Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-11

were sEAi iOI, a5u idnh " 40 o.HSA
against every protes'aiion that he cld not
kill his uncle, and thrown into Jail.
The feeling against the youth was IN
tense, for the negro told the story OF how
be had found Frank and wsyfaring ped
der, who had just ascended the steps to
ask 10 stsy sll night, corroborated the mans
statement.
The trial came of and the charges were
made known. Frank was accused OF
starting upon hunting expedition as
/ Blind, aud then returning from the noun.
/ s2In b. night, had entered the room, and
attempting TO remove large bag of gold
I kept by his uncle, had aroused him, and,
upon being discovered, had driven his
/ aun,ing knife into the heart of Mr. Mer-
Ger. The gold YVES on the floor, its weight
having torn through the bag when it was
raised. The knife with which Mr.. Mer-
Ger was killed was one he had given to
| Frank some days before, and was large
| dirk knife encased in silver scabbard.
Pale as death, but showing no sign OF
fear or guilt upon his handsome face, the
prisoner sat unmcved 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, in a
clear voice answered:
II have Circumstantial evidence has
condemned me. admit it looks as If /
did the deed but am guiltless Of muir
der. Dropping my percussion cap box in a
mountain stream, returned home for more |;
for without caps my gun was useless. 1t was
a lovely night, and determined to enter
the house by my room window, get the
caps and return without awakening my
| uncle. / tied my horse to the fence, sprang
into the window, and then heard loud
crash, call out, and a shrek in the direc-
ton of my uncle's room. Irushed thither
"a dark form dashed by me in the un-
certain light Of the room-and fell over
something upon the floor With fear In
my heart arose, lighted candle, 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.
picked up the knife, and thus was found
by the negro and seen by the peddler
AS God is my witness, / did not murder
the good old man who has protected me
throughout life, and whom | loved as
though he was my own father. am guilt
less Of the deed, but submit to my fate"
A silence fell upon all; there were, how
ever, but few who believed the youths
statement among the latter was Mr.. Dewes
and his family, who, through all, remained
staunch friends.
Frank Mercer was 10 be hung-to die
an ignominious death on the gallows-and
hundreds q sckea 10 the little t8wu where
the execution Was 10 take plEce 20 sse him
de. How they wire disappointed 10 hn9
that the night ce8gre BE Ind escaped
HGE. no one Ensw but be had Jeff note
addressed 10 The jaiIor, thanking him for
thu kindness shown him while IN his
charge, and his regrets tbzi bis escape
might cause him trouble, but saying that
he had had an opportunity Of escaping,
ard took advantage Of IL, for he had no
idea Of dying an ignominious death for an
act he was not guilty OF. merely TO crafty
the curiosity OF gaping crowd. Free
dom was off red him, and he accepted 1t,
and he hoped he would yet be able to
prove bis 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 gal
lows
Mr.. MERGERS property was, in his will,
all left TO Frank. and it was found to be
Trustees assumed charge of
IL, and before long the quiet community
had settled down u its usual routine, and
the murder and escape were In short time
almost forgotten.
Ten years passed away and no word of
the fugitive had been heard, and people
believed him dead. One exception was
She had never believed him dead, and
hpn hoA tpao ~
image in her Utmost heart, the mystery
that hung around him but adding strength
to her regard. Her sisters had married,
her father, she had lived at the old home
stead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes to Havana,
he took Mary with him, and they set sail
from Charleston in 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
In vain were efforts made to
quench 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 few Others, were
nuuOleu away upon inc bterl, awaiting
the fearful! doom that must, TO all appear
ance, overtake them.
"Sail, hot'
The joyous cry came from the captain,
who had been straining his eyes over the
ocean, in hopes of seeing some vessel com.
ing to save them. Swiftly flying toward
them came a low, rakish, three-masted
schooner, which ever and anon sent up q
light to prove to those on board the burn
ing ship that succor was near.
Harkl the deep boom of gun Is heard,
and as the captain listens, he exclaims,
+" Miss Dewes. we are all right now cheer
up, for there comes vessel -ofwar to our
"Ship ahoy!" came in ringing tones
from the schooner, as she came near the
burning ship, which was being driven rap
idly along by the wind.
"Ahoy" answered the captain.
"Throw long line from your ship, and
I will send you boat" came in the same
clear tones.
The line was thrown, the boat attached,
and, after a little difficulty, the people
from the ship were transferred to the
schooner, and Mary was soon in the COM