Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-07-22

Parsons, strained his eyes IN vain towaiu
Sandusky and JohnsOn'i Island. cruising
up and down outside the bay, now urg
inc his men 10 dare all and make the at
tack alone But the men, a disOrlcrly
rabblc gathered together in Canada. re.
fused to enter the bay; and at last, di+.
appointed and dishearlensd. Beall gave
the signal TO turn the boat and abandon
ed the attempt. Back went the Parsons,
with her pirate crew, past Kelley's Is
land, where tie alarmed Inhabitants
were burying their valnables and looking
for the flames of burning Ssndusky; past
Middle Bass, where the unfortunate pas
sengers, watching on the beach shortly
after midnight, saw her 1y by. the fire
pouring out of her smoke stacks, and
making for Detroit River like scared
pickerel The captain and those who
had been retained To manage the boat
were pnt ashore on an uninhabited H.
land. and after reaching the Canadian
shore and scuttlins the steamer. the pi
rates dispanded, and Beal, the master
spirit. was left TO brood over failure
that had the additional bitterness of pos
sible success.
In less than four months Beall was cap
tured near the Suspension Bridge. and
taken to New York. - An attempt to
bride the turnkey with three thousand
dollars in gold having been discoved,
the authorities sent him 10 Fort Lafayette,
aud while there there he made an appeal
TO the bar of New York to undertake his
defence. For time no one responded,
bat at length Mr.. James I. Brady offer.
ed his services, and the trial began before
a military court. Beall was charged
with the seizure OF The steamer Philo
Parsons at Kelley's Island. Lake Erie
with the seizure of the steamer Island
Queen at Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie
with being rebel spy in Ohio and New
York and with an attempt to throw the
express car off the tack between Buifa'
10 and Dunkirk for the purpose OF rob
bing the express companys safe. The
officers OF the captured steamers came
from the West to identity BIN, and it Is
said that Beall frankly confirmed their
testimony, remarking that as regarded
the lake affair the trial had been fair and
impartial. In the defence a manifesto
from jefferson Davis was offered. assert.
ing that these acts upon the border were
committed by his authority, and should
be recognized rs the acts of lawful bel
ligerents. Blu, the court pronounced The
verdict OF Guilty" and Gen. Dix ap
proved the finding. ordering the prisoner
To be hung on Governors Island. Satur.
day. the 18th OF February. In review
ing the testimony. Gen. Dix 81 id: The
accused is shown 10 be a man OF educa-
lion aud refinement, and it is difficult to
account for his agency in transactions
- abhorrent 10 the moral sense, and so
inconsistent with all rules OF honorable
warfare" In this opinion all just mind
ed people will agree. And yet rs an ex
ample of judgment mistaken but equally
sincere. take the farewell letter Of Beall
to his brother. written on the eve OF he
day appointed for his execution:
e. Remember me kindly 10 my
friends. Say 10 them that am not
C,cdrc Of commit ing any crime against
society. | die Tor my country. No
thirst tor blood or lucre animated me in
NY course. Ny hands are clean OF
blood unless spilled in conflict, and not
q cent enriched my pocket. Ven
TcanCe il mine. saith the Lord. and | VIII
repay. Therefore do not show unkind
ness 10 the prisoners; they are helpless.
"JoHN YATES BEALL."
\ short respite was afterwards granted
by President Lincoln to enable the moth
er 10 see her son; but on the afternoon OF
the oath OF February the execution took
place on Governors Island, New York
lIarbor. the prisoner responding to the
prayers of the Episcopal service for the
dying, but otherwise remaining apparent
ly unmoved. One Hem in the newspa-
per accounts OF the day is worthy of note.
During the whole the long proceed
iugs. the young man KEEP, his eyes stead
Easily fixed upon the southern horizon. rs
il looking toward the very heat of the
country for which he was giving up his
life.
Beall was finely formed. about five
feet eight inches in height, with hazel
eyes. brown hair aud beard. and firmly
compressed mouth He was thirly.two
years old at the time OF his death Har-