Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-13

} through the night, endeavoring to rails,
friends who would be able to rescue heI
husband, but it was all in vain. 1t ap
peared that the hearts of those who con
trolled his fate grew more obdurate, and
those who willingly would have vindi
Gated the law more timid. At five o.
clock the next morning "Lynch" court
was formed, and the prisoner brought
before it. Armed men kept guard over
its proceedings, and patrol was set to
prevent any attempt at rescue or inter-
ference on the part of the regular Off
GERS of the law had they been so dis
posed. Guyon was offered counsel, but
he declined the mockery. e
The trial was brief, and his conviction
foregone conclusion, as his only possi-
BILE defense was in the assertion of his
own innocence. He did not pretend to
account for the evidence of guilt found
ON his premises, as no supposable the
ory would enable him to do so; in fact,
he seemed mystifed on the subject.
He was sentenced to be hung in an
hour; but either latent respect for his
unfinching nerve, or sympathy for his
heart-broken wife, induced his Judges
to grant an additional hour, and to con-
sent that the time should be passed in
the company of his wife alone, care be-
ing taken to see that she conveyed no
weapon to him, and to guard the apart
ment they were in.
What passed between those agonized
hearts the Almighty alone saw, though
we may readily divine their misery. d
Guyon, it was afterward understood,
besought his wife to furnish him the
means of ending his own life, or to kill
him herself, and thus escape the disgrace
of public execution; but, poor thing,
she had neither the power nor the oppor-
tunity, even if she could have mustered
the resolution. As for him, he was firm
in the assertion of his innocence to the
last, and indignant at the treatment he
was receiving.
At length it was announced that the
time of grace had expired, and all pre-
parations being made, they came to lead
him forth to die. 81
With one wild shrek his wife swooned
away. Some kind-hearted woman took
charge of her, and as the doomed man
pressed one last kiss on her cold lips his
features quivered with the only emotion
of weakness which he had betrayed.
With firm step he mounted the tenn
porary platform, over which hung the
fatal rope from the limb of tree, glanced
defantly around at the crowd of angry
faces, and exclaimed, in clear, strong
voice:
eff you aoM murder me, let some man
send bullet through my heart; don't
hang me like dog etl
There was movement as if one or
two were disposed to comply with the
and Guyon's countenance ac-
tually frightened at the prospect; but a
stern gesture from the leader repressed
any such demonstration. -a,-s--
'sIt is of no use; | am pleading to wild
beasts said the victim, suddenly; "do
your will on me, naurderers !'
The cord was speedily arranged, and
the support was about to be knocked
from under him, when a feeble shout was
heard: ...-'. .
"Stop! stop! He is innocent. I can
prove it. Stop! or you commit murder"
All eyes were turned in the direction
from which the sounds came, while the
hand of the executioner was stayed. A
female, whose pallid face and emaciated
form was recognized as belonging to tile
wife of 'Slinky Sam," was struggling
to pass through tho crowd, holding some
thing in her hand.
"Stop! Mr.. .-," said she, " until
you hear me, or you will commit mur-
der. l can prove him innocent"
"Make way for that woman and let
her come this way" said the leader, at
the same time giving instructions to de-
fer the execution.
Mrs. Burt, who had risen from her sick
bed to rescue the husband of her bene-
factress, at sacrifice, which, when un-
derstood, elevated her into heroine, as
soon as she found she was in time to pre-
vent the fearful act, almost tainted away
from the reaction, and only revived after
the free use of stimulants.
Her story was very plain one she
had been long aware of her husbands
connection with secret gang of coun-
terfeiters; but fear, and strange afec-
ton for one who neglected and i'll used
her, had prevented any exposure by her.
When she heard what had occurred, and
that Guyon was to be executed, she at
once suspected the truth, and her hus-
band coming in, she boldly taxed him
with the crime. At first he was angry
and threatened her; remembering all the
kindness she had received from Mrs.
Guyon, she persisted, and threatened
herself to tell all she knew if John
Guyon suffered. Whether it was fear
or remorse for his ingratitude-le us
charitably hope the latter-Sam made a
clean breast of it, only stipulating for
an hours start to get away.
1t appeared that he, being in the en-
ploy of Guyon, had taken impressions
of the locks of his bureau, and obtained
keys to fit them. So that when any con-
siderable amount of money was received
and put away as ususl, he distracted
portion of the bills, and substituted
counterfeits, which he received from his
confsderates, whose den was in the
swamp, where they carried on their
nefarious business, using "Slinky Sam"
as the safest messenger between them
selves and those whom they supplied
with the bogus" funds on the rive,
boats. They had some time previous
broken up and gone off, leaving Sam a
supply of their bills. which, as explain
ed, he traded off through Guyon, who
very innocently charged parties from
whom he received different sums of
money, which he knew he had carefully
locked up, with passing counterfeits
upon him.
When "Slinky SAM" after overhear-
ing the deliberations of the vigilence
committee, hurried away, it was not to