Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-05-31
MISCELLANEOUS,
THE ROBBERS GRAVE.

In the year 1919, there was in the neigh
borhood OF Montgomery, in North Wales,
an ancient manor house, called Oakfeld,
which like many of those old structures,
losing its original Importance and conyen-
ience Of modern buildings, had been con-
verted into farm hQHse. The late occu-
pant, one James Morris, had been an indo-
lent and dissipated man the farm conse-
quently fell into neglect, and became un-
profitable, and he died in debt, leaving his
wife and an only daughter in possession of
the place. Shortly after his death the wild
dow took into her employment a young man
from Stafordshire, of the name of John
Newton, the hero of this little story, who
had been strongly recommended to her
brother; and we'll and faithfully did he dis
charge the duties as bailiff, justifying the
praisa and recommendations she received
with him. He was an utter stranger in
thqt pqFt 9t TIE country, seemed studious-
ly to shun all acquaintance with his neigh
bors, and to devote himself exclusively to
the interests of bis employer. He never
left home but TO visit the neighboring fairs
and markets, and to attend the parish church,
where his presence was regular and his
conduct devout. In short, though highly
circumspect in his behaviour on all occas-
ions, he was a melancholy reserved man
and even the clergyman of the parish,
to whom he was always most respectable in
his demeanor, entirely failed ip his endeav-
ors to cultivate an acquaintance with him.
The farm, under his management, had i'm
proved and became BTQftable, and the cir
cumstances of Mrs. Morris, were, by his
assiduity and skill, both prosperous and
fourishlng. In this manner more than
two years had passed, and the widow began
to regard him more as a friend and benc-
factor than servant; and was not sorry to
observe her daughters growing affection
for him, which appeared to be reciprocal.
One evening AZ Eosember, 1921 being de-
tanned longer than usual with his business
at Welshpool, Newton set out about six
o'clock to walk home to Oakfeld. 1t was
an exceedingly dark night and he never
reached home again. The family being
very anxious, and upon inquiring early the
following morning at Welshpool, they as
certained that he had been brought back
to that town, not long after his departure
from it, by two men named Parker and
Pearce, who charged him with highway
robbery, accompanied by violence, an of
fence then punished with death. At the
trial of the next assizes he was pronounced
guilty. on the testimony of those two per-
sons which was clear, positive and consis-
tent throughout, was sentenced to be hang
ed, and left for execution. He employed
no counsel, and called no witness in his
defence; but upon being asked by the
judge in his usual form, If he had any
thing to say why sentence of death should
not be passed upon him p he made in sub
stance, the following extraordinary speach:
My lord, it is evident all could say in
opposition TO such testimony would be vain
and hopeless. The witnesses are men of
responsibility, and their evidence has ap-
peared plain and conclusive, and most SOL
emn protestations of innocence would avail
me nothing. / have called no witnesses to
character, and upon such evidence the jury
could pronounce no other verdict. | blame
them not From my soul, too, forgive
those men, upon whose false testimony |
have been convicted. But, my lord, pro-
test most solemnIy before this court, before
my lordship, and above all, that God in
whose presence | must shortly appear, ]
am entirely guiltless of the crime for which
am about to suffer. / have produced no
one to speak in my behalf TYo years
have scarcely passed since came into this
country an utter stranger. have made
no acquaintance here, beyond the house
hold ip which / have been employed, and