The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-12-19
Lloyd Fletcher's Escape.

ty of his anguish. His trembling lips
could frame no prayer, and thus the last
avenue of escape was closed against him.
The most unequivocal circumstantial evil
dence surrounded this doomed man-Lloyd
Fletcher by name-and the jury in bring
ing in their verdict of Guilty in the first
degree" had only acted on their sober
conviction of the mans guilt, drawn from
the overwhelming evidence.
Charles Lancaster, an Englishman, and
neighbor of Fletcher's, had been found
brutally murdered, in lone spot in the
suburbs of London. Fletcher's pistol was
picked up near him, thrown aside as he
found himselfpnrsued.
Footprints in mud corresponded exactly
with the boots the prisoner wore, and to
crown all, they had been the most bitter
and inveterate enemies for months previous.
Fletcher had been heard to say, OH several
occasions that nothing but the mans death
could satisfy his vengeance ; and then,
again, he could produce no one to assist
him in proving an alibi. Lloyd was man
very domestic in his habits, and very devo-
tedly attached to his family. He was
known to be absent from home in the even
ing, yet on this particular night. Mrs.
Fletcher waited up until daylight for his
return, expecting every moment Ton ac-
count of the circumstance being so unpre-
cedented) to have him brought home to
her corpse.
lie seemed to be recovering from the
deep stupor of intoXication as he entered
his wife's presence on the morning descrb-
ed, and only knew just enough to find the
bed and sleep profoundly.
At the time of his arrest, his hands were
found lame and bruised so this, with the
rest, made a sum total too crushing for the
skillful counsel he had employed, and the
result was Hanged by the neck, Fletcher,
till you are dead and God have mercy on
your soul"
1t lacked now only three days to the ex-
ecution and here he sat, in his lone, COM
fortress white-washcd cell, with his hands
shackled.
"Can nothing be done? Must die thus
poor, miserable dog that am? Oh, God
where art Thou? Will Omnipotence allow
an innocent man to perish? Out upon
such God as that ~ and the poor fellow
struck wildly at his prison house, groanng
so deeply that he aroused the attention of
the turnkey, who was passing the cell.
The iron door swung back on its creals-
ing hinges, and the stalwart form of the
keeper appeared before him.
"Come, come, Fletcher, less noise here
be a man Yon hain'tt the first feler that S
had to swing--not by long shot, You
won't get much sympathy here if you are
like nursing infant, can tell you. Die
game, Fletcher, die game
"But I'm innocent of the crime as my
little girl baby, at home, Oh, my God my
wife--my children"
"Oh, shut up here's your old woman
now.'
The hardened turnkey waited a moment
to witness the meeting of this suffering
couple, and then, with mutterng curses
Withdrew.
But the condemned man and his loving
faithful wife took no notice of his departure
but clasped in each others arms, waited
for calmness to speak.
.'Oh, Sarah -
"Oh Lloyd God have mercy on us all
my husband And now listen. Lie dow
heie-place yonr head on my lap. I hav'
something to say to YOU"
"Tell me, Sarah, did they search yoi
this time ? he asked, grasping her hand
eagerly.
"Yes Lloyd and they found nothing.
repented my harsh promise to you before
reached home. Come what may, suicide
must not be your fate. But listen. Yoi
see that am calm and comparatively hap
py. And let me tell you what has pro
duced this change. A sweet little dream
in which saw you, Lloyd, and our daI
lings, all together, comfortable and happy.
"Oh, Sarah, talk not of dreams to {
doomed man like me Perhaps we ma
be happy in another existence; but nc
that cannot be, for surely, if there is
God, he will not allow an innocent man
die the death of the guilty. Oh, no Sara
oh, mol
Keep up your courage. my dear hui
band; certain strange mysterious some
thing assures me that all will yet be we'll
how or in what manner, Heaven alon
knows"
81 wish could sec It'll wish / coul
feel it Sarah do not mislead me with falls
hopes. Oh, my God if there could onl