Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-11-15
low who ought to have been hung as high as

M " ~ l. L IL Ii L u ITS
flow who ought to have been hung as high as
Haman.
The prosecution opened very bitterly ,inveigh-
ed against the thieves and counterfeiters who
had made the land terror to strangers and trav-
elers, and had robbed every farmer in the region
of their finest horses. 1t introduced witnesses
who proved all and moro than feared they
| would.
The time came for nae to rise for the defense.
Witnesses had none. But was determined
to make one ehort-only hoping to interest the
judge and jury as to secure an universal recon-
meneation to gubcrnatorial clemency, and a
light sentence. So I.painted this picture. A
young man entering into life, welded to an an
gel, beautiful in person, possessing every virtue
every gentle and noble attribute. Temptation
was before and all around him. He kept tav-
ern. Guests, there were nany--it e SalSr
him to inquire into their busii:
weItdressed, made large bills ~
lp. At an unguarded hour, when
with the liquor which they had urgeU pom
him, he had deviated from the path of rectitude.
He was not himself at the time The demon Of
alcohol reigned in his brain. And it was his
first oAense Mercy plead for another chance
to save him from ruin. Justice did not require
his sacrifice; nor did it require that his sweet
vile should 60 down sorrowing to the grave,
and that the shadow of disgrace, or the tint o.
o fcon father, should fall across the sunny path
way Of that sweet child Oh, how earnestly
did plead for them-the woman wept, her hus
band did the same-the judge fdgeted and rub
bed his eyes-the jury looked melting. If
could have closed, he would have been cleared
but the prosecution had tho close and threw ict
on the fire had kindled. But they did not pu
ia quite out.
The Judge charged according to law and ev
idence, but evidently leaned upon the side o
mercy. The jury found verdict of guilty
but unanimously commended tho prisoner to tn
clemency of the court My client was sentenc
ed to the shortest imprisonment the court wa
empowered to give, and both jury and cour
signed petition to the Governor for an uncon
ditional pardon, which has since been granted
but not before the following incident occurred
Some three months after this I receivd an &C
couut for collection from wholesale house il
New York. The parties to collect from wer
81 hard ones" but they had property, and be
fore they had any idea of the trap I had laid,
had the property, which they were about to as
sign, before they " broke" under attachment
Finding that was neck ahead, and bound
win, they caved, and paid over three thousan
seven hundred and nicely four dollars, eightee
cents, per my memorandum book, in curren
money. They lived in Shawneetown, abou
twenty-five or thirty miles southeast of Moore
pruirie. received the funds just at bank oper
ing, but other business detained me until afte
dinner. then started for c., intending |
90 as far as the village of Mount Vernon tha
night. ~.
had got along at fair pace about ten Q
twelve miles, whom noticed double team
splendid horses coming up behind me, attache
to a light wagon, in which were seated four me
evidently of the high strung order. The
swept past me as if to see how easy they coul
do it, then shortened in, and allowed me
. come up. They hailed me, and asked me
wet, or in other words, to help diminish tt
: contents of old rye they had aboard but e!
I, cused myself on the plea that had plenl
- aboard. They asked how far was going.
told them as far as Mount Vernon, if my horl
: did not tire. They mentioned pleasant te
, ern ten or twelve miles ahead, as nice sto
', ping place, and then drove on.
did not like the looks of those fellows nor the
actions. But was bound to 60 ahead hs
l. brace Of revolvers, knife, and the mon,
's was not in the valise in my sulkey, but in be
10 around my body. drove slow in hopes tn
ii they would 20 on, and should see them
l. more. 1t was nearly dark, when saw tave
sign ahead. At the time l saw that their wag
,e stood before the door. would have passed
10 but my horse needed rest. hauled up and
woman came to the door. She turned pale a:
I, clean sheet when she saw me-she did not spe
is but with meaning look she put her finger
ge her lip, and beckoned me in. The woman W
,e the wife of my late client.
I'd When entered the party recognized n
t, hailed me as if | had been an old travelling frier
and asked me to drink respectfully but fir
y declined to do so.
n BY Cd, you shall drink, or fghtI' 81
he the noisiest Of the party;
he Just as please, drink
purposely showing the butt Of q - Ig6i
'l- kicks six times in rapid succession.
en- The others interfered and very easily quell
lst my opponent, One offered me cigar, which
BY would have refused, but glance of cntrst
he from the woman induced me to accept it. S
mt advanced to profer me a light, and in doing
Ter slipped line into my hand, which she IN
os, have written in pencil but the moment befo
lll Never shall forget the words-thsy were-'
it, ware, they are members of the gang, mean
he rob and murder you Leave soon---I will
to detain them ..l .f
er, did mt feel comfortable just then; but
ew tried to look so. tfs
VI Have you room to put imy horse {! as
M of tho woman.
'p- What, are you not going on tonight q
one Of the men, we are.
ta No. said |, | shall stay herel'
ian I'VE ii all stay, reckon, and make nj
oth Of it said another.
zes You II have to put up up your own hors
a here & a lantern said the woman d.,