Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-05-27

General henry Dearborn az tbat Tune
resided in Gardiner. He was the chief
magistrate Of the plsce--the terror Of all
evil-doers, for be inflicted punishment
very summarily-oflen on the spot by
lashes at the whipping-post. We believe
MeCausland was thus tried and punished
by General Dearborn, for obeying the
divine command, and transgressing the
human, in making his burnt Offering
Of the Episcopal church but OF this We
are not positively certain.
We have heard him, at the CRATES Of
his dungeon, several times between the
years lsf5-29, tell the story of his sac
rifice." Ii seems there was married
woman in Gardiner, who, as it had been
revealed to AicCausland, had had three
Hlegitimate children, and had thereby
sinned against the Father, against the
Son and agains, the Holy Ghost. The
spirit disclosed to him that she was the
proper victim for sacrifice, and that,
without the shedding oi her blood, there
could be no remission Of his sins Ae-
cordingly, one evening, he proceeded to
her house on his pious mission, bat learn
ed that she had gone TO a dwelling
some distance up the Cobbosse, for the
+ purpose Of watching over sick woman.
The passage thither was made more ca
silly by water than by land, in those days,
as few or no roads were made; ard so
be took his canoe and paddle, and set off
for the residence of the sick family. lie
told US he had a hard time in getting
thiiher, as the night was dark, the stream
rapid in some places, and encountered by
snags in others yet as the Lord had
sent him, he knew be must 60, and that,
10 the way of duty, He would grant him
success. At length he arrived at the
place, hauled his canoe ashore, and, with
out ceremony, entered the house and sick
room. The invalid lady was lying upon
bed, aud Mrs. W, the watcher, was sit
J ting by her side What follows was Civ
5 en- US in nearly MeCausland's own
5 words
had taken no instrument Of death
with me-not even jack-knife-for /
knew that If the Lord had sent me to
j.. make this sacrifice, he would provide the
weapon, as be did the lamb for Abraham;
, and casting my eye over the head of.the
bed, ! beheld large butcher knife, which
the man of the house bad sharpened the
= day before for the purpose OF hutchering
= a hog on the morrow and stuck it up there
to be ready for use. knew this was
the Lords doing, and that it was provi-
ded for my sake so all had to do was
to place one hand on the handle of the
knife, and seizirg Mrs. VS. foretop with
the other, drew the sharp butcher knife
deeply across her throat, the work was
- done !" lie added, with an air of cons
cious innocency and triumph She bled
like a calf~
He made no attempt to escape from the
penalty of human laws, bat rather covet-
qt ed it. He had made his burnt offering
X and bis sacrifice, and now wished 10 crown
DO his religious acts by suffering for righ-
s- teousness' sake" He was arrested for
~ murder, and committed 20 Jail. This was
I'd in 1894. At that time, we believe, old
H. Judges Payne and Sedgwick were on the
al bench Of the Supreme Court Of Massa-
gh chusetts. The trial was held in Pownal-
be boro (now Dresden,) that being the shiro
ne Town Of Lincoln County.
re- When brought into Court, and the
"a charge Of murder read against him, be
be was iuierrogated by the clerk, to answer
- 10 the indictment, and say whether he
er- was guilty or not guilty. His promp
90 reply was" Gully" The court, ap
pretending that the prisoner was mon
IRE, onaniae, and really insane when he com
Of mitted the deed aud wishing, therefore
IS, that the jury might bring in verdict ae
ins eordingiy, desired him 70 withdraw tina
ais- plea, and pug IN, rather. the plea Of no
Gus guilty the Judge remarking to McCaus
be- land that be was under 10 obligations, II
law, to plead guilty; that if the govern
rch rnent charged him with the crime Of mus
Mr.. der, It was for the government to prov'
,la- not to confess, that be was guilty, an
not therefore, requested the prisoner TO So
that ~" Not guilty"
ton What |" exclaimed the eouscientiou
al" McCausland, would the honorabl
isb- Judges Of The Supreme Court Of Masshi
\, Al ehuseits have a1e come here aud lie
was them Sir, did kill the woman sha
edi- not plead innoeeney. ] am guilty, AZ
-5se. would have you make the most Of II
live What could the court do? The ca
and could not 20 70 a jury. lie was ehargi
a l. r 4