The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-08-28

"Rchard Downe," Remarked the Judge, "you
are vany uas,eing tie few moments that are
left you on earth. Yuu are in The hands of those
sho must have your life. No human power can
save you. Attempt to utter one cry, and YOU be
seized, and your doom CON ple,ed, before you can
utter another. Every one here has sworn sol
emn oath never to reveal the proceedings of this
night. They are known to none but ourselves ;
and when the object for which we have met is ac.
compl shed, we shall dlsperse unknown to any
one. Prepare, for death Another five minutes
will be allowed, but no more.
The unfortunate man. in an agony of deadly
terror. rayed and shrieked for mercy but the
yonfents paid no heed to his cries. His feycred
trembling lips then moved as if in silent prayer /;
for he felt that the brief space between him and
eternity was few more tickings Of that oDinous
watch.
Now !" exclaimed the Judge.
-Four per'ons stepped fuiward and seized Dow.
ME, on whose features cold cammy sweat had
btrst forth. They barred h,s neck, and made him
knecl before the block.
"Strike y exclaimed the Judge
The eXecutoncr struck tho aAe on the hoor---aD
assistant on the opposite side lifted at the same
moment a wet towel and struck it across the
neck Of the recumbent criminal. A loud laugh
end.
But Downe responded not to the uproarous
meriment. They laughed again--but still be mo.
we'd not. They lifted him, and Downie was dead !
Fright had killed him as efiectnally as If the
axe Of a real headsman had severed his head from
his body.
1t was a tragedy to all TIL. medical students,
tried TO open a vein, but all was over ami the
cOnspirators bad TO be'hlnk themselves Of safety.
They now in reality swore an oath among them
selves: and the atfrighted young men, carrying
their DISCUSSES with them left the BODY Of Dow.
ME lying in the hotel. One Of their number told
the landlord that their entertainment was not yet
quite over, and that they did not wish the indi, i.
dual that was left in the room TO be disturbed for
| some hours This was TO give them time to make
their escape.
Next morning the body was found Judicial in.
quiry was instituted, but no satisfactory result
could be arrived at The corpse OF poor Downc
, exhibited no mark Of violence, internal or txter.
nal. The i'll will between him and the students
was known 1t was also known that the student,
had hired apartments III the hotel. for theatri.
cal representation that Downie had been sent
for by themj but beyond this, nothing wa.
known No noise had been heard. and no proof
Of murder could be adduced OF two huddred
students at the college, who could point out the
guilty or suspected fflyi Moreover, the stu
dents were scattered over the city, and the mag
isirates Themselves had many Of their own km
lies among the number, and it was not desirable
10 60 into the affair too minutely. Downie's wid
ow and family were provided for and his saugh
ter remainedn n mystery-until sbou, fifteen year.
after it, occurrence. gentleman On his death bed
disclosed the whole particulars, and avowed him
self to have belonged to the obnoxious class o
| students who murdered Downie