The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-04
BROTHERLY AFFECTION.

In the rel gn of tlecn anne, soldier, be-
longing to the marching regiment which was
1rH'rlcrc'l in the city of Worcester, was
taken Up for descrtion, and, being tried 10y
court-martial, WAS sentenced to be shot.
The Colonel and Lieutenant. Colonel being
at the time i'll London, the command of
the regiment descended in course to the
major. Il most cruel and inhuman man.
The day on which the ,lcscrter was 10 be
executed having arrived, the regiment as is
usual on such occasions was drawn out to
see tho execution.
1t Is The custom on these occasion to
draw lots from the several corporals for
this disagrceablc Office; and when every
one expected to see these lots us usual, tlcy
were surprised to find ,lat the Major had
gwen orders that tho prisoner should die
by the hands Of his own brother, in the
same company, and who, when the cruel
order arrived, was taken leave of his un.
happy brother, and with tears fast flowing
that expressed the anguish OF his soul
hanging for the last time about his neck.
On his knees did the poor fellow beg
that lie might not have a hand in his
brothers death; and the poor prisoner,
forgetting for the moment his petitions to
Heaven, begged to die 10y any hands than
those of his brother. The unrclenting
officer, however, could by no means be
prevailed on to revoke his cruel sentence,
though cntreatcd to do so by every officer
in the regiment; on the contrary, he sworc
that the brother, and he only, should lie
the exccuioncr if it were merely for exam
pies sake, to make justice appear more
terrible. When much time had been
wasted in fruitless cndeavors to soften the
rigor Of this inhuman sentence the prisoner
prepared TO die, and the brother to be the
exccutioncr. -
The Major, strict to the maxims of
cruelty, stands close to see that the piece
was properly loaded which being done,
he directs that the third motion of his cane
shall be the signal to fire. Accordingly, az.
the third motion, the Major, instead of the
prisoner, received the bullet through his
own head, and fell lifclcss to the ground.
The man no sooner discharged the piece,
than throwing it on the ground lie ex-
claimed:
"lle that can give no mercy, no mercy
let him receive. Now, l submit; I had
rather die this hour for that mans death
than live thousand years and take away
the life Of my brother" :.
No one seemed to be sorry for this unexpect-
ed piece Of justice on the inhuman Major
and the man being ordered into custody.
many gentlemen present, who had been
witnesses to the whole affair, joined to
entreat the officers to defer the execution
Of the other brother till the Queens pleas.
ure should be known.
The request being complied with, the
City Chamber that very night drew up
very feeling and pathetic address to her
Majesty, setting forth the unparalleled cruel
ty.ofthe deceasedo officer, and humbly entrea-
ted her Majesty's pardon for rboth the broth
ers. esf sss ..sss q - y = s+:s,, ss,s$
& ThsSbsotheis; were pardoned and dis
charged from the army
sss ~ - =, s---.--s.- - #
Some one,aska, ssisi itlawfnl to hang clothes
3on Mason ard Dts lSs. u d fsl a. las.s
fuEas planting beam round de otthl