New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-12-29
Who Murdered Richard Downie 2

About the end of the eighteenth century,
whenever any student Of the Marisehal College,
Aberdeen, Scotland, incurred the displessure Of
the humber citizens, he was assailed with the
question, ssIYto murdered Do,cnie5s Reply
and reoinder generally brought on collision
between "Town and Gown" although the young
gentlemen were accused Of what was chrono-
logically impossible. People have right to be
angry at being stigmatized as murderers, when
their accusers have probability on their side;
but the sstaking of" Of Downie occurred when
the gownsmen, 50 mahgned, were in their swad-
ding. clothes ~
But there was time when to be branded as
an accompfce in the slaughter of Richard Dow
ME, made his blood run to the cheek Of many q
youth, and sent him home to his books thought
ful and subdued.
Downie was sacrist or janitor at Marischal
College. One Of his duties consisted in securing
the gate by q certain hour, previous to which all
the students had to assemble in the common
hall, where Latin prayer was delivered by the
principal. Whether in dischargiug this func-
tion, Downie was more rigid than his predeces-
sors in office, or whether he became strictcr in
the performance of it at one time than another,
cannot NOW be ascertained but there can be no
doubt he closed the gate with austere punetu-
ality, and that those who were not in the COM
mon hall within minute Of the prescribed
| time, were shut out and were afterwards repri-
manded and fined by the principal and profess
sors. The students became irritated at this
strictness, and took every petty means Of annoy
| ing the sacrist he, in his turn, applied the
screw at other points Of academic routine, and
4 . fierce war soon began to rage between the
| collegians and the humile funetionary. Downie
took care that in all his proceedings he kept
within the strict letter Of the law but his oppo-
| nents we're not 30 careful, and the decisions Of
the rulers were uniformly against them, and in
| favor of Downie. Reprimands and fines having
/ failed in producing due subordination, rustica-
tlon, suspension, and even the extreme sentence
of expulsion had to be put in force, and in the
end law and order prevailed. But a secret and
deadly grudge continued to be entertained
against Downie. Various schemes Of revenge
were thought of. s5,eja-5 a.s4s45E
Downie was, in common with the teachers
and the taught, enjoying the leisure ofthe short
New Years vacation the pleasure being, no
doubt, gently enhanced by the annoy ances to
which he had been subjected during the recent
chickering's; when, as he was one evening seated
with his family in his official residence at the
gate, a messenger informed him that gentle
man alta neighboring hotel wished to speak
with him. Downie obeyed the summons, and
was ushered from one room to another, till at
, length he found himself in large apartment
hung with black, and lighted by a solitary can
I die. After Visiting for some time in this strange
place, about fifty figures, also dressed in black,
! and Nth black masks on their faces, presented
i themselves. They arranged themselves in the
! form Of q court, and Downie was given to nm
derstand that he was about TO be put upon his
: trial
A Judge took his seat on the bench: clerk
. and public prosecutor sat below; jury was
: empanelled; and witnesses and spectators stood
around Downie at first set down the whole af-
] fair as joke but the proceedings we're conduct
i ed with such persistent gravity, that, in spite
| of himself, he began to believe in the genuine
mission of the awful tribunal. The clerk read
. | an Indictment, charging him with conspiring
1 against the liberties Of the students; Witnesses
I were examined in due form; the public prosecu
: tor addressed the jury; and the judge summed
J up. sFt =.
$ .Gentlemen, said Downie, esthe joke has
v been carried far enough: it is getting late, and
! my wife and family will be anxious about me.
If have been too strict with you in times past,
Q I am sorry for it; and l assure you will take
I more care in future" as7s. $7
y Gentlemen of the jury said the judge,
st without paying the slightest attention to this
I: appeal. sconsider your verdict: If you wish to
n retire, do So" #y &yy II @fg,4
is The jury retired. During their absence, the
y most profound silence was observed; and except
Y renewing the solitary candle that burnt beside
Il, the judge, there was not the slightest move
ment. Mu~ ss
" " q Guilty r
us The Judge solemnly assumed a large blacl
ois cap, and addressed the prisoner:
ur g Richard Downie The jury have unani
b. mously found you guilty of conspiring agains
ae the Just liberty and immunities of the student
We Of Marischal College. You have wantonly pro
y, voked and insulted those inoffensiye ieges 70
,ur some months and your punishment will assured
sf ly be condign. You must prepare for death
sss In fifteen minutes the sentence Of the court vii
be carried into effect"
The judge placed his watch on the bench. ]
block, an axe, and q bag Of saw-dust Wer
:, brought into the centre Of the room. a fgur
,rk. came forward, and prepared to act the part
doomster
!. sit was now past midnight. There was
\ Of sound audible save the ominous ticking of Il
NJ NJ judges watch Downie became more and mol
few alarmed.
r Of "For Gods sake gentlemen" said the tel
vas vas riied man, 's let me go home promise tn,
,@ you never again shall have cause for complaint
ago ssRichard Downie, remarked the judge, .'yt
,ere are vainly wasting the few moments that a
naa as, left you on earth. You are in the hands
q Of those who demand your life. No human pow
His can save you. Attempt to utter one cry, y,
ltry are seized, and your doom is completed befo
! ny ny you can utter another! Every one here pr
sent has sworn solemn oath never to reveal 4
ays. proceedings of this night; they are known
. .an- none but ourselves; and when the object
IA. which we have met is accomplished, we SAL
und dlsperSe, unknown TO any one. Prepare, the
e- for death: other Eve minutes will be allow
! o. you-but no more!" s.s H WE
That The unfortunate man, in an agony Of dead
time terror, raved and shrieked for mercy; but
avengers paid no heed to his cries His fever
aas 20 trembling lips then moved if in silent pray
te Of for he felt that the brief space between him
hem eternity was but q few more tickings Of th
city ominous watch.
psr, . sn ..No,cn' exclaimed tie judge
nhu- Four persons stepped forward and sci;
and Downie, on whose features cold, cisml
a saeIs sweat had burst forth. They barred his net
n for | and made him kneel before the block.
Pc ssStriket' exclaimed the judge.
ople. The executioner struck the axe on the flo
npg an assistant on the opposite side lifted at
,mon same moment wet towel, and struck it viole
book ly across the neck of the recumbent Grimm
rts m et loud laugh announced that the joke had
1f-n- les1 coLi1 " an ehu
ess Of But Downie responded mot to the uproari
81 merrimeut
ssDg .san They laughed again; but still he moved
ieca. They lifted him, and Downie was dead!
inter Fright had killed him as effectually as if