Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-09
tFrom The Evening Postl
THE PRIEST AND THE ROBBER.


story
Last summer, while in the country l made
the acquaintance of a very venerable and
worthy Roman Catholic Priest, who was up
wards of eighty years of age.
More than forty years ago, said he, was
sent for from the prison for criminals, to con-
fess a highway robber, condemned to death
and, as was the custom at that time. | was
locked up with the prisoner in the small chapel
attached to the prison. | used all the argu-
ments enjoined by our holy religion and did
my best to bring the poor fellow to a sense of
his terrible situation, and his urgent need of
repentance, but all my efforts appeared to make
no impression. He was absent minded. pre-
occupied, and did not seem ever to hear Inc
Young man. said |, " do you realize the
dreadful certainty that at sunrise, this very
day, your soul must appear before the throne
of God ? Why do you not listen to my exhor-
tations and what at this dread hour can take
your thoughts away from your perilous situa-
tion ~
" You are right, holy father" said he, 81
ought to list en- to your kind exhortations. and
be grateful for the interest you take in nv sad
fate, but | cannot Danish the conviction that it
is in your power to save my life"
" Save your life - cried |, how can save
it ? and if could, ought attempt il e? fl
succeeded in saving your lfe which consider
impossible, | should but enable you TO 20 on
in your career cf wickedness and crime"
" If that is all that prevents You from hear.
ing what have to say" the poor fellow repli-
ed "you may set your conscience at rest, for |
am brought too near the scaffold and the fatal
axe to ogain run the risk Help ME to escape
and | swear from this moment to live and die
an honest man.
What could | do A fellow mortal implo-
red me to save him from dreadful death. He
had Snned, but would sin no more. He was
young, too, and but for the palenees caused by
the foul air of felous CELL and his own gloo
my forebodingS, he would have been a we'll
looking, handsome even, and 10 perfect health.
He pleaded eloquentIy, he implored me to aid
him to escape. | hesitated, but finally could
not resist his earnest entreateS, that | would
at least listen to his plan He at last over
came my scruples and listened, and in short
Joined my exertions to his trying to devise how
his deliverence could be brought about
The chapel in which we were locked had
but one window, which was very near the raft
ers of the building, and more than fifteen feet
from the chapel floor You" said the pris-
oner, "have but to put the chair upon that pull
pit, which is movable, and be placed against
the wall, under the window then stand upon
the chair | will get upon your shoulders, then
spring up TO the window, aud out of it then
get upon the roof of the chapel and once
there, | shall find way to get in safety to the
ground" This hazardous undertaking was
soon accomplished without noise or accident,
and after having replaced the pulpit and the
chair, sat down quietly to await the coming of
events. After having been thus seated three
or four hours, which my robber employed, no
doubt, in very different manner, the execu-
toner and Jaler, getting impatient, knocked at
the door, came into the chapel, were aStOniSh-
ed TO find me alone, and asked what had be-
come of the prisoner. He must be an angel"
answered with all the simplicity aud camlness
| could assume, 'for | assure you on the word
OF priest, he went out of that window" The
headSman, who lost his vile pay aud perquis-
ties by this flight of the prisoner. was of course
in brutal passion, aud, after inquiring in no
gentle terms whether | meant to make fool
of him, hurried off to find the magistrates
They came Immediately to the chapel, remain
ed seated as before / assured them that the
that the being who could accomplish an act so
extraordinary might be looked upon as an an
gel-certainly not a criminal that myself
might even beg one possessed of such super
human power TO intercede for sins, instead of
receiving his confession and, finally. if the
prisoner was guilty, which could hardly could
he the case, in view of his miraculous escape,
| was not placed there 10 be his keeper Ny
manner was calm and serious, for my solitude
of three hours had quieted the nervous agitation
had felt at first The magistrates listened
to my recital with evident msgiyingS not at
all complimentary TO the soundnesS of ms intel
lect, but, finally laughing contemptuouSly at
my evident stupidity. they wished my Trotegs
a good journey, whether on angels wings or ON
his feet, and walked away. l quickly walked
out Of the chapel. breathing. as NAV he well
imagined, much more freely than | had done
for the last four eyenttuI hours.
Some twenty-five years after my robbers
fight | was travelling alone in the forest OF
ArdenneS, so familiarly known to all readers
of Shakespeare. | had lost my way, and night
was coming on, when | overlook man dress
ed in the garb Of the country, who first looked
very hard az me, then asked me where | wish
ed 10 60 to- adding that the road We were ira
Yelling was extremely dangerous-that if |
chose to put myself under his guidance, be
would take me to u peasants cottage. where
could pass the night in safety. | was in doubt
as to my best course, and the scrutinizing look
OF my rude companion was far from eEcoGrag-
ing. But, | said to myself, am completely
in his power, and If he means to murder aud
| then rob me, there is no escape aud /, there
fore followed him with fear and trembling.
l was not, however, kept long in the anx-
ious supense, for We soon arrived at the cot
tage be had mentioned, and nv guide, who was
its owner. told his wife, as be entered the door
way, TO lay the poultry yard under contribu-
ton, and TO prepare the best supper she could