Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-08-20


cure recommendation to gubernatorial
clemency and light sentence. So |
painted this picture A young man en-
tered into life, welded 10 an angel; beau.
iful in person. possessing every gentle and
1 noble attribute. Temptation was before
and all around him. lie kept q tavern.
Guests there were many; Il was not for
him 10 enquire into their business; they
were well-dressed made large bills and
paid promptly. AT an unguared hour,
whenhe was insane with liquor they urged
upon him, he had deviated from the path
of rectlude. The demon. of alchohol had
reigned in his brain; and il was his first
offence. Mercy pleaded for another
chance to save him from ruin. Justice
did not require that his young wife should
go down sorrowing to the grave, and that
the shadow Of disgrace and the taunt Of a
felon father should cross the path of that
sweet child. Earnestly did plead for
them.,y The woman wept; the husband
did the same the Judge fdgeted and rubbed
his eyes; the Jury looked melting. IL |
could have had the closing speech he would
have been cleared but the prosecutor had
the close, and threw ice On the fire had
kindled. But they did not quite put it out
The Judge charged according 10 law
and evidence, but evidently leaned on the
side of mercy. The jury found a verdict
Of guilty, but unanimausy recommended
the prisoner tolthe mercy of the court.---
My client was sentenced to the shortest
Imprisonment the court was empowered TO
give, and both jury and court signed pc
titon 10 the governor for an unconditional
pardon, which has since been granted, but
not before the following incident occurred: {:
Some three months after this, / received
an account for collection from wholesale
house in New York. The parties TO COL
lect from were hard ones, but they had
property, and before they had any idea of
the trap laid, | had the property, which
they were about TO assign, before they
broke under attachment, Finding was
neck ahead and bound TO win, they ,.caved
in" and "forked over three thousand
seven hundred and 'ninety-four dollars and
eighteen cents (per memorandum book J
in good money. They lived in Shanee-
town, about thirty five or forty miles south
east of Moore's prairie. received the
funds just after bank opened, but othor
business detained me ill after dinner. /
then started for C------, intending to go
as far as the village of Mount Vernon
that night.
had gone along ten or twelve miles,
when noticed splendid team of double
horses attached 10 light wagon, in which
were seated four men, evidently of the
high strung order. They swept past, as
If TO show how easily they could do it,
They shortened in, and allowed me TO come
up with them, and hailing me, asked me
"wet or, in other words, diminish The
contents Of jug of old rye they had aboard; /;
but excused myself with the plea that
had plenty on board. They asked me
how far was goingi Itold them as far
as Mount Vernon, II my horse didn't. tire
out. They mentioned a pleasant tavern
ten or twelve miles ahead, as q good stop
ping place, and then drove on. 80
" did not like the looks Of those fellows,
nor their actions. But Iwas bound 10 90
ahead. j hada brace Of frevolyers and a
nice knife; my money was not in my yalise
or my sulky, but in belt round my body.
ii drove slow, III hopes that they would go
on, and should see theni no more. II
was nearly dark when / saw tavern sign
ahead. tthc same time saw their wa
gon standing5 before the door, | would
have pressed on, bnt myhorse needed rest.
Ihauled ups and a woman came 70 the
door. She turned as pale. as sheet when
she saw me--she did not speak, but with
a meaning look she pot her finger on her
lips, and beckoned me in; she was the
wife of my late client. "a "a stss 8Ff''
|, loWhen entered, the party recognized
me, hailed me as an old travelling friend
and asked me to drink. Respectfully bui
firmly declined TO do so. I'D b a-.pL
"By =, you shall drink or fght!'' said
the noisiest of the party. .aaa ,oF
just as you please; drink shall not 7
said ], purposely showing Colt which
kicks six times in rapid succession. na.a.s
The party interposed, and very easily
quelled the assailant. One offered me q
cigar. which 4 reluctantly refused, but q
, glance from the woman induced me to nc.
cept She advanced and profered me a
light, and in doing so slipped note int
\ my hand, which she must have written a
|, moment before, Never. shah ! forge
e The words. They were;l, sah
: Dl" Beware they are:members of th'
n gang. They mean rob and murde
: You. Leave soon Twill detain them |.
e i did no, feel comfortable just then, bu
tried to do So ero3 a.d idHHaJ t1lF
: bR " Have you any room TO put up m
: horse.l"s asked, turning to the woman.
q IN sWhet--afe Notl nut goinr ON to-nChte