Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-09
TIE .SC1EEOLD EOILEL.

| \ Hendersonville, n. c., correspondent of
the New York Herald gives quite an inter.
esting account Of the escape OF Martin Bay
nard, from the Jail of that place, on the morn.
ing OF the day appointed for his execution, as
one of the murderers of Silas Weston and
his three children. Two OF his accomplices
were previously executed, and Baynard re-.
ceived respite to enable him to witness
against the elder Baynard and another per-
son. On the day appointed tor the execution
Oct. 25th, about five thousand people assem-.
bled at Hendersonville to see the condemned
man executed. All the preparations were
made, the scafiold was in readiness, and the
crowd had b. en- arriving from all quarters for
several days to witness the tragedy. During
his imprisonment the wife of the condemned
man was faithful, constant and devoted in
her attendance upon him. A day did not pass
that she was not in his cell for several hours,
and at the last moment, with a heroism Yor-
thy more noble cause, she saved him from
an ignominious death upon the scafiold
The night that was to have been the last
Of Baynards earthly existence had arrived,
and upon the earnest, fearful and sorrowful
entreaty of his wife the iailer compassionate
y allowed her to pass the few remaining
hours of his life with him in his cell. Morn
ing broke clear and bright, and already the
assembled multitude were astir, eagerly
awaiting the arrival of the hour when the ex-
ecutoner and the scaiiold would do their ter
rible work. About six o'clock A. NJ. the
woman came to the Jail door to be let out,
with her bonnet drawn down over her face
and handkerchief pressed over her mouth,
through which her heart-broken sobs burst as
the jailer passed her through the outer door
of the prison. She walked slowly off with a
feeble gait, bowed figure, and wailing pitful-
ly, giving vent TO her grief, and she was soon
lost to the sight of the gaping guards and
morbidly curious spectators. Breakfast time
came at eight o'clock, and the confident and
compassionate Jailer with meal. the last the
doomed man was TO have eaten-comprised
entirely OF tempting delicacies, repaired to
the cell. The bars were removed and the
heavy iron door was swung back, and the
Jailer entered, when sight met his aston
ished gaze. In the further end of the cell,
instead of the condemned man, crouched w
IN corner was woman in her night clothes.
The plates and dishes with the breakfast
tell from the jailer's hand 10 the floor and
were broken in fragments. He tried to speak
but could find no words for utterance. and as
ne stood in actual despair the crouchng fig
ure arose, and, in the tones Of woman who
'hinKs she has done prai-eworthy action,
sad, "Well, Us Martin is gone, / reckon |
had better eat the breakfast" and she forth.
with began picking up the scattered portions
Of the meal. Baynard had escaped in his
I wife's clothes, and was doubtless by this time
far beyond the reach of the county officers.
The Sheriff, as soon as apprised Of the cir
cnnisiances, set out in pursuit of the crimi-
nal with posse. but in vain; for, after scour.
ing the country for mil, $, they returned with
out their prisoner. The assembled crowd
gave expression TO their chagrin in various