Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-01
MISCELLAN N Y,
ssvVhO Murdered DOyYnieW %


About the end of the eighteenth century
whenever any students of the Marlscha
College, Aberdeen, incurred the displeas
ure of the humber citizens, he was assail
ed with the question, "Who murdered Dow
ME ," Reply and rejoinder generally bro
on collision between clown and gown; )
although the young gentlemen were accus
ed of what was chronologically impossible
People have right to be angry at being
stgmatised as murderers, when their ac
cusers have probability on their side; but the
"taking off, of Downie occurred when the
gownsmen, so maligned, were in swaddlins
clothes.
But there was time, when to be brand
ed 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 subdued.-
Downie was sacrist or janitor at MarischaI
College. One of his duties consisted in Sc.
curing 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 discharging this function, Downie was
more rigid than his predecessor in office, OIL
whether he became stricter in the perform.
ance of it at one time than another, cannot
now be ascertained; but there can be nc
doubt that he closed the gate with austere
punctuality, and that those who were not in
the common hall within minute of the pre-
scribed time, were shut out, and were after
wards reprimanded and fined by the pin
cipal and professors. The students became
irritated with this strictness, and took eve
ry 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 collegians and
the humble functionary. Downle took care
that IN all his proceedings he kept within
the strict letter of the law; but his oppo-
nents were not so careful, and the decisions
of the rulers were uniformly against them,
and in favour of Downie. Reprimands and
fines having failed in producing due subor-
dination, rustication, 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 entertained against
Downie. Various schemes ofrevenge were
thought of.
Downie was, in common with teachers
and taught, enjoying the leisure ofthe short
New Years vacation-the pleasure being
no doubt greatly enhanced by the annoyan-
ces to which he had been subjected during
the recent bickerings-whcn, as he was one
evening seated with His family in his Off
cial residence at the gate. messenger In
formed him that gentleman at neighbor-
ing hotel wished to speak with him. Dow
ME obeyed the summons, and was ushered
from one room into another, TIL at length
he found mmselfin large apartment hung
with black, and lighted by a solitary can
die. After waiting for some time in this
strange place, about fifty figures also dres-
sed in black, and with Black masks on their
faces, presented themselves in the form of
a Court, and Downie, pale with terror, was
given to understand that he was about to
be put on his trial.
A Judge took his seat on the bench a
clerk and public prosecutor sat below; a
jury was empanneled IN front and wit
hesses and spectators stood around. Dow
ME at first set down the whole affair as a
joke but the proceedings were conducted
with such persistent gravity, that In spite
Of himself, he began to believe in the gem
uine mission of the awful tribunal. The
clerk read an Indictment, charging him with
conspiring against the liberties of the stu
dents; witnesses were examined in due
form, the public prosecutor addressed the
jury and the judge summed up.
Gentlemen" said Doynie, "the joke has
been carried far enough-it is gettihg G late,
and my wife and family will be getting anx-
ious about me. If have been too strict
with you in time past, | am sorry for it,
and assure you will take more care in
fdture:''
Gentlemen fthe 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
.iidl ouiut uealue tne JuuSe tne[e wa hol
the slightest movement.
The jury returned and recorded verdict
of GUIEry.
The ejudge solemnly assumed huge black
cap, and addressed The prisoner.
Richard Downie The jury have u
found you guilty of conspiring
against the just liberty and immunities of
the students of Marischal College. You
have wantonly provoked and insulted those
inotfensive 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 into effect"
The judge placed his watch on the bench.
A block, an axe, and bag of sawdust were
brought into the centre ofthc room. A fig
ure more terrible than anv that had VET an