The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-07-22

NV friends, bc careful of Your acts
You are about to do what in this m GA
YOU conlemn--an awful murder.--
Chain him down, do what you vii
TO secure the criminal, bnt respect
the law
"And give Squire B. a chance tc
clear him. interrupted the convict
have mentioned.
ITO that man fresh from the cells
I have nothing to say replyed che
lawyer; "but to you, my companions
Iueighbors, friends, I appeal. Why
will you do this cruel thing9 Wha
right have you to commit murder
How will you answer to the grea
Givcr of all good for this2 Where il
your authority2'
"Whoso shedeth mans blood, b'
man shall his blood be she'd" respon
ded a harsh voice, and and the crowC
turning saw where torch wavec
over storm, unfeelipg face, thei
preacher! II was n time gathered
feeling, checked by sonc great oh.
stacle, pauses in its rash career, and
for moment there seems doubt
which way the tide will How. The
awful passage so solemnly quoted,
fell on the crowd ut that moment,
when the slightest word would have
turned them from their purpose, and
stimulated as it seemed to them by q
command from heaven, they once
more seized their trembling captive
when the old captain whom Williams
had importuned for passage, claimed
to be heard:
"Comrads," srid he, Squire B -
thinks we hNden't ought to hang this
fellow. Well, I'll tell YOU what we
do. Ie wanted to sail with me this
day, Notwithstanding, the threat.
ming storm. lie shall do so. Wen
take him outside the Bav--tie him in
an open boat and set him rift
Then the Lord have mercy on him.
What say you2' A shout of appro-
baton was the response and they
hurried Williams to the shore. In
the meanwhile the storm grew loud,
and bitter in the dark night, their
torches beaten out by the wind and
rain, the great crowd heard the an-
CRY waves dashing over the rude pier
their courage failed, and seven only
we're found ready for the enterprise.
Clambering upon theldec!s. with their
victim in their midst. the cables
were cut, and the little sch hooner, flew
towards the entrance of the harbor.
Perhaps no scene ever painted
itself on the canvas of real life as
startling, wierd and strange rs this.
" hile the stout hearted skipper steer
ed his vessel, his companions were
engaged in binding their victim down
to the bottom OF q f'rail light skfr. in
which he was TO be cast upon the an
gry waters. Soon the outside OF the
harbor was gained, and the sllif,
with its victim, sent adrift.
Short time had the executioners
to dwell upon the ruthless deed
Their lives were in jeopardy. A
storm so violent has seldom been
eqnalled, and the little craft was
worked, save the skipper, by unslslll-
ful hands. Desperate efforts were
made to regain the wharf, but IN vain.
The schooner ran upon ledge Of
rocks and quickly went to pieces -
Two Of its strange crew only were
saved the clergyman and the convict
reached the shore.
Some three years after these strange
events, the Rev. Mr. II was
awakened one night by & request to
come Immediately and administer re-
ligious consolation to a prisoner
who in attempting an escape from
Jail had been mortally wounded by
the sentinel on duty. The reverend
gentleman folded his cloak about him,
and accompanied by the jailor, thread.
ed his way through snow and sleet
to the prison. They found the pris
oner writhing in pain upon his bed
in gloomy cell, lit by dim can.
die, and alone, for the surgeon had
pronounced his case hopeless.
"You'v: come at last growled the
prisoner, as the clergyman, approach.
ing the bed, took from beneath his
cloak book, and began the duties
pertaining to his sacred mission -
"You have come ut last--I thought
I'd step out before you got here
The clergyman tried in vain TO
calm the hardened wretch he would
hear none of the consultations OF re-
ligion. II only sent for you," said
the wretched man, "to relieve my
mind of secret and as you were
concerned in the business, l thought
you'd be happy to hear it. You re.
member the night we launched that
young chap overheard who killed Mil.
lie Woods ?"
A tremor like an agne ran through
the minister's frame ~ he replied,
"Yes, l remember Was he not
drowned ?"
"Of course he was food for the
fishes in less than no time; and that s
just it. He never committed the
murder! 1t was I who killed Millie
Woods--I chased her to the garret
and kille her. was there robbing
the house when Williams came along
| heard him speak cheerily TO the
child, give her the squirrel, and then
leave. A minute after she was a
dead baby, and he had the blame"
Lord, have mercy on me! - groan.
ed the divine, In an agony of spirit
III nli.,.nl AI.n ell .,ionnn l.. LII