New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-02-22
Tn. Guilty r,.nsoua y,

The author Of waverley tells the following story
Of guilty phantom nj
Sir Walter was believer in ghosts II ID sid. HI
/" Tapestried Chamber" which appeared originally
II the London Ksepsaks and Which = nov smhodisa
published, he assures his readers Wa founded on hack
30 he believed TO b the basis Of The Guilty Ptanto
cannot forbsar giving you an instances q ! gniit
twenty years ago. or more. I am, think, tolesahly
correct In its Details though have lost Tie sccouns
Of the trial.
Jarvis MatchAm-su II IN not naissahep. w.
the name Of my hero--was paysesgeant IN : ri
ment, where he was 20 highly estesmed Is stsady
aud accurate man. that he was permitted opportunity
to embezzle considerable part OF the money placed
in bis hands for pay Of soldiers, bounty Of recruits
Cthen large sum) and other charges which fen
within his duty. III s35e y
he was summoned to join his regiment, from .
town where he had been in recruiting service; and
this perhaps under some shade Of suspicion. Match
perceived that discovery WAS ct hand, and would
then have deserted had it not been for the presence
of little drummer lad, who was the only one Of his
party appointed to attend him. sill
In the desperation Of his crime, be resolved to
murder the poor boy, and make his escape. He medi-
tated this wickedness the readily that tbs drum
mer he thought, bad been put as = Spy On him. He
perpetrated his crime; and changing hs dFeae after
the deed was done, made . long walk across the
country to an inn ON the Portsmouth road, where be
halted and went to bed, desiring to be called when
the first Portsmouth coach came.
The waiter called him accordingly; but long AFTER
remembered that when be shook the guest 81 the
shoulder, his first words as be awoke were
"My God, did not kill him !" 3-,ss.
Matcham went to the seaport by the coach, and
instantly entered as an abe-bodied landsman OF ma.
rine, know not which. His sobriety and attention
to duty gained him the same good opinion Of the on
GERS in his new service which be enjoyed in the army.
markedly wei! in some actions. Al length the vessel
came into Plymouth, was paid OF and some Of the
crew, among whom was Jarvis Matcbam, we're dis
charged as being too old for service.
He and another seaman resolved TO walk TO town.
and took the road to Salisbury. II when within
two three miles Of this celebrated city, that they
were overtaken by tempest 30 sudden, and accom-
panied BY such vivid lightning and thunder % dread
sinner began to be awakened.
He expressed more terror than was natural for one
who was familiar with the war OF the elements, and
began to talk 80 wildly, that his companion became
| aware that something more than usual WAS the
matter.
| At length Matcham complained to his usual com
panion that the stones roee from the road and few
after him he desired the man to walk on the other
side Of the highway and see II they would follow him
| when he was alone.
The sailor complied and Matcham complained that
the stones still flew after him, but did NOT pursue the
other.
But what is worse, he added, coming up to his
companion, and whispering in tone Of misery and
fear. who is that little drummer boy, and what bi-
ness has he to follow ~ 20 closely I"
II CON see no one' answered the seaman, infected
| by the superstition Of his associate,
What! not see that little boy with the bloody
pantaOons ~ exclaimed the scared murderer, 80 much
to the terror Of his comrade that he conjured him.
he had anything on his mind to make . clear con-
science, so far as his confession could do it.
| The criminal fetched deep groan, and declared
that be unable longer to endure the life which he
had led for years He then confessed the murder Of
the drummer, and added that, IS Considerable re-
ward had been offered be wished his comrade To de-
liver him up to the magistrates Of Salisbury, . he
would desire shpmate TO profit by his fate, which
he was now convinced was inevitable. sszs
Having overcome his friends objections to this
mode Of proceeding, Jarvis Matcham was surren-
dered to justice accordingly, and made full confes-
sion Of his guilt But before the trial. love Of life re
turned. The prisoner denied the confession. and
pleaded not guilty BY this time, however, full EVIL
7 dence had been procured from other quarters.
Witnesses appeared from bis former regiment to
prove his identity with the murderer and deserter,
and the waiter remembered the ominous words which
he had spoken when he awoke him to join the Ports
mouth coach. Jarvis Matcham was found guilty and
executed.
When his last chance for life was over he returned
to his confession and with his dying breath averred,
land truly, as he thoughtl the vision on Salisbury
plain.n