The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-04-15

morals, anu Mdrhley Charo0ooA
not improved by his intercourse with
his fellow prisoners. He soon learned
to look on crime with Indifference. AT
last he was discharged, and wended his
way back to his native place.
He stopped at paltry inn about i've
miles from Bloomsburgh, and in the tap
room saw an old acquaintance. In the
bloated ragged beggar which stood before
him, he had some difficulty to recognize
the once gay Tom Huntley. He, how
ever, it was. Detected and posted as
cheat and swindlcr, he had fallen into
the most abjcct misery. UnhapPily
for Markley, his quondam associate had
about him few small pieces Of money
at the time of their meeting. He called
for liquor, and they sat down together
to drink and converse. Their discourse
naturally fell on their poverty, and
Huntley proposed to the convict to bet
ter their condition at his uncle's expense,
at the same time reminding him Of his
oath he had sworn. Markley's ire had
long since cooled, and far from wishing
to put his threat in execution, he testified
some reluctance even to rob Mr.. New
land. His scruples gave way, however,
before the influence of Huntley's liquor,
aided by his logic. That very night
was fixed on as the time the convict
should break into his uncle's house.
Being familiar with the premises, he
entered easily, armed with an iron bar
adapted to forcing locks, while his ac-
complice watched without. He had
already broken open secretary, without
noise, as he thought, when Mr.. Newland
awoke and came into the apartments.
Markley would have escaped, but his
uncle laid hands on him and called for
help.
One blow with knife and the old
man lay welteriDg in his blood. An
other person who came to his assistance,
shared his fate. A few faint words
uttered as she fell, told the murderer
that his second victim was Mr.. New
lands only daughter; she whom he had
once tenderly loved, and hoped to make
his wife. He stood for awhile stupi6ed,
but was reused and comforted by his
accomplice, who, impatient of his delay,
had joined him. They struck light
and began a search, but found little
money, so that Markley had loaded his
soul with this guilt to little purpose. He
at last left the house, leaving Huntley,
who was not yet tired of searching,
behind him.
He took the road to Philadelphia, on
which he had not proceeded many rods
when Huntl4y overlook him. They
travelled on hastily and in silence, till
noise in the rear made Markley look
back. His uncle's house was in flames.
+" Oh, God - he exclaimed to bis COM
panion, "you have burned the little
ones alive !"
"No, not alive" returned the other,
&C did first by them as you did by old
Newland."
90, why did you do it What harm
had my poor little cousins done you :"
"None but it was neck or nothing
with me. They saw me and began to
cry aloud. l was obliged to silence
them. 1t will now be believed that the
family perished by fire."
Huntley was mistaken; the children
we're entirely destroyed, but the corpses
IF the old man and his daughter were
lot so far consumed but that marks Of
,iolence were distinguished on them. It
vas then suggested that William Mark
ey had been seen in the neighborhood,
md his oath of vengeance was remem-
,ere' He was traced, pursued, and
aiken, with his uncle's watch in his
,ocket. He might have escaped, but
he habit that had been the source of
lis crimes, insured his punishment. He
topped at every tavern on the way, and
ever left one in condition for speedy
raveling.
The chain of evidence against him
'as complete. He perished on tho
ibbet, amidst the execrations Of all who
ad once given him their love and es-
,em. One part of his address to the
multitude deserves to be re-
rendered. "My friends" said no,
beware of the moderate glass; A
tolerate glass destroyed my professional
,putation and reduced me from opu-
nee to beggary. A moderate glass
ade me forger, and carried me 10
le penitentiary. The demon of drink
erved my arm to murder, and then
,uducted me to the gallows. Take
arning bY my fate, and beware OF