The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-04
A Narrow Escape from the Gallows-
The Danger Of CtrcuuIstanfial Evil

Ihe Danger OF CtrcuuIStaBf1al .Eyt.
dencc.
On a handsome lawn fronting an old ivy
rown mansion In the State of Virginia,
one pleasant afternoon not many years
since, a group of young people of both
sexes were gathered. Standing in their
midst was an old woman bent down with
age. looking as If she stood IN the brink of
the grave. but her dark. restless eve
showed that there was vigorous life in her
mind, if not in her body.
She had been "tclling fortunes" for the
Young people gathered around her. and to
all but one she had foretold q bright and
happy future. The exception of this rule
Of blesSedness through life was Il handsome
hoy Of nineteen, with a dark. passionate
face. II All expression which indicated
perfect fearleSsness.
Five years before the opening Of this story
an old gentleman and his nephew had
moved to Virginia from some Northern
state. and buying a farm had made it their
home. Mr.. Mercer and his nephew, Frank,
We're treated with kindness by the gentle
men Of the neighOorhood, and they re-
ceived invitations to visit the plantations
near them. Frank soon became acquainted
with all in the country. but his uncle never
left his farm, and seemed to Shun society.
For this many reasons were given, but the
true one was that he had lost all his family,
and Franks parents having left him to Mr..
MERGERS charge, he determined to devote
himself TO the boy, and found sufficient en-
joyment in his company and in cultiyating
his farm. Though reported very wealthy,
and that he always kept a large sum Of gold
in the house. Mr.. Mercer and Frank lived
in a quiet way and made no display.
Thus passed Franks early youth from
his fourteenth until his seventeenth year,
when our story opens. A man Of superior
education, Mr.. Mercer had been his
nephew's teacher, and had impaired unto
him much knowledge of the world, of let
tiers, and people, so that Frank ut nineteen
was as we'll informed rs If he had possessed
2 cultivated education. There were those
in the nei"hborhood who reported that the
boy was wild and dissipated. and this
found ready believers i'll others so that
Frank had Some enemies rs well as many
friends.
Thus we find him a; and the evening of the
commencement of our story he had been in
yited t. an entertainment given by q wealthy
planter to his children.
Mr.. DeweS. the planter, bad three chill
drcn. the Youngest and l~oveliest of whom
was Mary, q girl OF twelve. Mary and
Frank were the best Of friends, and loved
each other dearly. So when the fortune
teller predicted Il dark and stormy future
for Frank, the tears arose to the childs
ewes. and she said, "Don't listen TO her,
Frank
But the boy laughed, and, turning on his
heel. walked away.
Gwo DAYS afterwards he left home for n
weeks hunting in the mountains but the
second night after his departure the neigh
hurLuud vas aroused by the startling news
that old Mr.. Mercer had been murdered by
his nephew. One Of the servants passing
the house al night heard Il cry, and seeing
Franks window open he Sprang in and
walked across the hall to Mr.. Mercer'S
chamber, from whence the cry came. Lying
upontlle floor was the old man. dead, while
near him stood his sSipphew, With \ bloody
knife in his hand. In fright the negro
rushed from the house and gave the alarm.
Persons from the neighborhood were sent
for, and Frank was seized against every
protc>tation that be did not kill his uncle,
and thrown int. jail.
The feeling against the youth was intense,
for the negro told the story of how he had
found Frank, and Il waytaring peddler,
who had just assembled the steps to ask to
stay all night, corrohorated the mans state
mcnt.
made known. Frank was accused of start
ipg upon 4 hunting expedition as 4 blind,
and then returning from the mountain by
night, had entered the room, aud attempt
ing to remove Il large bag OF gold kept by
his uncle, had aroused him, and upon being
discovered. had driven his huntinS-knife
into the heart of Mr.. Mercer. 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 a large dirk-knife enciscl
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 courtroom, in a
| clear voice answered.: -
81 have! Circumstantial evidence has
condemned me. [ admit il looks as If ] did
he deed, but | am guiltleSs of murder.
Droppingm my percussion-cap box in a noun
tain stream, l 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. l
tied my horse to the fence, sprang into the
window, and then heard q loud crash, O call
out, and q shrek in the direction of my
uncle's room. | rushed thither-a dark
form dashed by me in the uncertain light
of the room-and | fell over something
upon the floor. With fear in my heart |
arose. lighted a 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
I'D the knife, and thus was l found by the
negro and seen by the peddier. AS God is
my witness, I did not murder the good old
man who has protected me thu oughout life,
and whom I loved as though he was my
own father. I am guil'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 MI. Dewes
and his family, who, through all, remained
launch friends.
Frank MeIc Ger was to be hung-to die an
ignominious death on the gallows-and
hundreds Hooked to the little town where
the execution was to take place to see him
die. How were they disappointed to find
that the night before be had escaped! How,
no one knew; hut he had left a note adj
dressed to the %jailer, 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
had an opportunity of escaping, and TOOK
advantage of it, for he had no idea OF dying
AIN iynominious death for an act he WAS not
guilty of, merely to crafty the curiosity OF
a gazing crowd. Freedom was offered him,
and 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 pa
per there were some who were glnd that
the boy had escaped the gallows.
Mr.. MERGERS property was, In his will, all
left to Frank, and it was found to be con-