The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-08-02
The Tragic Farce.
PROM DICKENS HOUSEHOLD WORDS.

ry, whenever any student of the Mars-
chal College, Aberdeen, incurred the dis
pleasure Of the humblest citizens, he was
aSsailcd with the question ::
"Who murdered Downie?'
Reply and rejoinder generally brought
on a collision between the "town and
gown" although the young gentlemen
were accused OF what was chronolc gically
impossible.
People have right to be angry at be-
ing stigmatizcd as murdererS, when their
accuSers have probability on their side I;
but the taking off" Of Downie occurred
when the gOwnsmen so maligned were in
swadling clothes.
But there was time when to he brand
, 49, 81, 49,, p>Dotv,,.>, ~ the N,s>>4-S>~->
Richard Downie made the blood run to
the cheek Of many youth, and sent him
home to his books thoroughly subdued.
DOwnie was a SacriSt or .ianitor at Ma
riSchal College. One of his duties consist
cd iD securing he gale by certain hour !;
previous to which all the students had to
assemble in the common hall, where Il
Latin prayer was delivered by the Princi-
! pal. Whether in diScharging this func-
ton, bownc was more rigid than his
predecessors in Office or whether he be-
came Strictrr in the performance of it at
one time than another, cannot he asccr-
tanned; but there can he no doubt that
/ he closed the gate with auStere punctual-
/ ity, and that those who were not in the
common hall within a minute Of the pre-
/ scribcd time, were shut out, and were ai-
&, %%sti, sSYSIS,t~l><Svd anu &Ned by tie
! principal and professors. The students
, became irritated at this StrictnesS, and
took every means Of annoying the sacrist !;
! he in his turn applied the screw at other
points of academic routine, and fierce
war soon began TO rage between the col
legians and the humble fnnctionary.
Downie took care that in all his pro-
ccedingS he kept within the strict letter
of the law ; but his opponents were not
so careful, and the decisions of the rulers
were uniformly against them and in favor
of Downe. Reprimands and fines having
failed in producing due subordination,
ruStication, suspension, and even the cX-
trcme sentence of expulsion, had to be
/ put in force; and, i'll the end, law and
order prevailed.
But secret and deadly Grndge contin-
ucd to be entertained against Downie.
Downic, in common with teachers and
taught, was enjoying the leisure of the
/ short New Years vacation-the pleasure
no doubt being greatly enhanced by the
relief from the anroyancs to which he
had been subj ected during the recent
! hi,l. .,,ri,,C l,n,s ~ hn nVn ~
seated with his family in his official resi-
/ dencc at the gate, a messenger informed
him that a gentleman at neighborinG
hotel wished to speak with him. Downic
obevrd the summons, and was uShercd
/ from one room to another, until at length
he found himself in large apartment
hung with black, and lighted by a solita.
Try candle.
/ After waiting for some time in this
strange place, about fifty figures, also
dressed in black, and with black masks
on their faces, presented themselves.
They arranged themselves in the form
Of court. and Downie, pale with terror
was given to understand that he was
about to be put on his trial.
a Judge took his seat on the bench n
clerk ami public prosecutor sat below a
Jury was empannelcd in front, and wit
ncSSeS and spectators stood around.
Downie at first set down the whole af
fair as Joke but the proceedings were
conducted with such persistent gravity
that, in spite of himself, he believed il
the genuine mission of the awful tribunal
The clerk read an indictment, charging
him with conspiracy against the libcr
ties Of the students; witnesses were cX
aminrd in due form, the public prosecu
tor addressed the jury, and the judge
summed up.
Gentlemen" said Downic, the joke
has been carried far enough; it is getting
late, and my wife and family will he get
ting ANXIOUS about me. If ! have beef
too strict in times past, am sorry for it
and can assure you will take mure care
in the future"
Gentlemen Of the jury" said til,
Judge, without paying the 4';gS.. y! a,tAn
ton to this appeal, "consider yonr yer
dict; and if you wish to retire, do 50.
The jury retired.
During their absence, the most pro
lOulu SlIClCC buN C@NNNP ~ IL
newing the solitary candle that burnt be
side the judge, there was not the slight
est movement.
The Jury returned and recorded yer
diet of guilty.
The Judge solemuly assumed largt
black cap, aad addressed the prisoner
Orchard Downie! the jury have
unanimously found you guilty of conSpi
ring against the Just liberties and immu
mites Of the students of Marischa Col
lcge You have wantonly provoked an'
insultcd those inoiIensive licgcs for SOM
months, and your punishment will assn
redly be condign. You must prepare 70
death. In fifteen minutes the sentence o
the court will be carried into effect"
The judge placed his watch on tn
bench. y block, an AK, and n bag o
sawduSt were brought into the corner o
the room. \ figure more terrible thar
any that had yet appeared came tor~ar'
and prepared to act the part Of the doom
ster
1t was now past midnight There wa
no sound audible save the ominous tick
ing of the judges watch. Downie be
came more and more terrified.
For Gods sake, gentlemen" said tn
terrified man, let me go home. prom
ise that you never again shall have caus
for complaint"
"Richard Downie, remarked the judge
you are vainly wasting the few mo
ments that are left you on earth. Yor
are in the hands of those who must hav
your life. No human power can save you
Attempt to utter one c"y, and you ar
seized and your doom completed befor
you can utter another. Every one pres
ent has sworn an oath never to reveal tn
proceedings of this night. They ar
known to none but ourselves; and whel
the object for which we have met is &C
complished, we shall disperse unknown t.
any one. Prepare, then, for death. An
other five minutes will be allowed, but n,
more" .----
The nnfortunate man. in nm AGONY n