Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-07-16
a Prison Story.

Nearly seventeen years ago, eaIy IN
the winter, wealthy and respectable
gentleman. named Pey ton,o Cabell coun.
~, in the Stale OF Virginia, was mysie-
rously murdered in his own house. and
as Justice could not detect nor suspicion
indicate the murderer, the victim went 10
judgmen! unavenged by human law.
The kinsmen Of lhe dead and the many
friends spoke long and bitterly of tho
deed OF blood, and speculaled vaguely as
10 lis purpose, but yesTs rolled on without
revealing The arm that had dealt tie da..
tard blow, and at last the crime was for.
gotten by man, bu, in The breast OF lhe as
ssssin dweli a sleepless guest remember.
ing ALL Conscience slept not when the
deed was done, and from ihenceforlb The
guilty wretch was doomed to tread the
earth with one sentence ever sounding in
his cara life for life !'
There could be but one sequel. On
an afternoon in the summer OF 1860 a
miserable looking man drove into the city
OF 81. Paul, Minnesota, in a small cart
drawn by yoke Of steers, and st once
inquired for The sheriff. He was no, sn
old man, yet his brow was funowed with
wrinkles. He did no, appear to suffer
poverty, yet all his aspect was poor and
wretched. When ssluied his only re-
sponse was On inquiry for an officer OF
Justice. Some one directed him 10 a
magistrate Office, whilher he wen, with
the air of man on his way 10 The scaf-
fold. A deputy sheriff received him and,
surprised by his manner, asked his busi.
ness. The answer wss: ARREST me |
am charged with murder -
Then he told tie story Of his guilt
Six years before, the mu der OF Mr.. Pey-
ton was his crime. He had q residence
in Ohio, OF The time; but, TO escape the
tracking oi justice, he 6ed TO Wisconsin,
and there worked on the Black end Chip
pewa rivers. Af,rrwsrd he worked in
The Lower Sauk Rapids, on the Red riv-
er, al Penbins, and finally went to Min
nesois. ln sli his wsnderIngs there was
a terrible sccuser within him, hearing The
one word murderer" in The rushing OF
forest leaves, in The roar OF the angry
river, in 'he cracking Of all prairie grass.
and The hum OF the msrkei-plsce. In
every man who addressed him he saw g
posssssor OF his secret-in every house
where he would rest there came red stain
Oh the floor. The hand OF justice had
no, branded him with an iron grasp. nor
the law sentenced; ye, 10 him The bright
sun was the relentless eye Of justice glsr.
ing upon him wherever he crouched. and
conscience was law that tried and doom.
ed hin.
Thus bUnled through The world by
specires breaking from the grave OF virtue
10 his own soul, he hsd al last resolved
10 bear death rather than madness, and
demanded OF bic fello wm en- he ighteous
penalty OF deed making him coward,
"eonpsred with whom the limid bare
were fearless" After hearing bis con-
fession, the sheriff took al once the un.
happy man into custody, and iele legrsphed
the authorities Of Csbell county, Virgins,
to send for him. The prisonsr gave his
name as Stanley, and desired The officer
10 sell his cart and steers thai he might
have little money 10 supply bis wants
while awaiting trisl. 10 due time there
came requisition from Virgins, and
Stanley was taken bsak 10 The scene Of
his crime, where. upon his own repeated
confession, he was sentenced 10 iDpris.
onnent for life. In that prison be lately
died, remorseless 10 The last. and sin-
cere peniieni as ever offered stonsmenl
for the shedding Of blood.