Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-16

i
The time came for me to rise for defence
| Witnesses had none But I determined to
make an effort, only hoping so to interest the
judge and jury. as to secure recommendation
to gubernatOrial Clemency and light sentence.
| So painted this picture A Young man
entered into life, welded to an angel beauti-
full in person, possessing every gentle and no.
BILE attribute Temptation was before and all
around him. He kept tavern. Guests
there were many it was not for him to inquire
into their business they were all well-dressed ::
made large bills and paid promptly At an
unguarded hour when he was insane with the
liquor they urged upon him, he had deviated
| from the path of rectitude The demon of
alcohol had reigned in his brain and it was
the 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 felon father
should cross the path of that sweet child. o,
how earnestly did plead for them The wo-
man wept, the husband did the same the
judge fdgetted and rubbed his eyes the Jury
melting. If could have closing speech he
would have been cleared but the prosecutor
had the close, and threw ice on tie fire | had
kindled. But they did not quite put it out.
The judge charged according to law and evi
dence, but evidently leaned on the side of mer
cy. The jury found verdict of guilty, but
unanimously recommended the prisoner to the
mercy of the court. Ny client was sentenced
to the shortest imprisonment the court was
empowered to give, and both jury and court
signed petition to the Governor for an un-
conditional pardon, which has since been grant
ed, but not before the following incident occur
red:
Some three months after this, I received an
account for collection from o wholesale house
| in New York. The parties to collect from
were hard ones, but they had property, and
| before they had an idea of the trap laid, had
! the property which they were about to assign
before they broke, under attachment Find
| ing | 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 in good
money They lived in Shawneetown, about
35 or 40 miles southeast of Moore's prairie
| received the funds just after bank opening,
bat other business detained me till after din
ner | 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
l noticed a splendid team of horses attached
TO light wagon, ie which were seated four
men, evidently of the high strung order They
swept as if to show how easily they could do
it. They shortened In, allowed me to come up
with them, and haliRg me, asked me to wet"
or in other words, diminish the contents of
jug of cid rye they had aboard but l excused
myself with the plea that l had plenty on
board They asked me lrcw far | was going
told them as far as Mount Vernon, if my
horse didn't tire oat They mentioned pleas
ant tavern ten or twelve miles ahead, as
nice stopping place and then drove on.
did not like the look of those fellows, ncr
their actions But was bound to go ahead.
| had brace of reyolverS and nice knife !:
my money was not in my valiSe or my Sulky,
but in my belt about H,y body l drove slow
in hopes that they would go on, aud should
see them no more. 1t was nearly dark when
saw tavern sign ahead. At the same
time saw their wagon stood before the door.
| would have pressed on, but my horse needed
rest / hauled up, and a woman came to the
door. She turned as pale as sheet when she
saw me-She did not speak, but with mean
ing look she put her finger on her lips, and
beckoned me in she was the wife of my late
client
When l entered, the party recognized me,
and hailed me as an old travelling friend, and
asked ME te drink l respectfully. but firmly,
declined TO do so.
"By Cd, YOU shall drink or 6ght." said
the noisest of the party.
just as you please drink shall not y
said |, purposely showing the butt of
Colt, which kicks six times in rapid success
sion.
The party interposed, and very easily quelled
the aSSailaut One offered me segar, which
| reluctantly refused, but glance from the
woman induced NE accept. She advanced
and profered me light, and in doing so slip
ped note into my hand, which she must have
written moment before. Never shall for
get the words They were
Beware, they are members of the gang
They mean to rob and murder you Leave
soon :; | will detain them :"
| did not feel comfortable just then, but
tried 10 do so.
Have you any room to put up my horse p
asked turning 10 the woman.
What, are you not going on tonight g
asked one of the men We are
"No,a said l, Il shall stay here tonight"
We'll all stay then, guess, and make
night of it !" said another of the cut-throats.
You'll have 20 up your Own horse-here'S
lantern," said the woman.
Il am used TO il" said "Geutlemen, ex-
cuse me minnie I'll join YOU in drink
when | come in"
Good on your head. More whiskey, old
gal" shouted they
| went out, glanced at there wagon {; it was
old fashioned, aud "linch pins" secured the
wheels. To take out my knife and pry one
from the fore and hind wheels was about the
work of an instant, and threw them as far
off in the darkness as l could To unite my
- L r - h,,t tha rr,rl- nf mo-