Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-09-08

ed IN black, and with black masks on their
faces, presented themselves. They arranged
themselves in the form of court, and Dow
ME, pale with terror, was given to under
stand that he was about TO be put on his
.Iral.
A judge took his seat on the bench a
clerk and public prosecutor sat below a
jury was empaneIleJ in front; and witness
es and spectators stood around. Downie
at first sci down the whole affair as Joke
but the proceedings were conducted with
such persistent gravity, that, in spite of him
sell, he began 10 believe IN the genuine mis-
sion of the awful tribunal. The clerk read
! an indictment, charging him with conspir-
ing against the liberties of The students
witnesses were examined in due form; the
public prosecutor addressed the Jury, and
the Judge summed up.
"Genllemen,o said Downie, ssthe Joke has
been carried far enough-il is getting late,
aud my wife and family will be getting an
xous abou, me. If have been too strict
with you III time past. J am sorry for il, and
! assure you will lake more care in fu-
ture."
'Genllemen of The jury" said the judge,
without paying the sightes. attention to
this appeal. ''consider your verdict; and, if
you wish to retire, do 500
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 no,
] the slightest movement
The jury returned and recorded verdict
Of Gully.
The Judge solemnly resumed hugh
black cap, and addressed The prisoner.
"Richard Downie the jury have unani-
mousy found you guilty of conspiring a.
gainst the just liberty and immuni,es of the
students of MarischaI College. You have
wonlonIy provoked and insuIed those in
offensive lieges for some months, and your
punishment. will assuredly be condign. You
mus. prepare for death. In fifteen minutes
ia eff CT"
The judge placed his watch on the bench
A block, an axe, and a bag of sawdust were
brought into the centre Of the room. A
figure more terrible than any that had ap-
peared came forward, and prepared TO acl
The part Of doolnsler.
il is now past midnight, there was 20
Sound audible save the ominous ticking oflhe
iiudge's watch. Downie became more and
more alarmed.
"For mercy sake, gentlemen" said the
terrified man, 'let me home. promise that
you never again shall have cause for COM
plain,."
"Richard Downie," remarked the Judge,
| "yona are vainy wasting the few moments hat
are leil you on earth. Youare in ,hehands of
those who must have your life. No human
power can save you. Attempt to utter one cry,
and YOU are seized and your doom complet-
ed before you can Mler another. Every
one here present has sworn a solemn oath
never 10 reveal the proceedings of this night;
they are known 10 none but ourselves !;
and the object for which we have met is &C.
complished, we shall disperse unknown to
any one. Prepare, then, for death another
five minutes will be allowed, but no more"
The unfortunate man, in his agony of
deadly terror, raved and shreked for mercy;
but the avengers paid no heed 10 his cries.
His ievered, trembling lips then moved as
if in silent prayer; for he felt that the brief
space between him and eternity was but a
few more ,ickings of that omlnous watch.
'Now!" exclaimed the judge.
Four persons stepped forward and seized
Downe, on whose features a cold, clammy
sw eat had burs. forth They barred his neck,
and made him kneeI before the block.
'.Sllike! - exclaimed the Judge.
The eXeculioner struck the axe on the
floor; an assistant on the opposite side lifted
at the same moment a wet towel, and struck"
it across The neck Of the recumbent crimi-
nal. A loud laugh announced that the joke
had at last come TO an end
But Downie responded not to the uproar-
ious merrmen, they laughed again,-bul
s'lI he moved not,-lhey lifted him, and
DownIe. was dead
Fright had killed him as effectualIy as if
the axe of real headsman had severed his
head from his body.
1t was a tragedy 10 all. The medical
students tried TO open vein, but all was
over and the conspritors had now TO be-
think themselves of safety, They now in
reality swore an oath among themselves :;
and The affrIghled young men, carrying then
disguises with Them, left The body of Dow
ME lying iE the hotel. One of their number
told the landlord that their entertainment
was not vet quite over, and that they did
not wish the individual that was left 10 the
room 10 be disturbed for some hours. This
was to give Them all time 10 make their es-
cape.
Next morning the body was found Ju-
dcjal inquiry was Instituted, but no salisfac-
tory result could be arrived at. The corpse
of poor Downie exhibited no mark of vio-
lence internal or external The ill-wil be-
tween him and the students was known it