Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-07-18
ng that can nrolong my misery, even for

for the purpose OF giving him what comfort
he could but rs they at length approached
the moor, and the dark line of the gallows
was seen rising in the evening air, the good
man, in a low tone, urged Frederick earnest
" to confess the crime. The young prisoner
turned slowly round upon him and said,
Would you have me die with lie IN my
mouth am innocent and my innocence
will some day be proved
Soon after this, the fatal spot was reached
and as it was now beginning to grow twilight
all the rest of the terrible proceedings were
hurried as much as possible. Frederick
preyot showed frmncss and readiness in ALL
and more strength than people had believed
he possessed. Though the crowd, which had
been there from the morning, was somewhat
diminished, the numbers were still consider
able, and while the cxccutoner was in the
act Of adjusting the rope, the prisoner turned
to the people, and said, in a loud clear voice,
Remember, every one of you, that to the very
last moment of my life, and with my very
last breath ! declare that ! am innocent
Now, he continued, turning to the hangman,
's all ready -
Yes, SIR replied the man, drawing the
cap over his face; and without waiting for
any further word, Frederick Preyot threw
himself violently off the ladder, and remained
suspended between heaven and earth
A low murmur ran through the people, and
it was a sad one, too; for there was something
in the manner of his death which shook the
conviction, even Of those who had previously
felt most sure of his guilt. Some indeed
went away saying that he died game, but
the great majority Of the multitude separated
with feeling that, on that moor an inno-
cent man had Just been murdered
Such was the conviction Of shepherd, an
,ll,rly man vrIt G,l tIn NI,pl of "a h,l-
ing squire, the lord Of the manor and when
he went home he gave his wife an account Of
the whole proceedings, adding, They may
say what they like, but ! am very sure that
poor gentleman did not kill the other one,
and | sh Ill not wonder if the truth were
found out some day.
As was usual with this old man, in the
very grey Of the dawning Of the following
dag, he led forth his sheep to pasture, and
the feelings he had experienced on the pre-
cedng night naturally made him turn his
steps towards the galows on the moor.
Though it was a terrible sight to see the body
Of a human being hanging there, loaded with
heavy chains, yet the old man felt an interest
in all that had occurred, which made him
pause and look up. In the meantime. the
sheep began to take a wrong direction, and
he called TO his dog to turn them back,
What was his surprise, however, when he
heard a faint voice. which seemed to come
from the gibhet, inquire, Is there anybody
there - aud then add, '' for God S sake
take me down, or end my life, for this is
very dreadful -
The voice evidently came from the man
who had been banged, although the cap.
which was still over his face prevented the
shepherd from seeing his lips move At first,
the old man had started with terror and
nearly sank to the earth, but now his natural
conclusion was, " Good heavens are you
not dead yet ~
80 No, - replied the voice, " not even hurt,
except by remaining so many hours here
The rope does not press upon my neck al, all,
and somehow | am hanging by my legs and
my arms
:: Stay, stay" cried the shepherd eagerly
" will get a ladder, and take you down
but do not speak to any one else, for fear
they should hang you again
Thus saying, the old shepherd ran faster
than he had ran for thirty years, to detach-
ed barn and rick-yari at short distance in
which We're lying several thutching ladders
Taxing the largest of these, he was speedily
at the foot of the gibbet and had soon placed
the feet Of poor Frederick Prevot firm upon
one of the rounds Of the ladder. 1t was now
very evident how he had escaped death The
hangman, both inexperienced and half drunk
had twisted the rope round the chains in such
IL manner that the nose never slipped at all.
and the latcncss of the hour at which the
sentence was executed prevented the mistake
from being perceived by others. The very
suddenness of the spring which Frederick had
given, had entangled the cord more strongly
than ever in the chains, and as the last strong
exerton which he made had exhausted, for
the time, all his remaining corpore n powers,
he tainted before he himself perceived that
the anticipated death was warded off for the
moment.
The shepherd went skilfully though cautious
ly to work to set him free. He first cut the
cord that plnioned his hands, and having thus
enabled him to grasp the ladder firmly, he
cut the moose from round his neck, and hast
ened to descend, leaving room for Frederick
to follow. The poor young man, however,
was so feeble, and so stiff, that it was with
the greatest difficulty he crept down, and
even then could not support himself upon his
feet, though the poor shepherd was in great
agitation and terror lest any one should
come up, as the sun was now fully risen -
For Frederick to reach his cottage quickly,
was quite out Of the question and as the
best thing he could do for him. the old man
supported him to a deep little hollow on the
moor filled with tall heath, and hid from any
much frequented path. There he made him
lie down, covered him over as well as he could
| and FASTENED home to get some hot milk and
other restoratives, snch as he thought best
calculated to give him strength to complete
/ his escape. His efforts were fully successful:
/ Frederick recovered sufficiently to reach the
| old mans cottage as soon as it was dark and
under cover of the subsequent night he made
/ his way towards the dwelling of her who was
now weeping him as dead and lost to her for
] bn a tigaD IF tbo I,3 IL. e.
| the gallows excited some conversation, but
small surprise, Many people said that the
/ corpse had gone to the anatomists, and the
CHAINS to the old iron shop; others again.
. declared that the friends of the criminal had
carried off the body TO bury him: but no one
entertained a suspicion Of the truth. In the
meanwhile, the shepherd, making some rea
sOnable excuse, gave his flock into the charge
Of neighbor for tho time, and accompanied
Frederick to the house of Mary Gore.
The old man undertook the task of break
ing the news 10 her, and delicate indeed was
that task for, at the hest, the tidings had
we'll nigh killed her with Joy The door of
the neat small house which she had in
hahited alone since her mothers's death
! about two years before was soon open for
Fred rick Preyot. ami their meeting was
one on which 1t will not do to dwell lie
found her in the dress of a widow; and
though he would fain have fingered, and
would almost have risked anything rather
than leave her again, yet Mary's only anxiety
was to get him beyond the shores of England
as speedily as possible.
She promised to follow him Immediately
if hc would 60 10 the West Indies. and
there to unite her fate to his Though his
property vas, Of course lost for ever, vet
hers was ample, according TO all the calcua
-. 6 /. Il.