the end, law
and order prevailed. But secret and
deadly grudge continued to be en-
tertained against Downie Various,
schemes of revenge were thought Of
Downie was. in common with teach
ers and taught, enjoying the leisure of
the short New Years vacation-the
pleasure being no doubt greatly en-
hanced by the annoyances 10 which he
had been subjected during the recent
bickerlngs-when, as he was one eve
ming seated with his family in his off,
cial residence at the gate, a messenger
informed him thai a gentleman at
neighboring hotel wished to speak with
him. Downie obeyed the summons,
and was ushered from one room into
another, till at length he found himself
In large apartment hung with black,
aud lighted by solitary candle. After
for some time in this strange
place, about fifty figures, also dressed in
black, and with black masks on their
aces, presented themselves. They ar
'anged themselves in the form of a
Court and Downie, pale, with terror,
was given 10 understand that be was
lbont to be put on his trial.
A Judge took his seat on the bench;
! clerk and public prosecutor sat below
! jury was empannelled in front, and
witnesses and spectators stood around.
)ownie at first set down the whole af-
air as a joke !; but the proceedings were
with such persistent gravity,
hat, i'll spite of himself, he began to
'elleYe in the genuine mission of the
wful tribunal The clerk read an in
lctment, charging him with conspiring
galnst the liberties of the students
were examined in due form,
he public prosecutor addressed the Jury
nd the Judge summed up.
" Gentlemen" said Downie, @the
ike has been carried far enough-it is !
citing late, and my wife and family !
ill be getting anxious about me. fl /
ave been too strict with you in time l
asst. | am sorry for il, and / assure you =,
will take more care in futuren.
g Gentlemen of the jury,n said the )
ldge, without paying the slightest at t
,ntion to this, appeal, consider your Il
erdict; and, if you wish to retire, do :
~ 80 ttF A slE a
The jury retired. During their alb /
,nce the most profound silence was OBJ
.rved and except renewing the soli-
ry candle that burnt beside the indge :
ere was not the slightest movement l
Thejury returned and recorded YER h.
ct of guilty. ;,
The judge solemnly assumed a huge i
ack cap, and addressed the prisoner. \
"Richard Downie The jury have 7
found yon guilty of con- c,
'iring against The just liberty and i'm ', p
unities of the students of MarischaI .,
allege. You have wantonly provoked
I'd insulted those inoffensive lies es for n,
me months, and your punishment will :
suredly be condign. You must pre-
re for death. In fifteen minutes the 4
ntence of the Court will be carried :
to effect" =
The judge placed bis watch on the "
nch. A block, an axe, and bag of
wdust were brought into the centre of *
e room. A@fgnre more terrible than