North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-02-17


"With my dying breath deny it."
He looked at me steadily for . few mo
ments, as il debating within himself whether
or no to believe my statement, and then ask
ed If had any hope Of Q reprive.
"None whatever" ] replied. "How
could have, when can see that every one,
yourself included, believe me guilty of muir
der 2, ..
"Do you believe that the witnesses in
court swore falsely or truly % be asked, riv-
citing bis eyes upon mine.
81 have no reason to doubt that they
swore truly, according to the best of their
knowledge and belief"
Then, by yourlown confession, you ad-
init you murdered Gilworth,"
81 do not deny the act-only the guilt. /
am prepared to admit, under all the circum
sta noes, that killed Moses Gilworth in the
manner related but deny that was sane
conscious, and responsible at the time of do
ing the awful deed"
IL believe you," he said, grssping m hand
land would to heaven, my poor friend that l
could save you 1t is terrible to be ignom-
iniously punishedifor crime of which in your
very heart you are innocent but the ways
of Heaven are not our ways, and it is doubt
less permitted for some wise purpose"
He then prayed with me, and took a sad
and fearful farewell. The hangman then &C.
cured my hands behind me, placed me on the
fatal drop, adjusting the rope about my neck
and drew over my face the cap which was
intended to shnt me from the world for
ever.
For a few moments I stood praying in
that agoDlzing suspense more terrible than
death itself; and then, along with a rattling
sound, l experienced sense of falling, q
thousand balls of fire flashed and danced be-
fore my eyes, mighty rushing aud roaring
as of hundred cstaraets, filled my ears
Then gradually but swiftly, these lights fadei
and sounds died away, and q momentary
darkness and stiffness succeeded. Then
there came faint stream of light, as from q
distant sun and this gradually but rapidly
increased in brightness, till my eyes seemed
dazzled by it's brilliant splendor. Then along
with the sweetest strains OF an unearthly
music, most glorious vision burst npon my
enrapturd Senses vision beyond the pow
er OF human imagination to describe. In
celestial world, where every sense was fill
ed and thrilled and made faint with excuses.
l seemed to be borne swiftly along, upheld by
some invisible power. The sounds were as
thousand melodies, all blending into ono
grand sympathy, swelling out and dying
away alternately and the scenes were as o
swiftly revolving sun, filling the whole space
of tho heavens and throwing of scintillations
of the most gorgeous and varied hues. In
this atmosphere eff melody and color. I was
horne rapidly onward, as something filled
with rapture-existing and yet not existing
without apparent individuality or identity
focus, as it were of sensation without body
or form.
How long this glorious vision lasted can
not say it might have been seconds-it
might have been miuutes-it might have
been hours but suddenly, there seemed to
be crash, and the sense of blow, followed
BY darkness, horror and pain.
| opened my eyes, my mortal eyes, and
found myself lying naked upon long, narrow
table, or platform, in small iamplighted
apartment, with two MEN standing over me,
their faces white with terror, and their forms
trembling.
"Gracions heaven 4! what means this?'-
cried one; rs he really alive?"
,'Alas, yes gasped I, as the most chok-
ing horrid pains shot through me.
fiost all consciousness again Immediately
lost all reason and comprehension-and
yet retained sense of suffering. When
again opened my eyes understandingIy,
found myself upon bed wrapped up in
blankets, with the same two men regarding
me with the most intense interest, but no
longer with fear.
I" do believe we shall save him vet p
said one. "see his eyes are resuming their
natural expression and if l am not mistaken,
his reason is returning Also"
How has this happened 2" inquired I, in
low, faint tone, feeling very weak.
My friend" answered one of the two,
"you must not exert yourself to talk now
by and by we will tell you all. Here, take
this and remain quiet" and Wi tn the words
he poured some liquid from phial into o
spoon.
swallowed tho potion and soon fell into
sweet, refreshing sleep.
Some hours later awoke again, feeling my
body stronger and my mind clearer. The
two men were still with me- they had
watched over me as mother over an infant
Now tell me ALL" said as memory be-
came busy with events that seemed but the