Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-08-16
[ HE COUNT L RF EITE R:
THE -HALFPENNY.
A TALEoF CRIME AND AFFECTION
BY A PRISON CHAPLAIN.


There was clanking of chains within
the cell as the turnkey opened The door to
me. | had come to prepare the mind OF
the door ed TO meet death on the morrow.
"Shall lock you in with him, or waltz"
asked the turnkey, as he stood holding the
half-opened, massive door, which was as
thick as family Bible, and all batLened
with iron bars, and studded with the heads
of enormous nails, while the locks-lhere
were two-were foot square, and of vast
strength
The only light which entered the cell
passed through barred lattice in the door,
a few inches square. In the rear, high,
up, was a crevce for air, but it opened
only into the vanlilnter. Tho cell
seven feet long, six and half high, and
three feet wide. There was cot bed in it
two feet wide, and save one foot space, as
long as the cell. 1t was tomb Tor a liv-
ing man, in which he was buried before he
was dead.
1t was a pleasant Thursday afternoon.
All was unshine and life without. 1t was
a few moments before my eyes became ac-
customed TO the gloom.
"Lock me in," had replied; 81 shall
be here half an hour, and your services
may be elsewhere needed"
The turnkey showed the enormous bolts,
double locking the cell, and l heard his
retreaeing footsteps.
JTn,, tb, o;Jo &c tlo oot ,,t ,,o1o
young man, with wild eyes and fixed,
resolute compressure of helips. He was
heavily chained by the ankles to a ring in
the floor. There were manacles upon his
wrists as large as ox-chains, for he had
twice broken prison, and was known to be
a desperate man.
"You sent for me, Cullipgham," I said,
quietly, as laid my hand mildly and
kindly upon his wrists, as his hands lay
upon his knees, grasping them, 81 have
come at your request. [ am pleased that,
after refusing the conso ations of religion,
you have voluntarily asked for them"
"Religion is Of no use to me now, sir
| am TOO far gone in the devils way ever
to hope to get 10 Heaven. I've been re-
ligious once, but that's past. There is no
more repentance for me, and l haven't
time to repent, as am to be hanged to-
forenoon"
"Why did you send for me?" asked.
"To talk with you. am in horrors
when alone. You can do me as much
good by staying with me as by trying to
convert me, which will be of no use. Be-
side, sir, l wish to tell you how l came to
be here. wish to unburden my mind to
some human being before leave the world,
but mainly wish to show my wte's in
nocence. | wish you TO hear my story,
and when am dead, let the world know
her innocence Of that crime. Sit down,
Sir, and listen to me awhile. Her mem
ory must be cleared"
l yielded to his request, and took seat
on the side of the cot with him, resolving,
after he should have done, to bring TO bear
upon him the offers of Gods mercy through
the cross, even TO the chiefest criminals.
''You know, sir, that my father was
man in good circumstances for country
merchant. He was not religious, but
moral man, and brought me up in the fear
of God as well as he could. | was fifteen
years old when, one day, my fathers clerk,
in going out Of the counting room with
some money, accidentally left fourpence-
haIfpenny on the desk. AT the sight, |
felt covetous desire to possess 1t. Ny
conscience told me il was wrong. | had
never taken anything not belonging to me.
Tins temptation was great because | had
been all day wishing to ask my father for
just this sum to buy a top (all the boys
had lops), and was afraid to, as he WAS
very close, and seldom gave me any money.
l let it lay ior ten minutes, and as the clerk
did not come back, sifled my conscience.
and Slipped it off upon the floor, and
covered it with piece of paper with my
foot, thus leaving a loop-hole for escape
should it be missed.
can hour elapsed, and the clerk having
come and gone several times, / watched