Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-08-24

"'N ""' H'oihN iolutc ioT FRANK, the
tears arose to the child's eyes. and she
said. Don't listen to her. Frank"
But the boy laughed. and turning
on his heel, walked away.
Two DAYS afterwards he left home
for weeks hunting among the noun.
tains but the second night after his
departure the nCighborhood was arous.
Ell by the startling news that old Mr..
Mercer had been murdered hy his
nephew. Onc of the servants passing
the house at night heard a cry. and
seeing Franks window open, sprany
IN and walked across the hall To Mr..
Mercer's chamber, from whence the
cry came. Lying upon the floor was
the Old man. dead. while near 10 him
stood his nephew. with bloody knife
in his hand. In fright the negro rush.
cd from the house, and gave the alarm.
Persons from the neighborhood were
sent for. and Frank was seized agains,
every protestation that he did not kAi
his uncle. and thrown into Jail.
lie feeling against the youth was
intense. for the negro told the story of
how he uad found Frank and way.
iarlng pedlar who had just assembled
the front steps. to ask TO stay all nignt
corrobora,ed the negros statement.
The trial came off, and the charges
we're made known. Frank was accus.
ei OF starting hunting expedition tor
blind. and then returning from the
mountain by night. hast entered the
room. and attempting II remove a
large bag of gold Kept bv his uncle.
had aroused hun. aud upon being dis.
covered, had driven has hunting knife
into the heart OF Mr.. Mercer; the gold
was on the i!oor, its weight having torn
through the bag when il Was raised
The knife with which Mr. Mercer wa,
killed was one he had given to Frank
some days before, and was large
dirk-knifc encased in silver-scahbar,i.
Pale A. death. but showing no sign
of fear or guilt upon his handsome
face, the prisoner sat unmoved by his
sentence. which was 10 die on the gal
lows When asked if lie had any.
bAlaai- ~ SAf sAlDNt. liist lftOkinr
around the courtroom. in a clear voice
answered:
Il have, Circumstan;ial evidence
has condemned me. | admit il look,
a. If did the deed. but | am gulltles,
of murder. Dropping my percussion
cap-box IN mountain stream, ] re.
turned home for more FOR without
caps my gun was useless. II MAS
lovely night. and determined 10 en-.
ter the house by my room window.
get the caps, and return without awak-
ing my uncle. tied NV horse to the
fence. sprang into the window. and
then heard a loud crash. a call out. aud
"A shrek IN the direction of my uncle.
room. rushed thliher-a lark form
rushed by me IN tAc uncertain ligh.
Of the roOm-And | fell oycr something
on the floor. With fear Ia my heart
/ arose, ll2hted !. candle. and saw my
uncies body. covered with blood, gold
scattered upon the door. and mv own
knife. which had done the deed, l,inL
near. picked up the knife. AMI thu,
was found by the negro, and seen by
the prdIar. 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 ms
own father. ain ,,uiltless of the iiend-
ish deed. but submit 10 mv fate =
\ silence fell upon all. There were.
however, but few who would believe
the youth's statement. Among the
latter was Mr.. Dcwcs and ms family.
who, through all. remained staunch
friends.
Frank Mercer was 10 be hung, to die
an ignominous death on the gallows,
and hundreds fiocked TO the little town
where the execution was TO take place,
10 see him die How they were disap.
pointed 10 find that the night before he
had escaped How, no one knew. but
he had left note addressed TO the
jailor, thanking him for the kindness
shown him while he was in his charge,
and his regrets that his escape might
cause him trouble, but saying he had
an opportunity of escaping, and took
advantage it. for he had no idea Of
dying an ignomineous death for an act
he was not guilty of, merely TO CRAFTY
the curiosity of gaping crowd. Free
dom was offered him, aud he accepted
it. and he hoped he would vet be able
to prove his innocence.
This was about the subject of the
letter, and when it was published in
the local paper, there were some who
We're glad the boy had escaped the
gallows.
MIR. MERGERS property was, in his
will, all left TO Frank. and it was found
to be considerable. Trustees assumed
charge of it, and before long the quiet
community had settled down TO it,
usual routine, and the murder and es-
cape were, in short time. almost for
gotten.
Ten years passed away, and no word
Of the fugitive had been heard. and
the people believed him dead One
exception was Mary Dewes, now grown
TO womanhood. She had never be-
lieved him dead, and through her life
had treasured Franks image in her
inmost heart-the mystery which hung
around him bat adding strength to her
regard. Her sisters had married, her
mother was dead, and with her father.
she had lived at the old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes TO Ha-
vana, he took Mary with him, and tney
set sail from Charleston in 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 slumber. In
vain were efforts made to quench the
flames. The seaDen in flight rushed
into the only available boat, and it
sank with them and left them strug-
Cling in the ocean, borne away by the
wind and waves, while Mr.. Dewes and
Mary, the captain of the ship, and a
fapr OF