Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-09-25

+ rifed man, diet me home. promise that
you never again shall have cause for COM
paint.n
"Richard Downic,n remarked the Judge,
"yon 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
uttel one cry, and you are seized, and yonr
doom is completed before you can utter an-
other. Every one here present has sworn
solemn oath never TO reveal the proceedings
Of this night, they are known TO none but
| ourselves and when the object for which
we have me, is accomplished, we shall dis
pose unknown TO any one. Prepare, then,
! foi death other five minutes vii! be allowed
but no more"
! The unfortunate man in an agony OF dead
! ly terror raved aud shrekcd for mercy but
the avengers paid no heed TO his cries. His
levcrcd, trembling lips then moved as if in
silent, prayer, for he felt that the brief space
between him and eternity was but as few
more tckings of that ominous watch.
"Now !" exclaimed the Judge,
Four persons stepped forward and seized
Downie, on whose features a cold clammy
sweat had burst forth. They barred his neck
and made him kneel before the block.
"Slrike - exclaimed the Judge.
The eXccutioner struck the axe on the
floor an assistant on the opposite side lifted
lat lA 4 IL.
ii across the neck Of the recumbcnt Grim
NAL. a loud laugh announced that the Joke
had al last come to an end
But Downie responded not to the uproari-
Gus mcTiment they laughed again-but
still he moved not-ihey lifted him, and
! Downe was dead
Fright had killed him as ellectualy as if
the axe Of a real headsman had severed his
head from his body.
II was a tragedy 10 all. The medical stu
dents tried to open vein, but all was over
and the conspirators had now TO be.hink
themselves of safety. They now in reality
sworc an oath among themselves and the
aiirghied youag men, carrying their dis-ui-
ses with them, left the body of Downie lying
in the hotel.
One of their number told the landlord that
| their entertainment was not yet quite ever
and that they did not wish the individual
that was left in the room to be disturbed fol
some hours. This was 10 give them all time
to escape.
Next morning the body was found. Judi
cial inquiry was Instituted, bat no satislacto.
ry result could be arrived at. The corpse ot
poor Downie exhibited no marks of violence
internal or external The i-will between
him and the students was known it was
also known that the students had hired apart,
ments in the hotel for a theatrical represen
talion. Downie had been sent for by them
but beyond this nothing was known. NJ
noise had been heard, and no proof Of murle
could be adduced. OF two hundred students
Of the college, who could point out the guilt,
or suspected fifty Moreover the sIndeni
scattered over the city, and the magistrate
themselves had many OF their own iamilic
amongst the number, and it was not desira
bic 10 90 into the affair too muutely. Dow
ne's widow and family were provided for
aud his slaughter remained a mystery unit
about fifteen years after it occurrence, gen
man on his dea,hbcd disclosed the whol
particulars, and avowcd himself TO have be
Ionged to the obnoxious class of student
who murdered Downie.- lloJilc Tribune.