The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-19

pricoY Drysdale's house and garden hae
been turned INSIDE out, but nothing has beer
found, and 30 for that mattor had Rodney
Place. and il two remaining inmates had
/ been examined with tho like Ill success
Burnham, who was exceedingly dissatisfied
with the progress of affairs, sworo there wa
an Internal mystery somewhere. and that he
shouldn't sleep till ho had Terrified 1t out
That was his business. Ours was to make
tho best of the wretshcd materials at our
disposal but the result we oil expected, fol-
lowed. The foregono conclusion Of the jury
that wcrc empanneled in tho case, was just
about to DO formally recorded in verdict
Of guilty, when noto was handed across to
Mr.. Sims. One Mr.. Jay, q timber merchant,
who had heard the evidence Of the postil-
lion, desired to DO examined. This the Judge
at once ascnted TO, and Mr.. Jay dsposed
that h,ving left Exeter in his gig upon press
ing business, at about two o'clock on the
morning of the murder, ho had observed q
post-chaise ut the odgo Of o pond, about q
mile and half out of the city, where the
jaded horses had been, he supposed, drink
ing. They were standing still, and the post
boy, who was inside, and had roins to drive
with, passed through tho front windows,
was fast asleep-a drunken sleep, It sccmcd
and he, Mr.. Jay, had to bawl for some
time, and strike the chaiso with his whip,
before ho could wake the man, who, at last,
with growl and o curse, drove on. He be-
lievcd, but would not like TO positively swear,
that tho postillisn ho had heard examined.
was the man. The testimony, strongly sug-
gcstivc as IL was, his lordship presumed, did
not materially affect the case; the jury con-
CURED, and verdict Of guilty was pro-
nounced and recorded amidst the death-like
silence of hushed and anxious auditory.
Tho unfortonate prisoner staggered yisi-
bly, beneath the blow, fully expected as 1t
must have been, and terrible spasm con-
vulsed his features and shook his framo. 1t
passed away, and his bearing and speech,
when asked what ho had to say why sentence
of death should not bo passed according to
law, was not without certain calm dignity
and power, whilst his tones, tromulout, 1t is
true, were silvery and assuming as a childs.
81 cannot blame the gentlemen Of the
jury" ho said. "Thcir fatal verdict Is, !
am sure, as conscientious as God and myself
know 1t to be erroneous-false Circum-
stances are, feel, strangely arraycd against
against me; and II has been my fate thro'
life to DO always harshly judged, save only
by one whose truth and affection have shed
over my ohequered existence tho only hap
piness IL has ever known. I observe, too,
the telling sneer of the prosecuting counsel,
connecting the circumstances under which
1 left the navy with tho eo,par5ice Of the
deed of which I stand here accused-con-
victed, suppose I should say. forgive
that gentleman his cruel sneer as freely as l
do you, gentlemen Of the jury, your mistak-
en- vcrdict-you, my lord, the death sentence
you are about to pronounce. The manner
in which l hope to pass through tho brief,
but dark and bitter passage lying between
mo and the grave, will, trust, be sufi-
cicnt answer to the taunt Of cowardice, and
the future vindication Of my innocence, not
for my own, but for my wifc and children's
sake, confidently leave to him into whose
hands I shall soon, untimely, render up my
spirit. This Is all have to ny."
The prisoners calm, simple, unhurried
words produced marvellous effect upon tho
court and auditory. Tho Judge, Chief
Baron Macdonald, conscientious and some
what nervous man, paused in the act Of as.
suming tho black cap, and presently said,
rather hastily, I" Let the prisoner be remov-
Cd / will pass sentence tomorrow" The
Court then immediately adjourned.
Iwas miscrnbly depressed in spirits, which
the cold, sloety weather that greeted US on
emerging from tho hot and crowded court
considerably increased. was thinking-I
was only clerk, and used to such tragedies
that glass Of brandy and water might
not 20 amiss, when whom should rudely
jostle against but Cyclops, alias Thomas
Burnham. He was going tho same way as
myself, in prodigiOus haste, his eye bright
and flaming as live coal, and his whole
manner denoting intense excitement. "Is
that your" ho broke out. "Como along,
then, and quick, for tho lovo Of God I've
missed Sims and his clerk, but you'll do as
well, perhaps better" I had no powor, II
I had the inclination, to refuse, for the en-
thusiastic man seized mo by tho arm, and
hurried me along at tremendous rate, To-
wards the ouhkirs of tho city. "This Is
the place." he exclaimed, as ho burst into a
tavern parlor, where two trunks had been
deposited. "He's not come yet," Burnham
continued, " but the coach Is to call for him
here. He thinks to DO Of for London this
very night"
"Whom are you talking Oft Who's of
to London tonight"
"Jamcs Berry, If he's clever enough -
Look there
al SEQ; 'Jamcs Berry, passenger, Lon
don.' These, then, arc his trunks, sup
pose?" r--...-
"Right, my boy but there Is nothing in
them Of importance. Sly, stcady-going
Margcry has well ascertained that. You
know Margcry-but hush here ho comes"
Bery-it was he-tould not repres q
nervous start, as he unexpectedly cncoun-
tered Buruham's burly person and force