Mariposa Democrat., 1857-09-02

the Lords annointcd You have convinced
stores at Portsmouth" Deane answered that
as that would tend to weaken the enemy
in carrying on the war, If he could accom-
plish it, he should have no objection, but would
not aid him in it. lie said he could do it, and
would go over to England and reconnoiter the
place Deane reminded him that If caught he
would assuredy lose his life. He said he
should not attempt to save it. He was an old
man, had no connections, and whether he died
now or three or four years hence, it was mat
ter Of little consequence to him; so that he
could but get revenge. lie accordingly went
to Portsmouth. and on his return communica-
ted to Mr.. Deane his whole plan, with the in
strumcnt made Of tin, with which he was to
accomplish it, The scheme was well laid and
promised success Some days after, he came
again. and said "Now | know you will think
me rascal am come to borrow money; l
have expended all had. ! want one guinea
to carry me TO Portsmouth" Deanc told him
that il that was all he wanted he could have it.
He gave it to him and went off. Deane receiv.
ed the following account of his proceedings,
from friend who attended his examination
before the privy council. He arrived at Ports
mouth and took up his lodgings with very
poor woman at the skirts Of the town. Early
next morning he went out to reconnoiter. The
l.. .-t~ Vh.tb hos
guest was, had the curiosity to look into his
bundle. She found shirt and pair of stock
ings, with tin machine which she could not
comprehend. John, the Painter, wanted top
to his machine, and took it to a tin-man and
had one made. In the evening he accomplish
cd his purpose and consumed nearly hundred
thousand pounds worth of stores In the
morning, every person in the town was order
cd to report il any stranger had lodged there.
The old woman reported John, the Painter,
with the extraordinary tin machine; the tin
man reported his ak'ng top for it. John
was fixed upon as the incendiary, and, It being
taken for granted that he was sent properly
prepared for the purpose, and relays of horses
we're prepared for his escape, horsemen were
sent on every road, and orders to pursue and
take up every person they found riding past.
By daylight in the morning John had taken up
About noon the horsemen sent on that road
came up with John and asked him if he had
seen any person on horseback riding past that
day. John answered in the negative, and re-
qucsted to know the reason for their inquiry.
They related the story of the fire, and that
they were in search of the incendiary. John
told them that they were wholly mistaken in
their pursuit, for that he was the man that had
set fire to the stores, and gave them his reason
for doing it. At first they thought he was
crazy, but on bis repeating it with some par
ticular circumstance, they seized and brought
him back to Portsmouth. He was there re-
cognizcd by the old woman and the tn-man,
and sent to London, where he was examined
by the privy council. He candidly told them
the whole story, declaring that he would GER
tainly have killed the King had not Mr.. Deane
dissuaded him from it, and convinced him that
it was unlawful to lift bis hand against the
Lords annointed. That he was ready to die,
and no matter how soon. He denied having
any accomplice, and said he rejoced for hav-
ing obtained revenge for the cruelties with
which he had been treated by the British army.
lie was tried, condemned and hanged.
very unfair and false account of his examina-
ton was published at the time, and no notice
taken of Mr.. Deanes having saved the Kings
life.