The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-02-11

required IN tuelr sCuemcs
The shades of evening deepencd
while the two were still couvorsing
Aud leaving this scene let US cast one
hurried glimpse at another taking
place contempotaueously.
Between pimlico aud Chelsea, and
across a canal Of which the bed has
since been used for the railway ter.
minating at Victoria Station, there
was at the time of which we speak a
rude timber footway, long since re.
placed by a more substantial and
convenient erection, but then known
as the Wooden Bridge. 1t was
named shortly afterwards Cut throat
Bridge, and for this reason:
While Mr.. Fiddyes and DR., Car
nell were discoursing over their wine,
us we have already seen, one Peter
Starke, a drunken Chelsea ponsioncr,
was murderiug his wife on the spot
we have last indicated. The coinci.
dence was curious.
In those days the punishment Of
criminals follow closely upon their
conviction. The Chelsea pensioner
whom VIC have mentioned was found
guilty enc Friday and sentenced to
die the following Monday. lie was
a sad scoundrei, inpatient to the
last, glorying in the deeds of slaugh.
ter which he had witnessed aud acted
during the series of campaigns which
had ended just previously at Water>
loo. He was a tall, we'll built fellow
of middle age, for class was not then,
as now, composed chiefly of veterans,
but composed manyof young mon, just
sufficiently disabled to be unfit for
service. Peter Stark, although but
slightly wounded, had nearly COM
pleted his term Of service, and had
obtained his pension and present
ment to Chelsea Hospital. With his
life we have but little to do, save as
regards its close, which we shall
shortly ondeavor to describe far more
veraciously, aud at some greater
length than set forth in the brief ac =
count which satisfied the public of
his own day, aud which, as embodied
in the columns of the few journals
then appearing, ran thus
"On Monday last Peter Sarke was execLt-
ed at Newgate for the murder at the Wooden
Bridge, Chelsea, with four others tor various
oncnses. After he had teen hanging only
for a few minutes respite arrived, but al
though he was promptly cut down, life was
pronounced to be extinct. His body was bnri-
ed within the prison walls
Thus far history. But the con-
ciseness of history far more frequent.
ly embodies falsehood than truth.
Perhaps the following narration may
approach more nearly to the facts:
A room within the prison had been,
upon that special occasion and upon
high authority, allotted to the use of
DR.. Carnell and Mr. Fiddyes, the fa-
nous sculptor, for the purpose ,of in
vestigations connected with art and
science. In that room Mr.. Fiddyes
while wretched Peter Starko was
swinging between the heavens and
earth, was busily engaged in arrang-
ing a variety Of implements and ma-
terials, consisting Of large quantity
Of plaster of Paris, two large pals OF
water, seme tubs, and other necessa-
rics Of the moulder's art. The room
contained a large deal table, and a
wooden cross, not neatly plaued and
squared at angles, but of thick, mar
row, rudely-swan oaken plank, fixed
by strong heavy nails. And while
Mr. Fiddyes was thus occupied, the
executioner entered bearing the body
of the wfetched Peter, which he flung
heavily upon the table.
"You are sure he is dead ?" asked
Mr.. Fiddyes.
"Dead as n herring" replied the
other. "And yet so warm aud limp
as if he had only tainted"
"Then go to work at once" )" repli-
cd the sculptor, as turning his back
upon the haugman he resumed his
occupation.
The "work" was soon done. Pc.
ter was stripped and nailed upon the
timber, which was instantly propped
against the wall.
Gas fine one as l ever saw" ex-
claimed the executioner, as he re-
garded the defunct murderer with an
expression of admiration, as if at his
own handiwork, in having abruptly
demolished such magnificent ami
NAL. drops a good bit for'ard,
though, Shall l tie him up around
the waist, sir?
Certainly not" replied the sculp.
tor. ''Just rub him well over with
this oil, especially his head, and then
you can go. DR.. Carnell will settle
with you"
"All right, sir"
The fellow did as ordered, and re-.
tired without another word=leaving
this strange couple, the living aud
the dead, in that dismal chamber.
Mr.. Fiddyes was man Of strong
nerve in such matters. lie had been
too much accustomed to taking post
Humorous casts to trouble himself with
any sentiment of repuguance at his
approaching task of taking what is
called a "piece. mold" from a body
He emptied a number of bags of the
white powdery plaster-of-Paris into
one of the large vessels, aud was care
fully stirring up the mass, when a
sound Of dropping arrested his ear
Drip, drip.
"There's something leaking" he
muttered, as he took up second pail,
and emptying it, again stirred the
composition.
Drip, drip drip.
"It's strange" he sollloquized,
half aloud. "There is no more wa
ter and vet-h