Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-27

"A Prison SToRT.-Nearly seventeen wear
ago. early lu the winters wealthy and respect
ed gentleman, named Peyton, of Cabell county
IN the State OF Virginia, was mysteriously mur
dered in his own house, and as Justice ccuIc
not detect, nor suspicion indicate the murderer
the victim went to Judgment unaveneed by hu
man law. The klosmen of the dead and his
many friends spoke long and bitterly of the deed
al blood, and speculated vaguely as to its pur
pose, but years rolled on without revealing the
arm that had dealt the bastard blow. and LAT At
!ast the crime was forgotten. That is il wa,
forgotten By N an, but in the breast Of the as
sassin dwelt sleepless guest remembering ali
Conscience slept not when the deed was done,
and from thenccforth the guilty wretch was
doomed to tread the earth with one sentence
H7vT sounding in his cara life for lifci"
There could DO but one sequel. Ga an aftsr.
Eoon 10 the summer of 1860 miserabte.lookipp
nan drove icto the city Of St. Paul, Minnesots,
r. small! cart drawn BY yoke of steers and
:t ooc" inquired for the sheriff He Was not an
I'd man. YET his BROS was furrowed with wrin.
k!es. lie did oot appear to suffer poverty, yet
all his aspect was door aud wretcted. When
saIuted his only response was an Inquiry for an
othcer OF justice. Some one directed him to
magistrates Office whittier be went with the
"'A W - 49, VI oto way " Iu0 sCdNOU. ~ uS-
putty sheriff received him, and surprised by his
manner, asked his business. The answer was
Arrest me: am charged with murder !"
Then be told the story of his guilt. SIX
years before, the murder of Mr. Peyton wa.
his crime. lie had a residence in Ohio at
the time but, to escape the tracking of us-
tlce, be ted 10 Wisconsin, and there worked
on the Blsck and Chippewa rivers. Afrer-
ward he worked in the Lower Sauk rapids, OF
thu he'd river, at PembIns, and finally went to
Minnesota. In all his wauderiugs there was
terrible eccuser within him. hearing on,
word murderer in the rustliog Of tore~'
leaves, IN the roar OF the angry river, in the
cracking OF tall prairie grass, and in the hup
OF the market place. In every man who ad |
dressed him, he saw possessor OF his secret,
in eyery house where he would rest there came
red stains on the floor. The hand OF jas Ice
had NOT branded him with an iron grasp, nor
the law sentenced yet to him the bright SUI,
The relentless eye of justice glaEed u'on him
wherever he crouched. and conscience was
law that had tried and do"med bum.
Thus hunted through the world by spectres
breaking from the grave of virtue IN bis own
sonl he had at last resolved to bear death ra
fber than madness, and demanded from bis fe-
low men the righteous penahy of a deed max
ing him coward, compared With whom tht
timid hare were fearless After hearing bis
confession the sheriff at once took tbs unhappy
man into custody, and telegraphed the au,
thorities of Cabell county. Fir.inia, to send
for him. The pri,ooer gave his pane as
Stanley, and desired,t the officer to sell his cart
and steers that be might have iltt'e money
to supply his wants while awaiting trla'
10 due time there came reGulsl'ion lroih
Virginia, and Stanley was taken back to the
scene OF bis crime, where, upon bis own re-
heated confession, be was sentenced to imprI-
sonment tor life. In that prison he lately
died, remorseful t. the last, aud as sincere
penitent as ever offered alto ,emen5 for the
shedding of blood. d.-Ntac York Rorld.