Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-22
The Guilty Phantom.
BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

cannot forbear giving you all instance of q
gullty-formed phantom, which made consdera-
bic no'so some twenty years ago or more. am,
l think, to'ernhly c. rect ia the details though
lost the account Of the trial. Jarvis Matcham--
such it am not mistaken was the name of my
hero was pay sergeant in regiment where he
was highly esteemed as steady and accurate
man, so that he was permitted the opportunity
to embezze considerable part of the money
lodged in his hands for pay of soldiers, bounty
of recruits, then large sum- and other charges
which fell within his duty. He was summoned
to Join his regiment from town where he had
been on recruiting service, and this perhaps
under some shade Of suspicion.
Matcham perceived however that discovery
was at hand, and would have deserted had it not
been for the presence of a little drummer lad,
who was the only one of his party to attend him.
In the desperation Of his crime, he resolved to
murder the poor innocent boy, and make his ss-
cape; he neditated this wckedpess the more
readily, that the drummer, he thought, had been
put as a spy on him. He perpetra,cd this crime,
and changing his dross after the deed was done,
made u walk across the country to an inn on the
Portsmouth rad where he halted and went to bed,
desiring to be called when the first Portsmouth
coach came. The waiter summoned hun accor-
dinghy, but long after remembered that when
he shook The guest by the shoulder, his first
words, as he awose, we're, My God did no.
kill him.
Matcham went to tho seaport by the coach
and Instantly eAlered as an abebodled lands
man or marine, know not which, His sobriety
and attention to duty gainod the same good opin.
ion Of the officers in his new service which he
enjoyed in The army. He was aAoat for several
years. and behaved remarkably well in some ac-
tlons. At length the vessel came into Plymouth,
was paid off, and some of the crew, amongst
whom was Jarvis Matcham, were discharged as
being too old for service. He and another sea-
man resolved to walk to town, and took the route
by Salisbury. 1t was when within two or three
miles of this celebrated city, and they were
overtaken by tempest so sudden, accompanied
with such vivid lightning and thunder go dread
fully loud, that the obdurate conscience OF the
old sinner began to be awake ned he expressed
more terror than seemed natural for one who
was familiar with the war of the elements, and
began to look and talk SO wildly that his CON.
panon became aware that something more Than
usual was the matter. At length Matcham COM
planned to his sailor companion that the stones
rose from the road and flew after him: he desir.
ed the man 10 walk on the other eide of the high
way, to see if they would follow him when he
was alone. The sailor complied, and Matcham
complained that the stones flew after him, but
did not pursue the other ' But what is worse,"
he added, coming up to his companion, and
whispering with tone of mystery and fear,
"who is that little drummer boy, snd whai busi-
ness has he to follow US so closely" 81 can
see no one" answered the seaman, infected by
the superstition of his associate. "What! not
see that little drummer boy with the bloody pam
,aIloons!" exclaimed the secret murderer, 50
jured hia, if he had anything on his mind, to
make clear conscience, SO far as his confession
could Go it, The criminal fetched deep groan,
and declared that he was unable longer to en-
dure the life of which he had led for years. He
then confessed the murder Of the drummer, and
added that as a considerable reward had been
offered, he wished bis comrade to deliver him up
to the magistrates of Salisbury, as he would de.
sire shipmate to profit by his fate, which he
was now convinced was inevitable.
Having overcome his friends objections to
this mode Of proceeding, Jarvis Matcham was
surrendered to justice accordingly, and made a
full confession of guilt. But before the trial the
love of life returned. The prisoner denied the
confession, and pleaded not guilty. BY this time,
however, full evidence had been procured from
another quarter Witnesses appeared from his
former regiment to prove his identity with the
murderer and deserler, and the waiter remem-
bered the ominous words which he had spoken
when he awoke him to join the Portsmouth coach.
Jarvis Matcham was found guilty, and executed.
When his last chance for life was over he re-
turned to his confession; and with his dying
breath Hvercd land, truly as he thought )the Wis
ion the on Salisbury Plain.
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