Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-07-19
A Prison Story.

Nearly seyeRteen years ago, early In the
winter. a wealfhS aRd respected gentleman
named PeytOn, of Cabell county, in the State
of Virginia, was mys;crieusly murdered in his
own house, and as justice could not detect,
nor suspicion indicate the murderer, the victim.
went to judgment unsvenged by human law.
The kinsmen of the dead and his many friends
spoke long aud bitterly of the deed Of blood,
aud sreculated 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 1t was forgotten
by man, but in the breast of tue assassin dwelt
sleepless guest remembering all. Conscience
slept not when the deed was done, and from
thenceforth the guilty wretch was doomed to
tread the earth with one sentence ever sound
ing in his cara life for n life r
There could be but one sequel On an
afternoon in the summer OF 1860 miserable
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 old man. yet his brow was
furrowed with wrinkles. He did not appear
to suffer poverty. yet all his aspect was poor
and Wretched. When saluted his only re-
sponse was an inquiry for an officer of justice.
Some one directed him to a magistrate office,
whittier he went with the air of man on his
way to the scaffold A deputy sheriff re-
ceived him, aud surprised by his manner,
asked his business. The answer was -,
ARREST me am charged with murder -
Then lie told the story of his guilt. Six
years before. the murder of Mr.. Peyton was
his crime. He had residence in Ohio at
the time ), but, to escape the tracking of JUS
tice, he fed to Wisconsin, and there worked
on the Black and Chippewa rivers. After>
ward he worked in the Lower Sauk rapids, on
the Red river. at Pembina, and finally went to
Minnesota. In all his wanderinrs there was
terrible accuser within him, hearing ono
word murderer" in the rustling of forest
leaves, in the roar of the angry river, in tho
cracking of tall prairie grass, and in the hum
of the market place. In every man who I'D
dressed him, he saw a possessor of his secret,
in every house where he would rest there came
red stains on the floor. The hand of justice
had not branded him with an iron grasp, nor
the law sentenced yet to him the bright sun,
the relentless eye of justice glared upon him
wherever he erouched, and conscience was q
law that had tried aud doomed him.
Thus huuted through the world by spectres
breaking from the grave of virtue in his own
SOUL he had at last resolved to bear death
rather than madness and demanded from his
fellow men the righteous penalty of deed
making him coward compared with whom
the timid hare were fearless" After hearing
his confession tile sheriff at once took the un-
happy man into custody, and telegrnphed the
authorities Of Cabell county, Virginia. 20 send
for him. The prisoner gnve his name as
Stanley, and desired the officer to sell his cart
and steers that he might have a little money
to supply his wants while awaiting trial. In
duo time there came requisition from Vir-
ginia, 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, re-.
morseful to the last, and as sincere penitent
as ever offered atOnement for the shedding Of
blood.--.NclC York IForld