Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-02-02
Saved From the Scafold.

friends!
The poor man wept aloud in the
extremity of his anguish. His trem
bling lips could form no prayer, anc
thus the last avenue of comfort was
closed against him. The most direct
and unequivocal circumstantial evl
dence surrounded this doomed mar
Lloyd Fletcher by name-and the
jury in bringing in their verdict OF
"Guilty in the first degree" /" had only
acted up to their sober convictions
of the mans guilt drawn from over
whelming evidence. Charles Ian
caster, an Englishman, and a neigh
Dor of Fletcher's had been found bru
tally murdered, in a lone spot IN the
suburbs of London. Fletcher's pisto
was picked up near him, thrown aside
as he found himself pursued.
Footprints in mud corresponded
exactly to the boots the prisoner
wore, and to crown all, they had been
the most bitter and inveterate enemies
for months previous. Fletcher had
been heard to say on several occa
sions that nothing but the man
death could satisfy his own implaca
BILE vengeance; and then, again, he
could produce no one to assist him
in establishing an alibi. Lloyd was
man very domestic in his habits, and
very devotedly attached to his family
He was never known to be absent
from home in the evening, and yet
upon this particular night, Mrs
Fletcher waited up until daylight fol
his return, expecting every moment
(on account Of the circumstance be
ing so unprecedented) to have hin
brought home to her a corpse. de
seemed to be recovering from the
deep stupor of intoxication as he en-
tered his wife's presence on the morn
ing above described and knew only
Just enough to find the bed, and SLEPT
profoundly.
At the time of his arrest, his hands
were found lame and bruised; so this
with the rest, made a sum total toe
crushing for the skillful defense be
had employed, and the result was
Hanged by the neck, Lloyd Fletcher
until you are dead; and God have
mercy on your soul
1t lacked now only three days of
the execution, and here he sat, in his
lone, comfortless, white-washed cell
with his head bowed in his hands.
Can nothing be done? Mast
die, die thus, poor miserable dog thai
| am? o God !. where art thou Viii
Omnipotenoe allow an innocent mar
to perish? Out upon such a God a.
that! and the poor fellow STRUCK
wildly at his prison-house, groaning
so deeply that he aroused the atten
tion of the turnkeys, who was pass
ing the cell.
The iron door swung back upon it
creaking hinges, and the stalwar
form of the keeper appeared before
him.
Come, come, Fletcher, less noise
here Be a man You amt the frs
feller that's had to swing-not by {
long shot! You won't get much sym
pathy here if you act like nursing
infant, | can sell you. Die game
Fletcher, die gameT
But I'm innocent, | tell you, you
old Uretch ! as innocent Of the Grim
as my little girl-baby at home! o.
my God, my wife-my children
'Oh, shut up, here's your old VIC
man now
The hardened turnkey waited
moment to witness the meeting of tn
suffering couple, and then with mu
tered curses withdrew.
But the condemned man and hi
loving, faithful wife took no notice o
his departure, but clasped in eac
others arms waited for calmness t
, speak.
'Oh, Sarah !
'Oh, Lloyd! God have mercy o
US all, my husband And now listen
Lie down here-place your head O
my lap! | have something to say t
YOU!
Tell me, Sarah, did they scare
! YOU this time? ? he asked, graspin
: her hands eagerly.
Yes, Lloyd, and found nothing.
repented of my rash promise to yo
e before | got home yesterday. Com
s what may, suicide must not be yor
fate But listen:
You see am calm and compar
| lively happy. And let me tell yc
O what has produced the change.
A sweet little dream, in which
5 saw you, Lloyd, and our darlings a
together comfortable and happy
n 'Oh, Sarah, talk not of dreams
e a doomed man like me! Perhaps "
may be happy in another existenc,
e but no, it cannot be-for surely,
there is a God, he will not allow &
e innocent man to die the death of tt
y guilty. Oh, no, Sarah-oh, no.
Keep your courage, my dear hu
:, band; certain strange mysterio
something assures me that all W
yet be well-how or in what mann
.e Heaven alone knowsr
| wish | could see it wish
could feel it. Sarah, do not misles
a me with false hopes. Oh, my Go,
if there could be found way to {
cape from this ignominous deathr
i Come, madam, times up;' and t
d. turnkey again made his appearance
= Hate to disturb such a pair of &C
- - ing doves, but orders are order
if you break crowns. You ought
persuade your husband, here, to
q less snivelling,' as Sarah, with g,
y ture of scorn and impatience, preps
ed to leave.
ts Mark what | tell you now, ma a
e. you will be looking for another hl
band in three months time ! continu