The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-09-01

the eXecuGonor was IN the act OF ADJUST |
ling the rop0, the prisoner turned TO the |
people and said, in loud clear voice, |
" Remember, every one fyou, that to the
very last moment Of my life, and with my
very last breath, declare that am limo
cent! No~," he continued, turning to .
the hangman, is all ready
: - Yes SIR replied the man, drawing |
/ tho cap over his face; and without waiting
for any further word Frederick Preyot |
threw himself violently Of the ladder, and |
remained suspended Between heaven aud
earth
\ low murmur ran through the people, |
and ii was sad one, too; for there was
something in the manner of bis death
which shook the conviction. even Of those
who bad previously feIs mos; sure Of his
guilt, Some, indeed, went away, saying
shat lie died game, but the great majority
OF the multitude separated with q feeling
that, on that moor, an innocent man had
Just been murdered.
Such was the conviction Of a shepherd,
an elderly man, who fed the flock Of
neigbtoring squire, the lord OF the manor;
and when lie went home, he gave his wife
an account Of the whole proceedings, add
ing, They may say what they like, but |
am very sure that poor gentleman did not
Kill the other one, and | shall not wonder
if the truth were found ont some day"
As vas usual with this ola man, in Tie
very grey Of the da~ring Of the following
day, he led forth lis sheep to pasture, ana
the faaliDgs he bad experienced On the
preceding night naturally made him turn
his steps towards the galiows or the moor.
Though it was terrible sight, to see the
body Of human being hanging there,
loaded with heavy chains, yet the old man
felt an interest in al. that occurred, which
made him pause and look up. In the
meantime, the sheep began to take a wrong
direction, and he called 10 his dog to turn
them back. What was his surprise, low-
ever, when he beard faint voice, which
seemed to come from the gibbei; inquire,
" Is there anybody there 2" aud then add,
/" for Gods sake. take me down, or eud
. my life, Ter this is very dreaGful."
The voice evidently came from the man
; who had been LaugeI, although the cap
which Was still over his face, prevented
the shepherd from secing his lips move
, st tiyat, tic Old man had started With ter
Tor and nearly sark to the earth, but now
: his natural conclusion was, Good hea-
ycns ara son not dead yeti
No" replied tie voice, not even hurt
except by remaining SO many hours hera
: The rope does not press upon my neck at
all, and somehow | am hanging By legs
and arms"
"8tay, stay" cried the shepherd eager
J y; | will get a ladder, and take you down,
J tut DO not speak TO any Que else, for fear
5 they should hang YOU again.
Thus saying the old ahcphegd ran fast
er than he had ran for thirty wears, to a
: detached barn and rick yard at a short
distance, in which were lying several
thatchirg ladders. Taking the largest Of
; these, he was speedily at the foot Of TIE
5 gibbet, and had soon placed the feet Of
poor frederick Ireyot firm upon the
rounds Of tie ladders. 1t was now very
! evident how he had escaped death. The
t hang1nan, both inexperienced and bali
, drunk, bad twisted the rope around the
? C!id.tS ~ SACu 4 II EbGtE tiat the moose
) never slipped at all, and tic Iateness of tie
| hour at which the sentence was executed,
: prevented the mistake from being peiceiy
: cd by Others The very suddeuness Of the
l spring which Frederick bad given, had en-
f tangled the cord more strongly than ever
ia the chains, and as the last strong eIer-
ton which he made had exhausted, Tor Tie
time, all his remaining corporeal powers,
he fairted before he himself perceived that
the anticipated death vas wafded oil.
; lie shepherd went skiItuIly to work 10
sot him free. lie first cut the cord that
pn'oned his bands, and having thus en-
aoita ann 70 grasp the LADDER Hrmiy, ne
cat TIE moose from round LIS neck, and
ha"toned to descend, leaving room for
Frederick 70 follow. The poor young
man, however, was so feeble and so still,
that 1t was with the greatest difficulty
mat TIC cfcpt down, and even then he
: could not support himSetf upon ms feet,
though the poor shepherd was IN great
agitation and terror i@st any one should
; come up, as the sun was no" fully risen.
FOR freaeFick 10 reach his cottage quickly
was quite out OF the question; and as the
best thing he could do tor hlm, the old
man supported him to deep itlie hollow