Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1852-11-26

They arranged themselves in the form OF a
court, and DOwnie, pale with terror. was given
TO understand be was about 10 be put on his
trial.
A Judge took his seat on the bench, clerk
and public prosecutor sat below a Jury was
empanneled in front; and witnesses and spec.
Iators stood around. Downie at first Sc, down
the whole affair as q joke but The proceedings
were conducted with such persistent gravity
that, in sPne Of himself, he began 10 believe in
The genuine mission OF The awful tribunal. The
clerk read an indictment, charging him with
conspring against the liberties OF the students
witnesses were examined 10 due form, the pub.
lie prosecutor addressed the jury, and The Judge
summed up.
Gentlemen" said Downie, the Joke has
been carried far enough-il is getting late, and
my wife and family will be getting anxious
about me. lfl have been too sIric. with YOU,
10 time past am sorry for it; and assure you
| will lake more care in fuIurc."
Gentlemen Of The jury" said The Judge.
without paying the slightest attention to Ibis ap.
peal, I" consider your verdict; aud if you wish
10 relire, do So"
The jury retired, During their absence the
most profound silence was observed ; and ex.
cepI renewing the solitary candle that burned
beside the Judge, there was not even the slight.
est movement.
The jury returned and recorded a verdict Of
" Guilty ~
The Judge solemu'y assumed huge black
car, and addressed lhe prisoner
Richard Downe The jury have unani.
mously found you guilty. Of conspirng against
the just liberties aud mmunIies Of The students
of Marschal College. You have wantonly
provoked aud insuIed those inoiIensve lieges
for some months, and your punishment will as.
susedly be condign. You must prepare for
death. ln fifteen minutes the sentence Of the
conu will be carried into effect"
The Judge placed his watch on the bench
A block, an axe, aud bag Of saw.dusI we're
brought into the center Of IhH room, figure
more terrible Than any that had yet appeared,
came forward aud prepared to lcl The part Of
doomsler,
1t was now past midnight; there was no
sound audible, save The ominous ticking Of The
Judges watch. DIVINE became more and more
alarmed.
For my sake, genllemcn," said the terrified
man, let me 90 home, promise that you
never again shall have cause for complaint"
Richard Downie." remarked the Judge,
" you are vaiuly wasting the few moments that
are left you on earth. You are in the hands
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 completed
before you can utter another. Every Que here
present has sworn solemn toalh never TO re.
veal the proceedings Of this nghI they are
known to none but ourselves and when the
ohjec1 for which we have met is accomplished,
we shall dIsperse unknown TO any one. Pre-.
pare, then, for death; the other five minutes
will be allowed. but no more"
! The unfortunate man, 10 The agony Of deadly
terror, raved and shreked for mercy, but the
revengers paid no heed to the cry. His fevered
trembling limbs moved as if in silent prayer;
for he felt that the; brief space between him and
eternity was but few more Iickings Of that
ominous watch. ...
"Now !" exclaimed the Judge. ..
=, Four persons stepped forward and seized
Downie, on whose features cold clammy sweat
had burst forth They barred his neck, and
made him kneel before The block.
"SIrike !" exclaimed the Judge.
The execulioner struck The axe upon the
floor an assistant on the opposite side at The
same moment lifted wet towel, and struck it
across the neck Of The recumbenI criminal. A
loud laugh announced that the joke had at last
come TO an end.
Blu. Dowuic responded not to the uproanous
merriment; they laughed again, but sliIl he
moved not; they lillel him-and Downe was
dead ..........
Fright had killed him us effectually as if the
axe Of "a real headsman had severed his head
from his body. .........
It was tragedy 10 all. The medca! stu
dents tried to open vein, but all was over, and
The conspirators had TO be,hnk themselves of
safety. They now in reality swore an oath
among themselves; and the afTrghled young
men, carrying their DISCUSSES win them, leI'
the body OF Downie laying in the hotel One
Of the number told the landlord that their en-.
tertainmenI was not yet over, and that they did
not wish TO be disturbed for some hours. This
was to give them all lime 10 escape.
Next morning the body was found. Judicial
inquiry was insIitated but no satisfactory result
could be arrived at. The corpse of poor Dow
ME exhibited no mark of violence. internal or
external. The ill.wiIl between him and the
students was known; it was also known that
the students had hired apartments at the hotel
for theatrical representation. Downe had
been sent for by them but beyond this nothing
was known. No noise had been heard, and no
proof of murder could be adduced. OF TWO
hundred students a. the college, who could point
GU. The suspected 6ryl Moreover, the sludenis
: scattered over the city, and the magistrates
themselves had many of their own families
amongst the number, and it was not desirable
to 90 into The affair too mInuIely. DowuIe's
widow and family were provided for--and his
slaughter remained mystery; until about fit.
teen years aher its occurrence, gentleman on
his dealh.bed disclosed the whole particulars,
and asowed himself to have belonged to The
obnoxious class Of Students who murdered