Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-11-16

clseS, tnen SO common al all puDiC gat'
erings. B, who was an excel
lent marksman, commenced shooting a
a mark with neighbor. An alteration
arose about measurement Of the shots
B., who was Of a mild and peace
able Temperament, when sober, but, like
many of his class, ungovernable when
under the influence Of liquor, made some
insulting remark, which enraged the
other, who called him liar. Furious al
the insult, B exclaimed with an
oath, that he should atone for it with his
hearts blood" and levelled his gun a,
him. The County Sheriff, who wa.
standing near. separated the belligerents.
b turned and discharged his gun
at the Sheriff, who fell to the ground,
and in a few moments ate. expired.
b was instantly sobered, and
kneeling by the side Of his dying friend.
imp!ored his forgiveness. Il forgive
you," said the dying man, "bu. what will
become of my poor wife and child" lie
then expired.
Being Justice Of the Peace, l called
on the bystanders to secure the person
of the murderer. "lf am q murderer,
he exclaimed, "what are you. that per-
suaded me TO break my promise to my
wife! Had been allowed to have re.
NAMED sober,.I never would have mur-
deret my friend" Stung by these jus,
Ieproaches, | replied tar,ly, that i. was
natural for man, when guilty of acrlme,
to seek 10 exculpate himself, and cas-, the
blame on others.
"B-- was arrested and lodged in
Jail. l started with the minister and
others. to carry home the murdered
Sheriff. He had married. year previ-
Gus, an amiable and interesting girl, who
had given birth to a son only few
weeks previous to the tragedy above mar.
rated. As we drew near his residence,
we heard his wife warbling merry era
die diuy to her babe, little dreaming Of
the awful specta Gle that was soon to meet
her gaze, and freeze her young heart
blood.
1.-The minister went before, to break The
dreadful tidiugs. When we entered with
her husbands corpse she threw herself
upon il with the most agonizing shreks,
and swooned away. We bore her from
the room. as pale as her helpless hus
band. remained to assist in preparing
the body for the grave. My conscience
had been aroused by the reproaches OF
B when he was arrested, and a
voice was still crying in my ears, "you
are the murderer. you are the cause of
all this misery" could endure it no
longer. and started for home.
when | LETT the house, passed the
apa par,ment where the young widow sat
pressing her iatherless babe TO her BOSOM
Her friends were valnly endeavorins to
pour consolation into her broken spirit.
Oh! how cold and meaningless their
words Of confidence and sympathy fell
upon the ears Of the bereaved wife An
unnatural light sparkled in her bright
eye. Reason was fast being dethroned,
BY the next morning learned that she
was helpless lunatic. She lived many
years, but never recovered again her light
mind. She now sleeps in the village
grave yard, beside her ill-fated husband,
"Time passed rapidly away, and the
day for the trial Of young B. arri.
we'd. l did not dare 10 attend. was
afraid the murderer would repeat his &C.
cusa,ions against me, and | could not
think Of facing him in the crowded room.
Guilt has made me cowardly.
lie was at last found guilty, and con-
demned TO execution on the gallows in
October, four months from the day of the
murder. On the evening Of the day
upon which the trial closed, | left my dis
tilery and went home. On approaching
the house, overheard my wife and eld-
est daughter in conversation. As my
name was used in connection with the
condemned man, curiosity prompted me
to turn a listener.
Mother" said my daughter, 81 am
afraid that father is more TO blame for
the death of Sheriff NJ than poor
b."
why so !" said the mother.
because" she continued, ",hey say
that B promised his wife that he
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