Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-26
!; *. a,elocI. and while the BODY Of Span

eiS6t o'clock: and while The body Of Span
ISL Joe was swinging in the darkness, the
clerk of the hotel saw Robert talrway'
whom he distinctly recognized by pecn-
liar coat and cap which he wore mount
his horse atthe door, and galiop away III
the direction of Diamond Springs. AS nc
rode off into the darkness oil tnat night,
he rode out into oblivion; for he was new
er seen again,
H.
Last winter, while on q visit to my old
home in the East, formed the acquain-
lance of returned California, now doing
a prosperous business in the city of Ghica-
go. While enjoying the Inequalities of
his house, we sat one evening alone to-
eether in his eozy library, discussing old
times in the Golden State, and among
other themes happened to mention the
strange disappearance of Fairway.
spoke of my knowledge OF his early life,
and the manner of his obtaining posses
sion of the San Solicis Grant. My host
turned pale; and swinging his casy-chair
round in front of me, he placed his hands
on my knees, and said:
81 know what became of that man. l
will tell you what until now has never
crossed my lips. 1t is time this mystery
should be cleared up, and you perhaps,
are the one who has most right to know.
! was one of that Vigilance Committee"
he continued, land well remember the
scenes of that night. On our way to tho
Jail, if you remember, we took the Sheriff
in custody, and from him we learned that
PARKWAY was there in company with the
Spaniard. He appeared anxious that no
harm should come to him; and |, acting
as spokesman for the party. gave him the
assurance that he should not only escape
untouched, but should be treated with
courtesy, and allowed to depart without
question. When wea broke down the
doors of the jail, Fairway, closely but
toned up in the large coat he wore, and
with his cap drawn down closely over his
head, stood outside the door of the cell,
which was open. and the Spaniard had
fallen, as we supposed, in an agony of
terror on the floor, and in his shirt-sleeves.
Remembering my promise, | said to him,
''Mr. Fairway, you will leave here in
stantly; and turning to the men who stood
in silence, said, .Let Mr.. Fairway, the
lawyer, pass" They opened way, and
he walked quickly through their ranks,
and was lost in the darkness. The prs-
oner continued in his faint, and | tried to
restrain the men until he should recover :;
but what can you do with a mob ? Some
Of the more violent of them, pushing past
me, fastened rope around his neck, and
throwing the other end over projecting
limb, the whole crowd grasped it, and run
the man up He struggled a few minutes
with convulsive force. and then hung life
less. A discussion arose rs to what dis
position should be made of the body, some
insisting that it hang there the next day
as terror to evil-doers; others, myself
among the number, desiring to bury it
then and there, and so be done with the
whole matter. But the crowd who ia
vored its remaining being the stronger,
we dispersed to our homes.
"All night long The vision of that swing
ing body was before me. | could neither
sleep nor think. | am no coward, and
felt that we had done an act of absolute
justice in his death; but the idea Of leav-
ing the corpse of any human being hang
ing to be mutilated by the hawks, was re
puisive to my humanity, and at last
could stand it no longer. Just as day was
breaking, l took pick and shovel, ant
repaired to the spot. / didn't dare lool
at the thing above me, but dug Il gray,
at the foot of the tree, and that finished,
cut the rope, which had been tied to III
adjacent post, and the body fell with
heavy thud to the ground. approachc,
it, and, to my horror, in the distorted iea
lures of the corpse | reeognized-no
Spanish Joe the murderer, but Rober
Fairway. The truth flashed across m,
mind in an instant. Joe, hearing us com
ing, had realized the fate intended 70
him; and with the instinct of self preser
Walton, had in an instant stunned his com
panion with sudden blow, and, rapidly
assuming his outer clothing, had passed
Tor him and escaped. The darkness o
the night, and the absence of light il
the Jail, prevented close scrutiny; and il
the blind haste of the mob we had hung
the wrong man. | stood rooted to the
spot, not knowing what to do. knew
and all this flashed through my mind in III
instant like whirlwind-that the discoy-
cry of this fatal mistake would subject al
concerned to serious trouble. felt thai
immediate and etlectual concealment wa,
the only possible way to avoid the conse
quences and hurriedly pushing the bod,
into the new made grave, | rapidly iillet
in the earth above it.
Il left the country soon after, and EN-
barkedin business here. where, rs yol
see, have prospered. ! have often fell
the burden of this dreadful secret; ano
am now relieved to know that there is
one other besides myself who knows with