Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-02-26

compelled, from the crowd, (being ut the
house of a mutual friend) to sleep tocether
and L ''asked him how long it / ad been since
the same thing had occurred" We rcck.
oned up the time and found it ygaa at the ne
Rod of the execution of Marklcy. When this
time vas judged tie period, lie spoke hur
riedly and said 'sDo you kuuw that moor isl-
low was innocent ?" The huession brought
me from my bed, and there in tue stiffness of
our room, "the doctor" detai!e the following
facts:
81 shall never forget tliat night Isympa,
thised With Markley on the ta!l6ws. pitied
hl1n then, and never more tcrvcntly iniblottd
pardon for his horrible crime, but when |
heard and was convinced that he was ;.noccnt.
every sentiment of sorrow ever conceived
crowded upon me, aud resolved if by detail
ing these facts some other poor outcast could
be spared from punishment he did not merit,
| would do duty to my fellow man. This is
my motive, aud if MY friend the doctor should
Pcruse these pages, lie will forgive the publi.
cation by one who feels duty he cannot a
void. Besides, a brother of NIarkley is buried
in my town. He died without knowing the
fate of an elder brother, but for the sake of
one who faithfully performed his duty, al
though a maniac, these lines are written.
TIE DOCTORS STATEMENT.
81 was sent for to see the Mr. p. Omen.
toned III the preceding part Of this narratite)
IN consultation with Mr.. j. of Frederick CITY.
After learning TIE history Of the case, l cx-
pressed regret that l should have been called
so great distance without ans prospect of
doing any good. He was excessively emacia
ted, was hypochon&riacal, and for weeks re-
fused food. His physician ard family had
urged every argument to induce him to eat
had ON many occasions forced linn from his
bed into q carriagc; had indeed. Kept him
travelling for several weeks had brought to
bear upon him all neral influences to break
IN upon his morbid ianc:es and supposed i'm
aSlEat!vc suiIerings to no avail. The dag
nos!s was softenin" of the brain; pro"uosis,
dcaih lie had Ecrn frankly informed. but
the Gay before was summoned to see him,
OF these opinions, ard thus was induced to re-
quest my advice. I heard with interest all
the statements made by his son and daughter.
as we'll as the physician, and, without arroca>
ting to myself any special credit | could not
bring my mind 10 their conclusions Here
was man who lived in 4 section of country
proYerbIal Tor health and longevity; his mind
had never been ovcrtaScd; his pursuits had
been farming, and as far as | knew or could
ascertain, nothing in his long lite bad greatly
excited him. The loss of his wife did not
greatly depress him. He was prosperous; his
eldest daughter remained to cheer and COM
fort him, and his eldest son, with his family,
occupied the homestead, and the relations Of
the family had been, aud were then, most
pleasant; he could not sleep without power
tui anodynes. Without knowing why, and
you know 1T has frequently happened you in
your practice, l conceived the idea there was
more IN the case than physical suffering or
physlcal change, and my questions to him
were pointed and searching, so much so that
found was on the right track. and he seem
cd conscious OF my possessing power over him
[ told him frankly | was NOT satisfied with
all the statements made, but believed ther,
were other and deeper causes Of his suffering.
lie said, pointing to his heart, it was there.
L said 1T may be there, but it is not in the or
gan Itself 1t Is in the cmo.;on1 and feelings,
ana acts thar are supposed by some physicians
to be traced to the heart; and so believing.
knew he had not treated his family and ply
slclan fairly in Withholding from them auy-
thing that could throw light on his singular
atfiIctlon, and with emphasis said YOU must
confido in me and tell me all He asked me
the duties of physicians as recipients of Sc.
crets, and repeated that noble oath of Hin.
Pocrates, and said to him, all properly cduca-
ted men III the profession regarded it with
sacredness; that it could not be trcspassed
uPoh by courts kings or princes; and in his
case should be governed by it's Obligations
This was all he wanted. and REQUESTING the
room to be cleared aud closed, lie asked me
to pen and paper and write down what he was
about TO tell me, And promising his remarks
particularly with the injunction Of Seerecy du-
ring his life. and having received my promise
that 1t should he 0beyed in every particular.
he commenced by asking me it remembered
the murder of the MaIkley family, and the
execution of the nephew for the murder?
told him did most wildly. With much
feeling he then said | committed that u11r
der, and Markley was innocent. Now. doc
tor, write down what tell you, and after
am dead, If you think it right, and if the feel
ings and interests Of others will justify it. I
desire its publication. heard young Mark
ley was in the Heighborhood. skulking about
barns and neg.o quarters, and sought him
invited him to come to my house, or rather
to sleep in my barn, and furnished him with
food and whiskey for two days before the muir
der On Saturday evening told my family
| had heard of my fathers illness. and that
would ride down and see him. T had often
cone so ! requested my son and daughter
to 90 over 10 Iark!cy amG gct Susan to come
over ard sTcu4 Ike night !Tit! the,a. This.
also, was usual. waited until l saw them
reach ny house, and going to Mark!ey's. got
ii:s axe: went to his room, and with one blow
dispatched him, and with second. his wife.
With the same axe, killed the three cliI-
dren; and while debating how to proceed in
regard TO the two cid people, who slept up
stairs, beard step on the stairs, and there
encountered the old man, slew him. walked
up stairs and killed the old lady. then set
to work 10 fire the house IN several places.
did so, and as l was about to leave, saw the
vest on the foot of the bed, mentioned By
Susan, rolled It up, put it in my pocket, and
rode home. awaited ;he full blaze u me
house before awoke young Marley, Who
was sleeping in my barn, and, without his