The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-08-28
"Who Murdered DOWnie. "
a TRAGIC JOKE,

About the eBd Of the eighteenth century, whe
never any student Of the Mari-chal College, Ab
erdeen incurred the di, pleasure Of humber citI'
zcn. he WAS assailrd with the question, Who
murdered DownieI' Reply and rejonded gene
rny brought to a collision between town and
gown" although the young gentlemen were accu-
scd Of what was chronologcally impossible Pco'
pie have right ofgettIng angry at being slgma
tlsed as murderer. when their accusers have
probability on their side. but the taking Off of
DownIe, occurred when the gownsmen, SO malig
ned, were in swaddllng clothes.
But there wos a time, when io be branded as
an accomplice IN the slaughter OF Richard Dow
ME, made the blood run to the cheek Of many
youth, aud sent him home to his books, thought
ill and subdued Downie was sacri.t or jautor
at Marschal College, One Of his duties consisted
in securing the gate by certain hour, previous
| to which all the students had TO assemble in the
cumuoa hall where a latin PRAYER was delivered
| By the principal. Whether in tischarging thl-
[ function Downie was more rigid than his prede
cessur in office OF whether he became stricier IN
/ the performance Of il at ore time than another
cannot now be ascertainod but there can be no
Loub. tia, he closed the gate with austere punct
ualiiy, and that those who were not IN the com
mon hall within minute Of the prescribed time
were shut out, and were afterwards rcprlmanded
and tVed by the principal and professors. The
students became rr'ated at this strictuess, and
, took very petty means of annoying the sacrist.
lie, in his turn, applied the screw at other points
Of academic routine and fierce war soon began
[ 10 rage between the cullcgians and the humble
iunctionary. Dnwuie took care that in all lis pro
proceedings he kept within the strict letter OF the
law but his opponents were not So careful, and
tie decisions Of the rulers were uniformly against
them, and III favor Of Downie Reprimands and
fines having failed in producing due subordna.on
restcI;lJn, suspension, and even the extreme sen
tcncc of expulsion had to be put IN force and in
the end, law and order prevailed, but secret
and deadly grudgc continued to be entertained !.
gainst Downe. Various schemes Of revenge
were thought Of
Downie was, in common with teachers. and
taught, enjoying the leisure Of the short New
Years yacation-the pleasure being no doubt
greatly enhanced by the annoy ances TO which he
had been subjected during the reccn, chickering's
wien, as lie was one evening seated with his
family in his official residence at the gate, q mes
scnger, Informed him that gentleman At neigh.
boring hotel wished to speak to him Downe o.
beyed the summon, and was ushered from one
room into another, til at length he found himsel!
in large apartment hung with black, and light
ed by n solitary candle. After waiting for some
time in this strange place, about fifty figures, al
so dressed in black and with black masks on their
faces presented themselves. They arranged
themselves in form Of court aud Downie, pale
with terror, WAS gwen 10 understand that he was
abont to be put on his trial
A Judge took his seat on the bench; clerk
and public prosecutor sat below; aud jury was
empannclIed in front and witnesses aud spec;a
tors stood around, Downe at first set down the
whole affair as u Joke; but The proceedings were
conducted with persistent gravity, that, in spite
of himself. he began to believe in the genuine
mission of the awful tribunal The clerk read au
indictment, charging him with corspirng asains,
the liberties Of the students witnesses were ex'
amined in due form; the public prosecutor addres
scd the jury the Judge summed up.
) "GeniIemen" said Downie, "the joke has been
carried far enough It's getting late, md my
wife and family will be getting anxious about me
II have been too strict with you in time past
am sorry for it, and assure you | will take
: more care in future"
"Gentemcn 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 excep'
renewing the solitary candle that burned beside
the Judge, there was not the slightest movemen,
The Jury returned, and recorded u verdict o
Guilty
The Judge solcmnly assumed huge black cap
and addressed the prisoner.
Richard powne--1hc jury have unanmousl,
found you guilty of conspirng against the just Ii
bertY aud immunities of the students of MMlsch
al College. You have wantonly provoked and in
suited those inoI,nsiye licges for some months
and your punishment will a.suredly be condgr
You mus, prepare for death In fifteen minute
the sentence Of the court will be carried into Of
feet |"
The Judge placed lis watch on the bench. ~
, block, and axe, and bag of sawdust wei,
biough, into the centre Of the room a fgur,
more terrible than my that had yet appeared
came forward, and prepared to act tho part .
doomstcr.
]. was now past midnight, and there was NJ
, sound audible save the omlnous ticking OF th'
judges watch.
Downic bctnt more and more alarmed
"For my sake. gentlemen" said the terrific,
man, "let ne home ! promi.e that you never n
yaip hall have cause l,i v,nplaiul'