The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-10-29

AT the same moment another shout was
heard in the distance, and the one thought
of the multitude was arrested from its one
intense purpose, and borne away in quest
OF new excitement.
A few minutes served to clear up the
matter by bringing into view several per-
sons with what seemed to be rude litter
formed by boughs, and borne onward tri-
umphantly in their mids.. Conspicuous
among them was the tower-like form of
the bee-hunter, who kept waving his arm
aloft, and shouting at every step. The
sheriff who had been passing solemnly up
and down in front Of where the prisoner
was confined, as though he had been
dreaGng the consummation Of the trage.
dy, now came forward and addressed the
assembled multitude. He told them 10
few minutes more the fate of the prisoner
would be decided, lfhe WAS innocent, no
one would rejoice more than he at the
forbearance which had been exercised in
the present crisis And now if nothing
should have turned up at the eleventh
hour in favor Of the unfortunate prisoner,
they might soon expect to witness the
narrowing spectacle Of a public execution
the first that had ever disfgured the
history of the settlement.
The approaching party we're now with
in half mile of the gsllows. and the voice
of Hinniker could be plainly heard in spite
Of the general tumult which pervailed:
'Hurrah! Hurrah for Sherman! Mer-
Ger is alive! Long live Sherman
And the crowd that FIVE minutes before
would have looked cody on to see him
hung. and quartered, echoed back the
shout:
Long live Sherman
When the litter, borne by the intrepid |
bee-hunter and his party. arrived at the
place of execution, the people formed
themselves into hollow square around
them all eager to listen to the wonderful
revelation which was expected to be made.
Nor were they mistaken, for John Mercer,
supported in sitting posture on the litter
by the strong arm Of the bee hunter, and
elevated about the sea of heads-very
pale, but still the identical perSon-was
plainly visible to every one there.
'AliveI alive! were the words that went
up in one mighty volume from the peo.
pie.
Now, my friends, cried Hin mixer,
elevating his voice SO that all might hear,
are you satisfied of The innocence of Sher-
man?'
we are! we are? was the universal
shout.
Mr. Sheriff, discharge the prisoner
bring him forthP
'Hurrah! Hurrah for Hinnikerp
When Sherman was brought out, with
his wife and children still olinging to him
not now in sorrow, but in joy-the
bee hunter once more elevated his voice
md spoke as follows:
Now my friends, you see how it is, if '
t hadn t been for my timely arrival in the I
settlement, Sherman here placing his
great, protective hand on the squartter's a
lead, would have been a dead man before '
his. And his family. instead of rejoicing q
IS they now do, would have been broken Q
hearted! No mortal man could have re-
,aired their loss, You see how it is !
low?' .... .... ..-. 6
I'VE do! we do (cheers)P
We'll, then, | will now tell you how it ?
III came about. First, what Sherman told J,
you was every word true--every word, y
ny friends. You all know James Mer- u
er, don't youl Well, you also know him
0 be twin brother Of Johns; and you
lSo know, barring the wild look which
1as his misfortune, that they resembled ie
aeh other like two peasl Well. il was ?
e that was discovered, instead of John; d
ut there was not 80 much as agmark of Y
iolence upon him mot orel v-giwill all 9
ave chance to,yltLQ.7.HL.Ng, tor they q
re bringing the body here. He evident. D
: - - iTIqID. tine Ueil disease. or II
as o.