Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-28
MONTPELIER VERMONT THURSDAY 1858.
'Halloa below there. lam the doctor, come
back left something behind me.'

Haoa below there. lam the DOCTOR come
back. | left something behind me-
As spoke, l descended, and stood among
strange lot. There were two men and three
women, all drinking and talking, and one of the
two men had his hat on as if he had only lust
come in, or was going out. | at once made my
way to where the blanket hung. and then draw
ing pistol from my Breast, which the nspec-
tor had lent me, said,
'The first who tries to pass me dies, as surely
as there is God in heaven
Almost at the same instant, the Superntend-
ent and the police came clat,ering down the
Stairs into the cellar. One fellow only made
movement towards me, but he recoled from the
muzzle of the pistol that ] held towards him,
and in another moment they were all prisoners.
Follow me- | cried, follow me-
The prisoners were all handcufed so that
one policeman was sufficient just to take care of
them, and the remainder dashed down the mar.
row passage which terminated in the cellar,
where lay the dead housebreaker, but he or his
fortune did not interest me and at once tear
ing down The other blanket gave word OF
caution, and on we went down the second pas
sage, which | had, it will be recolIected, gone
first into by mistake.
We walked carefully and slowly until, by the
aid of the police lantern, we came to another
covering for doorway. All was still, and
drew it aside, while the police hid the light from
their lanterns, by turning The dark slide over the
bulls eye. What sight met my eyes
Sleeping OR dead, upon heap of old rags,
was beautiful child, while hanging over her,
and having hold Of the long tresses of her
beautiful hair, was the same man had terrified
by the moving Of the corpse of the housbreaker
towards him. The old nag who first invited me
into the cellar, was holding light to him.
Il tell ye,' he muttered, ''d better cut
her throat at once. There's hue and cry about
her,
Not while know it, shouted The old wo-
man; we are child stealers, but will not be a
child killer once had little one of my own.
No, no, you shall not-dare not.'
Dare not?' he erowled.
Dare hot!' cried I, with shout as dashed
into the cellar.
Sold by Cd = cried the rufian, and with
one sweep of his arm he buried the knife in the
breast Of the unhappy woman.
In an instant he was pounced upon and borne
down by the police, although he attempted a
desperate resistance even against the fearful
odds opposed TO him. had grasped the child
to get it out of the way of the melee, and
glance showed me thai the little creature lad
.Gaiptea pratably sfesl sssi fright.
The inspector, after The turn things had taken,
sent for reinforcement Of police, and the whole
neghborhood was soon in state OF confusion
and excitement, 1t was /, however, who had
the satisfaction of placing in the hands of Mrs.
Armstrong her child, for it was little Mary
whom rescused from the hands OF that awful
reprobate, who shortly afterwards expiated bis
crimes on the scaffold.
believe this adventure gave quite death
blow for long period to the practice of child
stealing, which had really become almost sci.
epce