The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-05-15
Grlert GtorD.
THE SLATER.
JUDGE NOT, LEST YE BE JUDGED"

"N''S ->N'' i'E@ 1 l ~ DE- JtDbED
1t is an axiom in law that in order to
constitute the criminality of an action
forbidden by the statute under penalty,
1t is necessary to prove malice prcpense
or felonlous attempt.
We shall now, however, relate case
of murder committed under the most ex-
traordlnary circunlstanccs-thc murder
of a son, a child thirteen years old, bv
his father; murder committed dclber-
atcly, calmly, promcdiately, confessed
by him, witnessed by hundreds, and of
which crime 10 jury could have found
him guilty.
The most, or at least many, of the old
Gothic churches in the old cities of
Europe, and particularly Germany, are
like to those built in modern STYLE
both on that and this side of the
Atlantic, high towers attached, contains
ing the belfry and clock, and terminate
ing in high narrow spires. spires
ascend IN very narrow angle and ter
inmate in point apparently as short as
that OF All arrow or lance, whence the
lame. of lancet towcrs.-Thesc towers
are covered or tiled with slate arranged
in layers and fastened to the wooden
frame work by an iron nail Passing
througha holc in the slate.
Either through decay or damp, by
which the nails are corroded, or the
force of the wind, some of these plates
or tiles become detached or fall off, ex-
posing the wood work, and unless such
damage be promptly repaired, the
whole steeple would soon fall into decay
and the fabric tumble upon the roof of
the church, and not only be productive
of additional damage to the edfce but
'endanger life and limb. On the princi-
pie, therefore, Of putting in a stitch in
time to save nine, the towers or steeplcs
are from time to time examined and the
requisite repairs done.
At the time l am speaking of, the mo-
,dus operandi under such circumstances
was very primitive, nor it is at all I'M
likely that the Germans-a people so
much attached to the institutions of
their fathers, will have introduced any
improvements in this respect. Thus
whilst IN other countries much time, ex-
pense and ingenuity arc wasted in erect
ing scatfolding, both safe and convenient
for the workman, there man ascents
ladder to the top and performs his work.
lie proceeds in the following way:
lie commences by letting kite fly,
to the tail of which a long slender Irvine
is attac he'd. by dextrous move
ment he contrives to swing the kite
round the cross or wcather-cock, by
which the steeple is surmountcd, there
it fastens. Then, tying a rather thick
ened cord to one end of the Irvine which
has been left suspended, he pulls that
up over the cross till he has got hold of
the end Of that. Continuing thus to
fasten stronger rope to the preceding
one, he at last succeeds in fastening n
thick rope, strong enough to hold lad
der fastened at one end. This ladder
too, is pulled up, and after it has a
height sufficient to admit another to be
fastened to it, he continues the process
till a number of ladders have been fast
enc d together of a length sufficient to
reach from the roof of the church to the
top of the stceple, so close that in as
cendng them there is room between
them and the wall of the stccple barely
sufficient for the toes of man to rest to
the steps. The workman now sings a
bag or bundle of states across the right
shoulder. In his pocket he carries a
sufficient quantity of nails, and the ham
mcr is stuck in the folds of his waistcoat,
or in his girdle. His preparations are
now completed.
BY these ladders the workman must
ascend. During his ascent, and till he
reaches the top, he receives support
from his hands but as soon as his work
commences he must occupy them other
\ wise; with his breast against the stee-
APPLE he performs his task, and after it's
lcompletion he deccnds as he had ascend
5 ed. 1t is needless to say that this is a
post dangerous occupation. The least
insteadness Of the eye, an attack of gid
sness, an inclination of the body to one
the other, the slipping of a foot
m one of the steps, the shaking of the
der by sudden gust of wind, any
of these casualties places his life in
inent danger, for should he lose his
pg or his hold he would be prccipita
evcral hundred feet upon the roof of
i,ilding, and nearly every bone in
My would be crushed. Death, al
: Instantaneous, would be inevitable.
accidents were not of an I'M
t occurrence, and in consider
pf the danger aud risk at
This occupation, the persons en-