Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-09-21

ened william, because he persisted in still assert.
ing his innocence. 1t was an assertion that
avaiied just as much, and 70 more, than it did
when they were borne down by tornado OF
prejudice, and convicted without evidence ol
guilt.
But why did you make the confession p We
asked the convicted man.
because life was still dear, and / was assured
that that the only way to save it. l was
told that if | would confess, my punishment
would be committed and might Join INV broth :
er. Anything, l thought, rather than the gall
lows. / knew bad been wicked man, and /
thought a lie to save my life not a very
great sin, it would give me time for repent
ance. j could not read write. and scarcely
knew what the paper contained that was told
to put my name to. / soon found what purpose
1t was wanted for. 1t was not To save my life,
but to prove to my friends that my condemna-
ton had been just. l soon found that [ had
nething to hope = that | must die on the gal
lows" y
While one is toiing in prison and the othe1
within three weeks OF death let us visit a farm
house in New Jersey. and look in upon a quiet.
pleasant scene, where the head of the family is
reading to those gathered around to hear '.the
news which a weekly New York paper affords
them. He had just finished the reading of a
detailed account of the trial and conviction of
Bownes for the murder of Colvin. During the
reading, the wife of the farmer had her atten-
tion very much divided between the interest
which she felt in the account and the effect it
produced upon individual present "a man
Who usually gave no indication of finterest in any
thing not Immediately connected with the farm.
Husband, said the wife, "dId you observe
Richard while you We're reading. He acted We
ry singular"
"He is very singular individual" was the
reply.
So he was and Mr.. Smith had good reason
for his opinion. About seven years previous to
this time during Mr.. Smith absence witt farm
produce at market IN this city, this man came
to his house, walking in with all the familiarity
of one at home, making inquiries about family
affairs and how they had been during his alb
sence-in fact, assuming about all business mat
tiers the position of Mr.. Smith, as though e was
that individual, and had just returned home af-
( ter long Journey. AT first, Mrs. Smi;A was
alarmed, but found that her new lord was
an inoffeusiye harmless maniac
When Mr.. Smith returned the new conner
met him at the gate. invited him in and well
coined him TO the house asked him if he would
have his horse put up and stay all night, and Fl
nally came to the conclusion that he had right
To stay, from the fact that he was some one that
had been attending TO his affairs during his long
absence from hone-for such the deranged man
considered it. And in this position the new
conner not only installed himself, but continued
for seven long years a valuable laborer, asking
| as his only recompcnse his food and clothing, a
privilege ef calling everything his, although
| willing to allow the real owner to transact all
the business aud handle all the money. The
ouiv name he kuowu by was Richard, and
he utterly refused 10 give any clue to who or
what lie was or where he came from and he
soon ceased to be a wonder. 1t was remarked
that be had of severe cut on his head
and whenever any illusions We're made to it. he
/ showed some excitement, and sometimes anger.
/ Otherwise he was docile, contented and quiet
/ never desiring to 20 anywhere off the FARM
] This evening, dining the readII of the muir
. der trial of the Bowues, be had shown more in
terest than he had ever before manifested upon
any subject UncUnnected With his daily orcUTa-
tion, and this being obsery ed by Mrs. SIJith. it
led to frequent consultation and queries, coupled
with attempts to elicit something from Richard
that would connect him with the affair but all
without success
I 1t was about this time that Mr. VIM. Price
became in some way cognizant of the circum-
stances connected with this singular individual
. and having also read the account of the trial
and conviction OF the men, as he thought upon
insufficient evidence, ho made a journey on pur-
pose to the man Richard, and elicit, if pos
sble, something from him. Undoubtedly 1t was
through the influence of Mr. Price that Mr.
Smith took the course he did tor tie more he
thought upon the straDge disappearance of Col
YIN in Vermont, and the sudden appearance of
this man in New Jersey, and his mysterious
conduct since, and coupled that with the scar
upon his head, be detern med TO act perhaps to
save the life Of - innocent man At ali events
10 satisfy bimseN that be had not been crInIin-
ally negligent IN permitting a man to be exc
cuted whom lie could save. But how was he to
carry his plan into execution
4 This was without letting another PARTY into
the secret, to bring ridicule upon him if he
We're mistaken IN his supposition, in take Rich
ard to Manchester. and see If any there
would recognize him after seven years absence
changed as be undoubtedly was in his aprear-
ance. Our philanthrops, was convinced from
all that he could get out of Richard that it void
not do 10 make any direct propositions to him
upon the subject, but the more he thought up
on the matter the more determined he was to
act, and there was no time to lose, as three
weeks only remained to the condemned man
We forget What stratagem Was used to induce
the derangcd man 10 make an unwonted jour-
ncv though we are impressed with the opinion
that 1t was 10 purchase an addition to the farm,
! which he had long desired, that he consented to
make Journey by mail stage there were no
railways forty years ago - travelling day and
night into some unknown region, without
citing any suspicion that their ultimate deter
minaIicn was a plan concerning which be new
er would hold any conversation. In the mean
time. the discussion of the innocence or guilt of
the had broken out afresh, as he had re-
canted his confession, and insisted that it had
been obtained by false pretenses, and that he
| was innocent. Besides, lie had a dream, three
times repeated, that Colvin was alive, and would
make his appearance, though, he said, not
until after he was hong.
During this state of things. there was large
crowd at the public house in Manchester one
evening, discussing this great topic, when The
stage from the south drove UP. Among the
. crowd which always gathers around the door
/ when the stage arrives at Il village inn, was
man who had rather firmly maintained that
Bownes was guilty, until the dreams came out
but, being "helIever dreams" his faith was
staggered and be said "he didn't know about
it." The stage driver reined up AT the door, and
the tin lantern OF the hostler opened the blaze
of a tallow candle foil In the faces of the pas
sengers as they alighted. Mr.. Smith aligbted
without exciting any remark. Not so his CON-
panion.
Ii was an anxious moment for Mr.. Smith, for
there was the spot where his suspicious were to
be proved true and his hopes to save the life Of
an innocent man gratIfed or 70, ever crushed
He said TO Richard as he got out, come let
hurry and get supper before the stage starts
As Richard got ont, the light fell full in his
face binding his vision, but enabling the crowd