Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-01-13
A NARROW ESCAPE.

! The poor man wept aloud in the ex-
tremity of his anguish. The trembling
lips could frame no prayer, and thus the
last avenue of escape was closed against
him. The most direct and unequiyocal
evidences surrounded this man-Lloyd
Fletcher by name-and the jury, in
bringing in their verdict of guilty in
the first degree" had only acted on
their sober conviction of the man S
guilt, drawn from the overwhelming evil
dence.
Charles Lancaster, an Engllshman,
and neighbor of Fletcher s, had been
found brutally murdered, in a lone spot
in the suburbs of London. Fletchers
pistol was picked up near him, thrown
aside as he found himself pursued.
Footprints in the mud corresponded
exactly with the boots the prisoner wore,
and to crown all, they had been bitter
and inveterate enemies for months pre-
vious. Fletcher had been heard to say
that nothing but the mans death could
satisfy his implacable 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 devotedly attached to his fam
| ily He was known to be absent from
home on that evening. yet, on this par
ticular night, MRS. Fletcher waited up
until daylight for his return, expecting
every moment ION account of the cir
cumstance being so unprecedented) to
have him brought home a corpse. He
seemed to be recovering from the deep
stupor of intoxication as he entered his
wife's presence on the morning de-
scribed, and only knew enough to find
the bed and sleep profoundly.
At the time of his arrest, his hands
were found lamed and bruised; so this,
with the rest, made the sum too crushing
for the skillfui 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
execution, and here, he sat in his lone,
comfortless, whitewasned cell, and his
head bowed on his hands. Can moth
| ing be done2 Must ] die thus, poor mis-
erable dog that l am? Will Omnipo-
tence allow an innocent man to perish2
Out upon such God as thatH And
the poor fellow struck wildly at his pris-
on-house, groaning SO deeply that ne
aroused the attention Of the turnkey,
who was passing the cell. The iron door
swung back on its creaEing hinges and
the stalwart form of the keeper appeared
before him.
Come, come, Fletcher, less noise
here; be mani You amt the first man
that's had to swing-not by long shot
You won't get much sympathy here if
you are like nursing infant, l can tell
you. Die game, Fletcher; die game.
But am innocent, | tell you, you
old wretch; as innocent of the crime as
my little girl baby at home. Oh, my
God my wife-my children"
"0h, shut up; here's your old woman,
now. ~ ~
The hardened turnkey waited a minute
to witness the meeting Of this suffering
couple, and then with maddened curses
withdrew. But the condemned man and
his loving, faithful wife took no notice
of his departure, but clasped in each
others arms, awaited for calmnesS to
speak.
'"Oh, Sarahp'
Oh, Lloyd God have mercy on us
all, my husband and now listen. Lie
down here-place your head on my lap;
| have something to tell you"
Tell me, Sarah, did they seach you
this time2" he asked, grasping her
hands.
"Yes, lloyd, and they found nothing.
/ repented my rash promises to you be-
fore | reached home. Come what may,
suicide must not be your, fate. But lis
ten-you see that am comparatively
happy-and let me tell you what has
produced this change--a sweet little
dream in which / saw you and our dsr-
lings all together, comfortable and
"0s, Sarah, talk not of dreams to a
doomed man like me; perhaps we may
be happy in another existence; but no,
that cannot be-for surely God will not
allow an innocent man TO die the death
of the guilty. Oh, no. Sarah, oh. mol "
Keep up your courage, my dear hus-
band. A certain strange, mysterious
something assures me that all will yet
be well; how or in what manner heaven
only knows.
"I wish I could see it--I wish could
feel it, Sarah; do not mislead me with
false hopes. Oh, my God, if there could
only be found way to escape from this
iguominious death
Come, madam, times up, and the
turnkey made his appearance. Hate
to disturb such a pair of cooling doves,
but orders are orders, ma am, and must
be obeyed. Always obey orders if you
90 10
your husband to stop his sniveling. |
A lark what tell you, ma am, you II be
loo King for another husband in three
months time" continued the wretch, as
he walked out by her side.
Sarah hurried through the corridor,
opdeayoring to hear as little as possible |
&c the brutes conversation, and reached |
her home aud children, there to hope |
and nraY. The hours sped on, and it |
iaoked one day more for the execution.
r Ietcher had given up all hope OF re,
,-;eve and listened to the building OF
he acafold with a solemn feeling born
of despair.
I've brought another gal to see you
this time, Fletcher. It's very probable
she won't be 20 agreeable-like as tother
one. but will do IS much good, l reckon.
Al woman in black stood before the bed
on which Fletcher recliDed. He rscog-
nized Mrs. Lancaster. the wife Of the
murdered man.
"Ah. this does me good. said she,
taking a step nearer and shaking her
cleuehed fist in his face. at does not
nav to take fellow creatures life. does
IN Don't you speak to me, you villain
don't dare TO open your mouth.
came here 10 gloat over your misery,
and see how the prospect Of leaving
your wife and babies affected you. on,
YOU tremblei / have found the tender
chord. Ny husbands wife and children
were nothing-Oh, mol Wretch VILLAIN