Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-06
CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY g. 1856

science, said Tutchin, s:when you passed that
sentence on me at Dorchester!'' cit was set
down in my instructions" answered Jenrsys'
fawningly, ssthat / was to show no mercy to
men like you, men of parts and courage.
When went back to Court was reprimand-
ed for my lenity-''
Even Tutchin, acrimonious as was his ra-
ture, and great as were his wrongs, seems to
have been a little Modified by the pitiable
spectaclc which he had at first contemplated
with vindictive pleasure. He always denied
the truth of the report that he was the person
who sent the Colchester barrel to the Tower.
more benevolent man, John Sharp, the
excellent Dean of Norwich, forced himself to
visit the prisoner. 1t was painful task, but
Sharp had been treated by Jeffreys, in old
times, as kindly as it was in the power of JEFF
freys to treat anybody, and had once or twice
been able, by patiently waiting until the storm
of curses and invectives had spent itself, and
by dexterously seizing the moment of good
humor, to obtain for unhappy families some
mitigation of their sufferings. The prisoner
| was surprised and pleased. 'sWhat?' he said,
.sdare you own me now 70
It was in vain, however, that the amiable di-
vine tried to give salutary pain to that scar
ed conscience. Jeffreys, instead of acknowl-
edging his guilt, exclaimed yehc neutly against
the Injustice of mankind. ssPeople call me a
murderer for doing what at the time was ap-
! plauded by some who are now high in public
favor. They call me drunkard because I
! take punch to relieve me in my agony" He
would not admit that, as President Of the High
! Commission, he had done anything to deserve
rcproach. His colleagues, he said. were the
real criminals and now they threw all the
blame on him. He spoke with peculiar asper-
| ity of Spart, who had undoubtedly been the
most humane and moderate member of the
board.
1t soon became clear that the wicked judge
was fast sinking under the weight Of mental
and bodily suffering. DR.. John Scott, pre-
bcndary of St. Paul's, a clergyman of great
sanctity, and author of the Christian Life, q
treatise once widely renowned, was summon
ed, probably on the recommendation of hi:
intimate friend Sharp, to the bedside of the
dying man. 1t was in vain, however, tha
Scott spoke, as Sharp had already spoken, Of
the hidious bUtcheries of Dorchester ana
Taunton. To the last, Jeffreys continued to
repeat that those who thought him cruel did
not know what his orders were, that he dc
served praise instead Of blame, and that hi:
clemency had drawn on him the extreme dis
pleasure Of his master.
Disease, assisted by strong drink and misery
did its work fast. The PATIENTS stomach re-
jected all nourishment. lie dwindled in a
few weeks from portly and even corply man
to skeleton. On the 18th of April he died,
in the 41st year Of his age. He had been
Chief Justice of the Kings Bench at 30, and
Lord Chancellor at 81. In the whole history
of the English bar there is no other instance
of so rapid an elevation, or Of so terrible a
fall. The ematiated corpse was laid, with ali
privacy, next to the corpse of Monmouth in
the chapel of the Tower.