The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-01-02


ing wife and sister made jury render
verdict against law, evidence and the
judges charge, and saved follow who
ought to have hung as high as lIaman
The prosecution opened very bitterly,
inveighcd against the thieves and coun.
tcrfeiters who had made the land a ter
ror to strangers and travellers, and had
robbed every farmer in the region of thcr
finest horses 1t introduced witnesses
who proved all and moro than feared
they would.
The time came for me to riso for the
defence Nitncasc5--I haQ none. Da.
l was determined to make one effort
only hoping to interest the judge and
jury so as to secure a universal recon-
mendation to gubernatorial clemency,
and light sentence. So l painted this
picture. A young man entering into
life, welded to an angel, beautiful in
person, possessing every virtue every
gentle and noble attribute. Temptation
wa. before and all around him. lie kept
tavern. Guests there were manv-it
was not far him to inquire into their
business, they were well dressed, made
large bill and paid promptly. AT an un-
guarded hour. when he was insane with
the liquor which they had urged upon
him, he devia.cd from the path of rccti-
tude. lie was not himself at the time.
The demon Of alcohol reigned in his
brain. And it was his first offence
Mercy plead for another chance to save
him from ruin. Justice did not require
his sacrifice nor did it require that his
sweet wife should 90 down sorrowing to
the grave and that the shadow of dis
gracc.or the tnint of fclon father should
fall across the sunny pathway Of that
sweet child. Oh, how earnestly did |
plead for them-thc woman wcpt. her
husband did the samo-the judge fJge,.
ed and rubbed bis eyes-the jury looked
melting If could have ciosed, he
would have been cleared. but the prose.
cution had the close and threw ice on
thc fire l had kiudlcd But tLey did
not put it quite out.
The judge charged according to law
and evidence, but evidently leaned upon
the side Of mercy. The jury found a
verdict Of guilty, but unanimously com
meudcd the prisoner to the clemeucv of
the court. My client was sentenced to
the shortest imprisonment the court was
empowered to give. ard both jury and
court signed a petition to the Governor
for an unconditional pardon. which has
since been granted. but not before the
tul llouipp IN aidpnf ocptIrT~i
Some three months after this. receiv-
ID an account fer collection from
wholesale house in New York. The par
tics to collect from were hard ones,
but they had property, and before they
lad any idea Of the trap | had laid |
Lad tie property. which they wero about
to assign. before they broke under at
trachment Finding that was a neck
ahead and bound to win, they caved, and
paid over three thousand seven hundred
and hnety four dollars. eighteen cents
Per my memorandum book in current
money They lived in Shawneciown. a.
bout twenty-five or thirty miles south
cast 0. Moore's Prairie. | received the
funds just at bani: opening, but other
business detained me till after dinner. |
then started for C. intending to 60
as far as the village Of Mount Vernon
that night.
had got along at fair pnce about ten
or twelve miles, when | noticed double
team Of splendid horses coming up be-
hind me, attached TO a light wagon, in
which were seated four men-evldeutly
Of the high strung order They swept
past me as if TO see how easy they could
do it, then shortened in; aud allowed mo
to come up They hailed me, and asked
ne to wet or in other words 10 he lp
diminish the contents old rye they had
aboard, but excused myself on tho plea
that | had plenty aboard. They asked
how far was going. / told them as far
as Mount Vernon, if my horse did not
tire. They mentioned pleasant tavern
ten or twelve miles ahead, as a nice
stopping place. and then drove on.
l did not like the looks Of those fel-
lows Dor their actions. But | was bound
to 60 ahead. l had brace of revolvers,
a knife, end tho money was not 10 the
valise in my sulkey, but in belt around
my body. J. drove slow in hopes
that they would go on, aul should see
them no more. 1t was nearly dark, when |
saw a tavern sign ahead At the same time
| saw that they stood before the door.
l would have passed on but my horse
needed rest. l hauled up and woman
came to the door. She turned pale as a
clean sheet when she saw me-she did
not speak but with a meaning look she
put her finger on her lip, and beckoned
me in. The woman was tue wife Of my
late client.
When | entered the party recognized
me, hailed me as if | had been an old
travelling friend, and asked me to drink, l
respectfully but firmly declined to do So
By -, you shall drink, or fight =
said the noisiest Of the party.
just as / please drink l will not,
said |, ,purposcly showing the butt Of q
'coH which kicks six times in rapid sue
cession.
The Others interfered aud very easily
quelled my opponent. Ono offered me a
cigar. which l weuld have refused but a
glance Of entreaty from the woman in.
duced me to accept it. She advanced to
proffer mSa light, and in doing so, slip
ped liue into my hand, which she must