New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-09
TIE RESCUED CRIMINAL
3Fsl FROM BLAcHivOqp's lLAA'3HHiv qls LApr's aAq4zasnl

L
| a great number Of persons who know the
celebrated DIR. B -, a Professor Of the COT
lege of Surgeons, have often heard him relate
the following anecdote ;aA5 4. ~ A3es e y
| One day that he had procured the bodies of
| two criminals, who had been hung for the pur-
pose Of anatomy, not being able to iind the key
| OF the dissecting room at the moment the sub
jects were brought, he ordered them TO be de-
posted in an apartment contiguous 70 his bed
room. a5,airiE1 .sesi5si,gs ms ois3q - "a
| | During the evening DIR. B -- wrote and
read as usual previous to retiring to rest. The
clock just struck one, and all Che family slept
spundly, whenai at once, a dull sound proceeded
| from the room containing the bodies.
Thinking perhaps the cat had been shut up
tthere by mistake, he went to see what could ba
the cause of the unexpected noise. What was
his astonishment or rather his horror on dis i
covering the sack which contained the bodies
was torn asunder; and, on going nearer, hesi
| found that one of the bodies was missing.
| The doors and windows had been fastened with
lthe greatest care. and it appeared impossible
| that the body could have been stolen The good
doctor appeared rather nervous on remarking
this and it was not without an uneasy sensation
that he began to look about him, when to his
horror and amazement he perceived the missing
body sitting upright in corner
Poor DIR. B. --a at this unexpected appari-
ton became transtixed with terror, which was
increased by observing the dead and sunken
ever
way he moved, those dreadful eyes still followed
him. - @s M sF5 -
The worthy doctor, more dead that alive, now
Ibeganto beat quick retreat, without, howeY-
! er, losing sight of the objecS of his terror he
| retreated step by step, one hand holding tho
candle, the other extended in search of the
door, which lat length gained but there was
no escape; the speeter had risen and followed
| him, whose livd features, added to the lateness
of the hour. and the stiffness of the night
seemed to eonspire to deprive the poor doctor of
the little courage he has left his strength falls
/ the candle falls from his hand, and the terrible
scene is now in complete darkness ss
The coed doctor has, however, gained his
apartment. and thrown himself on his bed but
| the fearful spectre has still followed hint
| has caught him, and seizes. hold of his feet Z
with both hands At this climax of terror the
| doctor loudly exclaimed, 9 Whoever yon are
leave me {" Atthis theIspecter let 60 his hold II,
and moaned feebly these words 6 Pity good I
hangmant have pity on me =" The good doc
tor now discovered the mystery, ard regained
by little and littlehis eomposure. He explained
tothei criminal, who had so narrowly escaped
death, who he was, and prepared to call up
some of his family. - .1..l
'sDo you then wish to destroy mes,' ex-
claimed the criminal,s 50 / am discovered, ny
adventure will become public, and I sha1f be
brought to the scatfold q second times In the
| name Of humanity, save me from death e bg d.
The good doctor then arose and procured q
| light; he mnf1ed his unexpected visitor IN an
| old dressing gown and having made him take
some restoring cordial, testified desire 10 know
| what crime had brought him to the scaffold. gal
| He was deserter,
| The good doctor did not well know what
means to employ to save the poor creature. He
could not keep him in his house, and to turn
him out would be to expose him to certain death
The only way ,,then, was to get him into the
country SO having made him dress himself in
some old clothes, which the kind doctor selected
from his wardrobe, he left town early, accom-
panied by his protege, whom he represented as
| an assistant in difficult case upon which he
had been called in. !,
When they had got into the open country, the
wretched creature threw himself at the feet of
his benefactor and hberator, to whom he swore
eternal gratitude; and the generous doctor hav-'
| ing relieved his wants by small sum of money,
the grateful creature left him with many bles-
sings and prayers for his happiness 5.55
About twelve years after this occurrence, DR..
B. had occasion to visit Amsterdam. Hay
ing gone one day to the bank, he was aecosted I
| by a ywell-dressed man-one who had been
pointed out to him as one of the most opulent
| merchants of the city.
| The merchant asked him politely if he was
| not Doctor b, of London, and on his answer
| ing him in the affirmative, pressed him to dine
| at his house; which invitation the worthy doc
tor accepted. On arriving at the merchants
house, he was shown into an elegant apartment
where q most charming woman and two lovely :
children welcomed him in the most friendly
manner, which reception surprised him the
more, coming from persons he had never before
met Ht -a4fl : 5-1z==zssi ii4tAAS ~
After dinner the merchant having taken him
into his counting7room, seized his hand, and hav-
ing pressed it with friendly warmth. said to
him ~. =
ls Do YOU not recollect me ,"
g No." said the doctor. ssae
''Well, then, Iremember you well, and your
features will never be obliterated from my
memory-for to you owe my life. Do you mos
remember the poor deserter' On leaving you I
went to Holland. Writing good hand and be-
ing good accountant, I soon obtained situa-
ton as clerk in merchants office Ny good
| conduct and zeal soon gained for me a confidence
Of my employer and the affections Of his dangh-
ter. When he retired from business, I succeed
ed him. Without your cars. without your gem
erous assistance, should not have lived to en-