Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-07-21
THE GOADINGs OF A CONCIENCE-
APRISON STORY.

Nearly seventeen years ago, early in
the winter, q wealthy anu resRected
gentleman named Peyton, Of Cabell
county, in the State of Virginia, was
mysteriously murdered in his own house
aud as Justice could not detect nor sus-
picion indicate the murderer, the victim
went to judgement unavenged by hu-
man law. The kinsmen of the dead and
his many friends spoke long and bitter
| ly of the deed OF blood, and specu-
lated vaguely as TO its purpose; but years
rolled on without revealing the arm that
had dealt the bastard blow, and at last
the crime was forgotten. That is, it was
forgotten by man, but Ia the brest OF the
assassin dwelt sleepless guest remem-
bering all. Conscience slept not when
the deed YVES done, and from thence
fourth the guilty wretch was doomed to
tread the earth with one sentence ever
sounding i'll his cara life for life!"
There could be but one sequel. On an
afternoon in the summer OF 1860 mlser-
able looking man drove into the city OF
st. Paul, Minnesota, in small cart drawn
by yoke of steers, and at once inquired
for the sheriff He was not an ola man
yet his brow was furrowed with wrlnk-
les. He did not appear to suffer power
~
ed. When saluUed his only response was
an inquiry for an officer ofjustice. Some
one directed him to magistrates office
whittier he went with the air of man
oil bis way to the scaffold. A deputy
sheriff received him, and, surprised by
his manner, asked his business. The
answer was: ARREST me: 1 am charged
with murder!" Then he told the story of
Lis guilt. Six years before the murder of
Mr.. Peyton was his crime; but, to escape
the tracking of justice, he fled te Wis
consin, and there worked ON the Black
and Chippewa rivers. Afterwar3 he
worked in the Lower Sauk Rapids, on
the Red river, at Pembina, and finally
went to Minnesota. In all his wander
ings there was terrible accuser within
him, hearing the one word murderer"
in the rustling of forest leaves, in the
roar of the angry river, in the cracking
of tall prairie grass, and in the hum OF
the market place. In every man who
addressed him he saw possessor of his
secret-in every house where he would
rest there came red stains on the floor.
The hand ofjustice had not branded him
with IN iron grasp nor the law sentenced;
yet to him the bright sun was the re.
lentless eye of justice glaring upon him
wherever he crouched, and conscience
was law that had tried and doomed
him. Thus haunted through the world
by specties breaking from the grave of
virtue in his own soul, he had at last
resolved TO bear death rather than mad
ness, and demanded of his fellow-men
the righteous penalty of deed making
him coward, compared with whom
the timid hare were fearless" After
hearing his confession the sheriff at once
took the unhappy man into custody and
telegraphed the authorities of CabeIl
county, Virginia, to send for him. The
prisoner gave his name as Stanley, and
desired the officer to sell his cart and
steers that he might have little money
to supply his wants while awaiting trial.
In due time there came requisition
from Virginia, and Stanley was taken
back to the scene of his crime, where,
upon his own repeated confession, he
was sentenced to imprisonment for life.
In that prison he lately died remorseful
to the last, and as sincere a penitent as
ever offered atonement for the shedding
of blood.