The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-07-13

y
=, for a weeks hunt in the mountains
70 but the second night after his depar
ture the neighbOrhOOd was aroused by
the startling news that old Mr.. Mer.
Ger had been murdered by his nephew
One Of the servants passing the house
D, at night heard a cry, and seeing
a Franks window open, he spFang i'm
a end walked across tile hall to Mr.
Y MeTceT's chamber, from whence the
i cry came. Lying upon the floor was
Y the old man, dead, while near him
: stood his nephew, with bloody knife
n i'm his hand. in fright, the negro ran
- from the house and gave the alarm
Persons from the neighbOrhOOd were
sent for, and Frank was seized, against
every prOtestation that he did not kill
his uncle, and thrown into Jail
The feeling against the youth was
intense, for the negro had told the
story Of how he Lad found Frank, and
a way-faring peddIer, who had just
ascended the steps to ask TO stay all
night, cOrrObOrated the mans state
ment.
The trial came off, and the charges
were made known. Frank was ac-
cused of starting upon hunting ex-
peditiOn as a blind, and then return
ing from the mountains 10y night, had
entered the room, and attempting to
remove a large bag Of gold, had arOus-
ed him, and, upon being discovered,
had driven his hunting knife into Mr..
Mercer's heart The gold was on the
floor, its weight having torn through
the bag when it was raised. The knife
with. which Mr.. Mercer was killed
was one he had given to Frank some
days before, and was large dirk-knife
lencased in a silver scabbard.
Pale as death, but showing no sign
of fear or guilt upon his handsome
face, the prisoner sat, unmOved by his
sentence, which was TO die on the
gallOws. When asked if he had aught
TO say, Frank arose, and looking
around the court room, i'm a clear
voice answered:
'I have. Circumstantial evidence
has condemned me. l admit il looks
as if l did the deed; but l am guiltless
of murder. Dropping my percussion
cap box in a mountain stream, / re-
turned home for more, for without my
caps my gun was useless. 1t was
lovely night, and determined to en-
ter the house by my room window,
| get my caps and return without awak-
ening my uncle. / tied my horse TO
the fence, sprang into the window,
and then heard loud crash, a call out
and a shrek in the direction of my
uncle's room. | rushed thither-a
dark form dashed by me in the uneer-
tain light of the rOOm-and fell over
something upon the floor. With fear
in my heart rose and lighted a can
die and saw my uncle's body covered |
with blood, gold scattered upon the |
floor, and my own knife, which had |
done the deed, lying near. l picked |
up the knife, and was thus found by
the negro and seen by the pedler. AS |
God is my witness, did not murder |
the good old man who has protected |
me through life, and whom loved as |
though he was my own father. / am |
guiltless of the deed, but submit to |
my fate %
A silence fell upon them all; there
were, however, but few who believed
the youths statement; among the lat
ter was Mr.. Dewes and his family,
who through all remained staunch
friends.
Frank Mercer was to be hung-tO
die an ignominious death on the gal
lOws-and hundreds fiOcked to the lit
tie town where the execution was to
take place, to see him die. How they
were disappointed to find that he had
ped the night before! How, no
one knew, but he had left note ad-
dressed to the jailOr, thanking him
for the kindness shown him while in
his charge, and his regrets that his es-
cape might cause him trouble, but
saying that he had an opportunity of
escaping, and took advantage of il,
for he had no idea of dying an igno-
miniOus death for an act he was not
guilty of, merely to crafty the curios-
ity of a gaping crowd. Freedom was
Offered him and he had accepted il,
and he hoped he would yet be'able to
prove his innocence.
This was about the substance of the
letter, and when it was published in
the local paper there were some who
were glad that the boy had escaped
the gallows.
Mr.. MeTcer's property was, in his
will, all left to Frank, and it was
found 20 be considerable. Trustees
assumed charge Of il, and before long
the quiet community had settled down
to its usual routine, and the murder
and escape were i'm short time al
most forgotten.
Ten years passed away, and no word
of the fugitive had been heard, and he
was believed dead. One exception
was Mary Dewes, now grown to wO-
manhood. She had never believed
him dead, and through Ler life had
treasured Franks image i'm her in
most heart, the mystery that hung
around him but adding strength to
her regard. Her sister had married,
her mother was dead, and, together
with her father, she had lived i'm the
old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes to Ha-
vana, he took Mary with him, and
they set sail from Charleston i'm a fine
ship running south. They had been
some days at sea, when, in the dead
of night, the fearful cry of "fire" was
heard, which aroused all from slum-
ber. In vain We're efforts made TO sub
due the flames. The seAmen in fright
rushed into the only available boat,
and it sank with them, and left them
struggling in the ocean, borne away
by the wind and waves, while Mr..
Dewes and Mary, the captain of the
ship, and a few others, were huddled
away upon the stern, awaiting the
fearful doom that must, to all appear
ance, Overtake them.
'Sail, hOr
The Joyous cry came from the cap
tain, who had been stTaining his eyes
over the ocean, in hope Of seeing some
vessel coming TO save them. Swiftly
flying toward them came low, rakish
three masted schooner, W hich ever and
anon sent mp a light to prove TO those
on board the burning ship that aid was
near.
Hark the deep boom of a gun is I
heard, and the captain listens; he eX-
claims, "Miss Dewes, We are all right /
now; cheer up for here cOmesa vessel /
of war to our assistancem
"Ship ahOy ~ came in ringing tones
from the schooner, as she came nearer /
the burning ship, which was being |
driven rapidly by the wind.
"AhOyw answered the captain.
"Throw long line from your ship, |
and l will send you boat came in |
the same clear tones.
The line was thrown, the boat /
attached, and after a little difficulty, |
the people ofthe ship We're transferred /
10 the schooner, and Mary was soon /
in the comfortable cabin, rejoicing /
over their escape from a horrible /
death.
At breakfast, the next mOrniug, the
young captain of the war schooner de- |
scended to join his guests at the table, /
and as he entered, Mary sprang toward
him.
"Frank Mercer! Oh! it is you-is it
nOt?"
One glance at the beautiful girl, and,
though years had passed, Frank Mercer /
for il was no OIheT-recOgniZed the
playmate whom he had loved so well,
and whom he had never ceased to
/ love. .... ...
Mr.. Dewes came forward, and what
a joyful meeting was there; but seeing
a cloud as If of bitter memories, come
over the young captains face, Mr..
/ DeWes, said:
"First, let me relieve your mind of
one thing. Your innocence in Virginia
has been thoroughly established for
negro runaway, hung the other day for
/ killing a woman, confessed, just before
his death, that he hal murdered your