Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-07-26

were ordered to expedite their move
ments. Still the unhappy man seemed
not to abate with his ineradicable con-
fidence in reprieYe. If the door open
ed he started abruptly from his seat and
cried-'Well, has it Gomez In all my
melancholy experience said the doctor,
folding back his hand religiously as he
spoke, 'in ali the painful scenes in my
professional attendance, no extremity of
terror on the part of a condemned man,
struck me so mournfully as the infatu-
ated hope with which Thomas Street
put away from himself the sober GER
tainty OF his fate.
The death bell tolled sadly over
head, and in spite of stout resistance.
at two minutes before twelve, the pris-
oner was brought forward on the scaf-
fold. Even then his eyes strained up
the London road, and he declared firm
Ily that he saw horseman galloping
over the crest of Leighton Hill, an emf
nence of about mile and half from
where we stood. He went further
that he heard the trampling of the hoofs,
and that it must be reprieve, because
the horse had lost shoe, and no man
would gallop horse in that condition.
except on an errand of life and death
so great was his confidence that ev-
en- my brother hesitated. He delayed
the execution some ten minutes, but no
reprieve appeared. The executioner
was ordered to proceed, and Thomas
Street abandoned hope. He shook
hands with the other officials first, and
then held out his hand to me.
| Doctor said he, 4 shake hands with
you now because all hope is over; but
you are the cause of my standing where
l must soon fall
How so, my dear sir?' 1 asked
What under heaven have 1 to say to
your coming back to Cheltenham-to
your stealing the clothes?'
4 did not steal the Clothes reiterat-
ed Street, and that will be known when
too late; but it is well for you that
shall be hung; it was a game for your
life or mine, and you have won. l came
back to kill you'll
TO kill mel l exclaimed. my God,
sir, what reason have you to wish to in
jure me? I never even saw you till you
were arrested for sheep stealing this
time twelve months
Precisely said Street; you remem-
Der, then. that 1 pretended insanity as
bar to punishment. You were called
to give an opinion, and visited me in my
cell. You asked me questions, and f.
nally struck me with cane on the
shoulder, and declared that l was no
more mad than you were yourself. You
were right; l was not mad, but never
forgave that blow! and, worse than the
blow, the laughing sneer which curled
your lip as you spoke! l vowed re-
venge, and the hope of it became the
object of my life. l conducted myself
well in the hulks, and at last took ad-
vantage of the opportunity of escape
afforded me by my jailor's carelessness.
I came back to Cheltenham to take your
life-to return the blow with interest
to see how your features looked when
they could neither smile nor sneer!'
Really, sir, you possess vivid re-
collection 1 answered. 1T is impossi-
bic that 1 could have struck you--it is
contrary to my rank, to my experience,
to my breeding
Contrary to whatever it may be, you
did strike me-not hard, mere touch,
in fact; but l never forgave it; die
with one regret; it is that the blow must
remain an unsettled account between
us. / was never struck before. was
never a criminal till the starvation of my
mother led me to take the sheep; / new
er stole the clothes for which l am
about to die, and if were reprieved
this moment, you should repent that
blow with your latest sigh
We'll, SIR continued DIR. Homer,
after such declaration l could not be
expected to feel any violent regret at
the execution of so determined an ene-
my. l even explained to my brother,
the sheriff, that he incurred serious pen
alties by any longer neglecting to fulfil
the sentence.
Street was blindfolded, pinioned,
placed on the drop, and at signal from
the sheriff, (it was now thirteen min
utes after twelve, the bolt was with
drawn, and Thomas Street dangled in
the air.
Just then cry was heard from the
far end of the market place. 1t was in
distinct at first, but gradually gathered
clearness.
"a reprieve! reprieve! reprievel'
shouted the populace. Gut him down;
cut him down; why don't you cut him
down.
The sheriff was about to use his
knife on the rope.
my dear BROTHER l said. take care
what you do. This is common trick
on such occasions, and one which may
cause you the loss of your liberty if you
are duped by it. You cannot hang
man twice, and if any of Streets accom-
pliees, by this cry, induce you to cut
him down, he win escape for certain,
but the law condemns the sheriff to take
his place.
my brother paused
Gut him down. shouted the rash
mob beneath us.
Meanwhile the messenger gained the