The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-05


house.
In due time the landlord announced ,h'
supper, and having done full justice 70 'n'
landlady's excellent cookery, my ia'ne
and Mr.. whhers retired 10 rest, each occu'
pyins single bedroom on the 'amo 'ana
ing. ,
I will ,ell the remainder Of the story II
my fa,her's own words:
al do not know how long had been II
bed" he would say, " when heard a nor
rible noise, as Of some one shouting 10
help, and sirove 10 rise and could mol
In few minutes the dreadful shrieks and
cries for help were succeeded by moan
like those OF the dying person, and wal
still struggling as I thought, 10 rise TO go 'e
the aid Of the sufferer, when was sudden
| ly awoke and found that was in strange
room standing in my night clothes near 'hs
open window. While in the act OF recov
ering my bewildered senses, ! heard lh'
rush Of iootsisps on the stairs, and the cap
tain Of the sloop and The servant Of The inT
rushed into the room seizing me tightly BY
the arm, they proceeded TO bind me hal
naked as was to the chair.
"What is this for! What is the mai'
Ter !" I asked, still bewildered in my sch
ses and bali believing that was still dream
ing.
"Ma,ier enough, youngs'er," replied
the keeper Of the inn, who had jus, entered
the room, "as you will soon find out io
your cost. Who would have believed thai
a young man could be such blood-thirsiy
wretch"
I did no, reply, for in truth | knew moi
what to say, nor what my assailants meant.
A, this moment heard moan from the
bed which stood at the other end Of the
apartment, and presently two or three Other
persons entered the room.
at is the doctor and constable, ,"said the
landlord, an elderly gentleman, dressed in
black, stepped up 10 the bedside.
"This is The murderer" continued the
landlord, addressing iruculent looking
man, who had come IN with the medical
gentleman, and who was accompanied by
two as rough and brawny as himself, and as
he spoke the constable came towards me,
and one Of them, the man whom the land
lord had addressed, laid his heavy hand on
my shoulder, and looked into my face.
al do not know him." said he, "he mus'
be stranger in these paris, for know al.
mos, every Jail bird in the s,a,e.'
"He is very young 10 have committed
such horrible deed," said another person.
for by this time the room was crowded with
strangers who had heard the news a mar
had been murdered al the inn.
"Aye, he's young enough, but I have
known younger than he capable Of com
hitting any crime," replied the chief con
stable sand he's an old hand, TOO, III
warrant, or he could no, act as deep as h,
does" and then proceeded as he said this
TO place pair Of handouts on my wrists.
"Good God" said l, "what does, wha
can this mean ?"
"You sham il well, youngster," was III,
brutal reply. at means that you have stab
bed the gentleman who is dying in tha, be-
there, and this is not the first crime yo'
have committed, by long chalk, I'll b,
bound. People don't generally begin will
murder"
As he said this, saw sudden movemen
of the crowd that had gathered round tb
bed, for up to this time I had been half un
conscious Of what had been going on, an,
three or four voices said:
Poor gentleman, he is trying to speak,
and then heard feeble voice soy: "RED
RED cloak" and then there was an audi
bic shiver, and cry OF horror ran throug
the assembly, one Of the persons saying:
"Sec, he is dying he is choking wit
blood" rr.. a.
There was trcmor Of the bed, o painful
dea,h.like silence amidst those who stoo
round It, and then whisper
"He is dead !"
In moment ! comprehended all. Som
one had murdered my aged friend, and I va
accused as the murderer. l knew I wa.
guitless, but how came out Of my bed !
How came in the room Of the murders
mani
was seized with horror, and as tho con
stable proceeded to drag me out of the room
became unconscious /; l learned afterward.
that was confined in the room Of the in
oil nigh. closely watched by the officers, an
in the morning-my senses only half re
storcd-was taken before magistrate.
found the captain oil the sloop, the ser
want Of the inn before mentioned, the land
lord, already at Tho Justices room, and th
two former very deliberately charged me
with the murder, for the purpose Of robbin,
the old gentcmau-my fellow traveller-c
the large amount Of money in his possession
The magistrate called upon mo to state wha
I had to say why SHOULD not be committe,
for trial, and in some measure restored +
consciousness by the awful prcdicament il
which found myself, answered, as nearl,
as can recollect, as follows:
81 know no moro Of this awful busines
than child unborn. I am the son Of poo
but respectable parents near Albany.
never was guilty Of crime. I appeal t
God for my innocenso Of this murder. Mr.
withers was kind to me on the journey fiou
Albany, and upon my telling him that
came with letters Of Recommendation to Sc
1 -.---.v.-- - NJ VI - IT