The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-02-20
the Golden Lion, and how short sighted he
had been to grumble at what had been bles-

Hdu Ueeu lOSIutHUle az WHdt udu uCClt D'oo-
sing under disguise.
The good merchant had half made up his
mind to call there on his approaching jour
ney, when at the summer assizes, held at the
old Bailey, he was summoned to act as
juror on the trial of a man indicted for
highway robbery. The case excited consid-
cradle interest of that morbid kind so COM
mon to mobs in all ages, for the man was
believed to be the last of desperate gang
who had long been the terror of the southern
counties. Mr. Fairhold felt the solemn re-
sponsibility Of juror, as his eye wandered
over the crowded court, and rested on the
prisoner He was a sullen, hardened man,
whom the alternate want and riot of an evil
life had made prema turely old. There was
no trace of better days about him but as
his many aliases were read over with the
Indictment, the last Of them was VIM. Wa
terton. The evidence was clear the facts
were proved. The prisoner had been the
companion Of robbers, and active IN break
ing the laws of both God and man. But
Francis Fairhold remembered the boy who
had sat in his pew, and worked in his ware
house-and though conscience obliged him
to concur in the unanimous verdict of
guilty" his reasoning brought the whole
jury box to recommend him to mercy, in
consideration of early seduction and mis-
guided youth. Ee sl.
The law had little mercy in those days );
but the judge being a humane man, as all
judges ought to be, supported the petition
which Mr.. Fairhold, by great exertion got up,
and the capital sentence was commuted to
transportation His good work was scarce
ly finished, when our merchant received a
message one morning from the governor of
Newgate, saying that the prisoner, Water
ton, begged hard to see him.
Hoping an impulse Of repentance might
have caused this, Mr.. Fairhold fastened to
see his lost apprentice in the prison CELL
The unhappy man was more moved than
could have been expected at his coming, and
when they were alone, said
"Sir, you have done great deal for me,
and i'll deserve it !; but couldn't cross the
sea without speaking to you of one thing
You remember, almost year ago. when you
stopped at the Golden Lion, on your way
back to London-you had collected deal
of money and knew it, though you didn't
know me, for was one of the three men
who sat drinking in Hobbs's kitchen. We
were all of the same gang, and hearing you
were to go at 7 o'clock next morning, we
laid plan 20 rob you at lonely part of the
road, and meant to take your life, sir, be-
cause you had been my master, and tried to
keep me in order. have lived to be thank
full that we were disappointed; but to this
hour, cannot understand why you should
have set out three hours before the time"
Readers, the chasm was wide between the
pious, upright merchant and the convicted
| felon but both learned within the walls OF
Newgate, what wondrous work an over-rul-
| ing Providence had wrought by puny in.
strument The mouse which disturbed Mr.
Fairholds sleep, and ruffled his temper, had
been the means Of saving his life, and through
him that of his intended murderer. Ever
on the mind of the latter, the event explained
by his old master made an impression which
proved lasting, for hopeful accounts of him
were heard from the penal colony. Francis
Fairhold carried on business for many years
in London, and made many journey among
his country customers, always calling at the
Golden Lion. In memory of his marvellous
escape, he had broad seal engraved witt
the figure of mouse. and this motto, " Ba
lit God pre8errSd me-
The modest, upright young man, whom
he met on that eyentful day, became to hin
a son through the special favor of his daugh
ter Sophy. Kate welded neighbors son
and lived close by her parents but neve
Il 4 I u,