Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-03
.Wi.o murdered Dewnie."

- About the end of the eighteenth century, when
ever any student Of the Mariscal College, Aber-
deem, incurred the displeasure of the humber cit
izens, he was assailed with the question, g Who
murdered Downie q, Reply and rejoinder gener-
ally brought on a collision between atown and
gown" although young gentlemen were accused
of what was chronoiogically impossible People
have right to be angry at being stigmatised as
murderers, when their accusers have probability
ON their side; but the sstakng off" Of Downie oe-
CURED when the gownsmen, SO maligned, We're in
swaddling clothes. s5 .sss..r,} ysis4 ~ !
But there was time, when to be branded as an
aecomplice in the slaughter of Richard Downie,
made his blood run to the cheekiof many youth,
and sent him home to his books. thoughtful and
subdued. ,Downie was sacrist or janitor at Maris-
chal College. One of his duties consisted in Sc
curing the gate by certain 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, Downie was more rigid than his prede-
cessor in office, or whether he became stricter in
the performance of it one time than another can
not be ascertained; but there can be nadoubt that
ut ClusSu tie gaze Will duot6IO puLCtudltys uuu
that those who were in the common hall within a
minute of the prescribed time, were shut out and
wereafterwards repripanded and fined by the prin-l
cipal and professors The students became irri-
tated at this strctness, andtook every petty means
of annoying the sacrist;; he, in his turn applied
the screw at other points, of academic routine,
and fierce war soon began to rage between the
collegans and the humble functionary. Downie
took care that in all his proceedings he kept with
in 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 Dow
ME. Reprimands and fines having failed in pro-
ducing due subordnation, rustication, suspension,
and even the extreme sentence of expulsion had
to be put in force; and, in the end, law and order
prevailed. But secret and deadly grudge con-
tinued to be entertained against Downie. Vari-
GUS schemes of revenge were thought of. eslss = /
DowHie was, in common with teachers and
taught enjoying the leisure of the short New Yeass
vacation--the pleasure being no doubt greatly en-
HANGED by the annoyances to which he had been
subjected during the recent chickering's as
he was one evening seated with his family in his
official residence at egate,.a messenger informed
him that gentleman at a neighboring hotel,Wish-
ed to speak to him. Downie obeyed the sum-
mons, and was ushered from one room into anoth-
er,till at length he found himself in large apart
ment hung with black, and lighted BY d solitary
candle. After waiting for some time in strange
place, about fifty figures also dressed inblack and
with black masks on their faces presented them j
selves. They arranged themselves in the form Of
a court, and Downies pale with terror, was given
to understand he was about to be put on his trial
A Judge took his seat soIthe bench; clerk and
public prosecutor sat below; a jury was empan-
nel1ed in 'front.' and witnesses ard spectators stood
around Downie at first set down the whole af- /
fair as joke; but the proceedings were conduc-
ted with such persistent gravity, that, in spite of
himself, he began to believe in the genuine mis- /
sion Of the awful tribunal. The clerk an in
'dictment, charging him with ,conspiring against
the liberties of the students, witnesses were ex-
amined in due form, the public prosecutor address
sed the jury. and the judge summed up.
sGentlemen," said Downie, ssthe joke has been
carried far enoughitis getting late, andmy 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 Iwin take more care
in the FUTURE .,.-,s - go
"Gentlemeno of the jury" said the Judge, with
out paying the slightest attention to this appeal,
consider your verdict, and if you wish to retire.
do so.'' - -
The jury retired During their absence the
most profound silence was observed; and, except
renewing the solitary candle that burnt beside the
judge, there was not the slightest movement
The jury returned. and recorded a verdict of
GUILTY. zz.r4a4sass ssf=a-ssa s.a.z8 sea,a- +
The judge solemnly assumed huge black cap,
and addressed the prisoner: = ..e.55t Z.
"Richard Downie The jury have unanimous
ly found you guilty of conspiring against the just
liberties and immunities of the students of Mar
ischal College. You have. wantonly provoked
and insulted those inefensives lieges for some
months, and your punishment will assuredly be.
condign. You must prepare for death. In fifteen
minutes the sentence of the court will be carried
into effect.
The Judge placed his watch on the bench. A
block, an axe, and bag of saw-dust, were brought
into the centre Of the room. A figure more ter
rible than any that had yet appeared, came for
ward, and prepared to act the part of doomster.
It was now past midnight; there was no sound
audible, save the ominous ticking Of the judges
watch. DoWnie became more and more alarmed
For my sake, gentlemen, . said the terrified
man, "let me go home. promise that you never
again shall have cause for complaint
sRichard Downie, remarked the judge, you are
vainly 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 sciz-