The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-10-22


!" YOU are vainly wasting the few moments
that are leit you on earth. You are in the
hands Of those that must have your life.
No human power can save You. Attempt
tOutier one cry, and you are seized, and your
doom completed before you utter another
Every one here present has sworn q solemn
oath never TO reveal the proceedings Of this
night; they ere known to none but ourselves;
and when the object for which we have met
Is accomplished, we shall difperse un-
known 70 any one. Prepare, then, for death
other ave minutes viii be allowed. but no
more"
The unfortunate man IN an agony Of
deadly terror, raved and shrieked for mer.
cy; but the avengers paid no heed 10 his
cries. His fevered, trembling lips then
moved as IL in silent prayer; for he felt that
the breif space between him and eternity
was but few more tickingso Of that Ominoul
watch.
eNowl" exclaimed The indge.
Four persons stepped forward and siezed
Downie, on whose features cold, clammy
sweat had burst forth. They barred hil
neck, and made him kneel before the block
"Strikelp exclaimed the Judge.
TheexeoutiOnefs struck the Ak on the hoori
an assistant on the opposite side lifted a
the same moment a wet towel, and struck il
lhcross the neck Of the Tecumbent criminal
4 A loud laugh announced that the Joke had
az last come to an end
But Dounie responded not to the uprOar.
ons meniment--they laughed again-bul
Istill he moved not--theY lllied him, anf
tD0Wni1 Is uead
Fright had killed him as efectually as i
the Ak Of a real headsman had severed his
head from his body.
II was tragedy to all. The medical stu
dents tried to open vein, but all was over
and the conspirators had now to bethinl
themselves of safety. They now in REALTY
swore an oath among themselves; and tn,
aifng ghteG young men. carrying their dis
lguises with them, left the body Of Downi
lying in the hotel. One of their number tolC
the landlord that their entertainment wa
not yet quite over, and that they did no
wish the individual that was left in tn
room TO be disturbed for some hours. Thi
was to give them all time to make thei
escape.
Next morning the body was found. Ju
Idicial inquiry was instituted, but no salts
factory result could be arrived at. Tn
corpse of poor Downie exhibited no mark O
violence internal or external. The ill-wil
between him.and the students was known
It was also known that the students ha,
hired apartments in the hotel for a theatri
Ical epresentation-tha Downie had beel
sent for by them; but beyond this, nothing
was known. No noise had been heard, ant
no proof Of the murder could be adduced
IOftwO hundred students at the college, VIII
could point out the guilty or suspected fifty
Moreover, the students were scattered owe
the city, and the magistrates themselves haC
many Of their own families among the mum
Der, and it was not desirable to go into tn
affair too minutely. Downie's widow ant
family were provided for, and his slaughte
remained a mystery; until, about ffteeI
years after its occurrence, a gentleman Ol
his death-bed disclosed the whole particu
lars, and RVOwed himself to have belonge,
to the obnoxious class Of students who mur
dered Downie. A