The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-02-07
The last Days OF JssfrcyS one Of the
- Asroclous Juaves.
Sro.a ~ Volume. Il x.s.u,.y. History u England

yron hss Volumes u AasautAys History " England,
| Among the many offenders whose names
we're uentioned in the course Of these inquir-
| ed in guiit and infauy, asd whom wings and
tories we're equally willing TO leave to tie ex-
| treme rigor Of the law. On that terrible day
which was succeeded by shs lush Night, the
roar OF great city disappointed of its revenge
had followed Jeifrsys TO the draw bridge Of The
Towsr. His imprlsoninsut was not strictly
iegal bat hs NJ frst accepted With thanks and
| blessings the protection which thpss dark walk.
made famous by so many crimes and sorrows.
afforded hiW against thefury Of the muliiluds.
Soon. however. be becan,e scrs&bie thu, his M
wss still ia isaminer, peril,
| For time be battered himself with the
hope that writ oi habeas corpus would libe-
rate him from his confinement, and that be
should be abs to steel away to some foreign
country, aud to hide himself with part Of his
| illgotten wealth from the detestation Of man.
kind but till the government was settled,
| there was Nd court competent TO grant writ Of
hatsds corpus aud, as soon rs the government
had been settled, the Habeos Corpus was sns.
pend,d. Whether the legal guilt OF murder
could be brought honfe to Jeffreys may be
doubted. But he was morally guilty OF SO
many mnrders. that If there had been 10 other
way OF reaching his lin. . retrospective act OF
Attainder would have been demanded by the
whole nation. A disposition 10 triumph over
the fallen has never been one Of tho besetting
sins OF Englishmen; but the hatred Of which
Jefreys was the object was without n parallel
in our history, and partook but too largely Of
the savageness Of his own nature.
( The people, where he was concerned, were
as cruel as himself, and exulted in his misery
ss he had been accustomed to exult in the
misery Of convicts listening to the sentence OF
death. and Of families clad in mourning. The
rabble congregated before his deserted mansion
In Duke street. and read on the door, with
shouts of laughter, the bills which announced
the sale Of bis property. Even delicate wo
men, who had tears for highwaymen and
housebreakers, breathcd nothing but vengeance
against him. The lampoous on him which
were hawked about the town were distinguished
by an atrocity rare even in those days. Hang.
ing would be too mild death for hm a
grave under the gibbet too respectable
resting place be oaght 10 be whipped to
death at the cart tail be ought to be tortured
to death like an Indian he ought 10 be de.
yourcd alive.
The street poets portioned out all his joints
with cannibal ferocity, and computed how
many pounds Of steak might be cut from his
wellfattened carcass. Nay, the rage of his
enemies was such, that in language seldom
heard 10 England. they proclaimed their wish
that he might 90 to the place Of wailing and
ynashng OF teeth, TO the worm that never dies,
to the fire that Is never quenched. They ex-
horted him to hang himself in his garters and
to cut his throat with his razor. They put up
horrible prayers that he might not be able to
repent, that he might die the same hard heart
ed wicked Jefircys that he had lived. His
spirit, as mean In adversity rs insolcnt and
inhuman in prosperity, sank down under the
load OF public adherence. His constitution.
originally bad and much impaired by iniemp-
crance, was completely broken by distress and
anxiety.
He was tormcnted by cruel internal dis
ease, which the most skilfal surgeons OF that
age were seldom able to relieve. One solnce
was left 10 him-brandy Even when he had
causes TO try and councils to attend, he had
seldom gone TO bed sober Now when he had
nothing 10 occupy his mind save terrible rccol-
lcctions and terrible forebodines, lie abandoned
himself without reserve TO his favoritc vice.
Many believed him 10 be bent ON shortening
bis life by excess. lie thought il better, they
said, 10 20 off in drunken fit. than 10 be
hacked by ketch, or torn limb from limb by
tho populace.
Once be was reused from state Of abject
despondency. by an agreeable sensation speedi
ly followed by a mortiGying disappointment.
A parcel had been lett Cor him at the Tower.
1t appeared 10 be barrel OF Colchester oys
tes, his hvorite dainties, He wss really
moved for there are moments when those who
least deserve ass~tiou are ii~--i N think that
they inspire it. (" Thauk tod" he exclaimed.
|" have still some friepJs left! lie opened
the barrel, and from heap Of shells out tutnba
led stout halter. ~44 Tp~l
Itdss not appear thai one Of tho fiattererS
or buhoops whom he bsi enriched ont OF the
plaDder OF his victims came TO comfort bin in
the day Of his trouble. But he was not left 10
utter solitude. John Tatchin, whom hc had
senteneed 10 be HoggeJ every fortnight for
seyen years, made bis way into tho Tower, and
presented himself tn 'h~!t 's1F 7v"sessor. Poor
Jehreys, humbIed {. ASA Isshavcd with
abjcct ciyility, apd 81 d cor .tr. Il an
glad, sir, he said. ~ 80 yoa.' /" Apd ! an
gad.v answered The resentful wbig, ." to 10
your lofdship in this place" Il served rny
master" said Jeercys I" was bound in con-
science 10 DO So" Where was your con
science. said Ta,ehio. " when yon passed the
sentence on me af Dorchesterf' 1T was set
down in my Instructions" answered jeffrey.
hswnngly. I" that was to show no mercy to
men like you, men Of parts and courage. When
] vent back TO court, J was reprimandel for
ny lepity"
Even Tu,chin acrimonious a. Was his na-
ture, and great o. we're bts wrongs seems 10
have b1Ss little molliHed by the pitabsespec-
tacle which be bad al Grst contemplated with
vindictivc plesssre. He always deuied the
truth Of the report that he was the person who
sent the Colchester barrel TO the Tower.
A moee bcueyolent msn, John Sharp. the
excellent Dean Of Norwich, forced himself 70
visit the prisoner. II was q painful task. ba,
Sharp, had been treated by Je5rvys, in old
times. a. kindly ~ Il vas in the nature Of yef.
freys to treat anybody. and had once or twice
been able, by psiiently waiting until the storm
Of curses and invectsves had spent iislf, and
| By dexterously seixing ihr moment Of ecod hs.
| nor. to obtain for unhappy families some miti.
CATION Of their suHerings. The prisoner vss
surprised and pleased. 50 What he said,
dAre you owa me nov
I Itwss IN vain. however that the amiabse d.
vine tried 10 give salsiaTy pain TO thA, scared
eo0scseune. Jeffeys, instead " sckDoxlodginz
his guilt. ercisined veh menty agains, tbs IN
justice ofnankiDd "Peopb cali nc murderer
q - = n