Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-10-21
M MISCELLANY Y.
Who Murdered Downie 2"

bier citizens, he was assailed with the question
who murdered Downje!' Reply and reioiud
er generally brought on collision between
town and gown although the young gen.
tlemen were accused of what was chronoloqi
cally impossible. People have right 10 be
angry at being stigmatized as murderers, when
their accusers have probability on their side
but the taking off of Downie occurred when
the gownsmen, maligned, were in swaddlinQ
clothes.
But there was a time, when to be branded
as an accomphce 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 Marischal College. One of his
duties consisted in securing the gate by GER
tain 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, Downe
was more rigid than his predecessors in office,
or whether he became stricter in the perform
ance OF 1t at one time than another, cannot now
be ascertalned but there can be no doubt that
he closed the gate with austere punctualiiy.-
and that those who were not in the common
hall within minnie Of the prescribed time
were shut out and were afterwards reprimand-
ed and fined by the principal and professors.-
The students became irritated at this strictness,
and took every petty means of annoying the
sacrlst; he, in his turn applied the screw at
other points of academic routine, and fierce
war soon began to rage between the colegians
and the humble functionary. Downie took
care that in all his proceedings he kept within
the strict letter of the law but his opponents
were not so careful, and the decisions of the
rulers were uniformly against them, and in
favor of Downie. Reprimands and fines hav-
ing failed in producing due subordination, rus
tication, suspension, and even the extreme SEN
tence of expulsion had to be put in force and
IN the end, law and order prevailed But a
secret and deadly grudge continued to be en-
tertained against Downie Various schemes OF
revenge were thought of.
Downie was in common with teachers and
taught, enjoying the leisure of the short New
Years vacation-the pleasure no doubt being
greatly enhanced by the annoyaScv to which
he had been subjected during me recent bick-
erlngs-when, as he was one evening seated
with his family in his official residence at the
gate, messenger informed him that gentle
man at neighboring hotel wished to speak
with him. Downie obeyed the summons, and
was ushered from one room to another, till at
length he found himself in large apartment
hung In black, and lighted bya solitary candle.
After waiting for some time in this strange
place, abou: fifty figures, also dressed in black
and with black masks on their faces, presented
themselves. They arranged themselves in the
form of court, and Downie, pale with terror,
was given to understand he was about to be put
on trial
Judge took his seat on the bench a clerk
and public prosecutor sat below jnry was
empannelled in front; and witnesses and spec
tators stood around. Downe at first set down
the whole affair as joke but the proceedings
were conducted with such gravity, that, in
spite of himself, he begun to believe in the
genuine mission of the awful tribunal. The
clerk read an Indictment, charging him with
consplring against the liberties of the students;
witnesses were examined in due form, the pub
lie prosecutor addressed the jury, and the Judge
summed up.
Gentlemen said Downie, this joke has
been carried far enough-it is getting late,
and my wife and family will be getting
anxious about me. If | have been TOO strict
with you in time past, | am sorry for it =
and | assure you that will take more care in
future
Gentlemen of the jury said the Judge, with
out paying the slightest attention to this appeal,
consider your verdict and if you wish 10 re-
tire, to do so
The jury retired. During their absence the
most profound silence was observed and ex-
cept renewing the solitary candle that burnt
beside the judge, there was not the slightest
movement
The jury returned and recorded the verdict
of GUILTY.
The Judge solemnly assumed huge black
cap, and addressed the prisoner:
Richard Downie The jury have unani-
mously found you guilty of conspiring against
the just liberty and immnnities of the students
of Marischal College, you have wantonly pro-
voked and insulted those inoffensive lieees for
some months, and your punishment will assur-
edly be condign. Yon must prepare for
death. In Just fifteen minutes the awful sen-
tence of the court will be carried into Of
| feet
The judge placed his watch on the BENCH
A block, an axe, and bag of sawdust were
brought into the centre of the room. A figure
more terrible than any that had yet appeared
came forward, and prepared to act the part of
doomster.
1t was now past midnight; there was no
sound audible save the ominous ticking of the
jndge's watch. Downie became more and
more alarmed.
For mercy sake, gentlemen said the ter
rifed man, let me go home. | promise
that you never again shall have cause for
complaint
Richard Downe,' remarked the Judge, you
are vainly wasting the few moments that are
left Won on earth. You are in the hands of