The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-04-11

OH De HaNSPt oV tle neck until yCl
are dead, on FIiday, November 18th
and may the Lord have mercy on vour
soul !"
After the sentence was pronounced
the prisoner asked to be allowed to say
a few words.
An opportunity had been given lin
before, and his silence completed the
evidence of his guilt He then stood
up erect and, looking around the court
room until his eye tell on me, he Eowled
out, in demoniacal toes:
- Base perjurer, l will have my re-
venge!' y
"Twas all he said bat twas enough
for me-. From that time | had no rest.
His words were continually ringing
in my ears " Base perjurer!" and /
! knew how tree they were | had sworn
his life away. The 18Th of November
came around, and 70 respite having been
granted, the gaIIows was erected within
the prison yard and | obtained ticket
of admittance. | was impelled by some
unaccountable feeling to do this. AS
the old town-clock tolIed eleven strokes,
tn, prisoner was marched out of the
prison, attended 10y two spiritual ad-
visers; he mounted the steps fearlessly.
They were going to pinion his arms,
when, catching sight of me- he again
howled out. Base periurer! Ny blood
De upon your hands' His arms were
pinioned the black cap pulled over lis
head; the trap sprung; and saw hiic
hanging between heaven and earth, an
innecent victim. My brain reeled nv
head was on f:e. | cried, Save him
save him he is innocent!' But they
pushed me away. | Welt home but
it was no home for me. | could not
sleep. My hands were covered with
blood. | was afraid to go to bed.
was afraid to be alone. Friends thought
it was grief; and when told them the
truth they said was mad. They
brought me here at last, afraid of me
and now when I try to tell the truth
they say am raving, | know too we'll.
Every night | hear my brothers dying
moan, and demons dance around me,
singing Base pejurern = and, waiting to
grasp my soul as soon us it leaves this
body. am not mad. Last night the
body Of the man whom | hung by nv
false oaths, came and stood by my bed,
and it looked very white and brilliant
and he smiled and told me lie forcave
me-; but my brother-oh, my brother"
The communication stopped here. It ,
was evidently written the day before he
died, for his nurse told me tha, he was
busy writing all the day up to the time
that | came in the evening; and as !
told him his hours were numbered, he
gave me the manuscript. He died the
next day, a raving maniac. His body
was turied in the family ground, by the
side OF his murdered brother; and two
handsome marble shafts, broken off at {
he top, mark their last resting place. |,,
Curiosity prompted ne to consult the l
court records of III, for that wear, /
and found them to corrohorate all Of :,
He above statements. He had sworn
% be revenged, and he was. Strange
stories are aAoat even to this day about
he old homestead, which still stands,
md is In possession of the descendants.
No one occupies that back bedroom
'ver the parlor; and very often the oc-
upants of the neighboring rooms are
Weakened from their sound slumbers by
'earing stiAed groan in that room. 1t
said, too, that ghosts have been seen
n the grave yard near the two broken
hats; but [ can say nothing about G
hese rnmors. I slept one night in the
aunted chamber, and I thought that |
vas punished possibly for leaving my
'ife for night. At any rate, wien l
ot home the next morning, before day,
promised my wife, if She would for
i've me that time, I would never do it
gain (of course, she excuses our medi-
al suppers, when, I'VE won't 60 home y
i'll morning y, and I have Kept my Il
'ord as far as regards the haunted
ouse.