Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-07-12
HANGED BY A DREAM.
Detected Of a Crime by a Boys Dream
Wonderful If Trus.


1 was staying fol short time 10
occurred boy, living in g. Centre
with his parents, was "bound out" for
year 10 II Mr.. Evans, at Medina, the
county seat. His work was 10 chop aud
saw wood and run errands. AS the boy
was perfectly honest and not afraid Of
work, he soon gained the goodwill of
his employer, who, when the year was
out, made him present, In addition to
his wages, of fne copy of "RobinsOn
Crusoe." The boy had been kindly
treated during his term, and this, with
the addition of the present, gained his
employer bis esteem. The boy wished to
stay another year, but his parents had
need of him at home, and 80 he returned.
About three months after he visited hia
old employer. lie remained day or
Two, and during that time "struck up'
an acquaintance with a man who had
succeeded him In the old merchants ser
vice. Now, as all boys are soci Il and
wish for company, 1t is not surprising
that be went with the hired man u good
deal. At night be was allowed to sleep
with him, yet the man always viewed
the boy with dislike.
Mr.. Evans extended him a cordial iu-
viaton to come again, aud once more
the boy returned home. Not week had
passed when one morning the boy, com
ing down from his room, pale and EN-
barrassed, a -ked for a horse to proceed
nj once to Medina. Such request was
not common, and the parents by close
questioning succeeded in eliciting the fol-
lowing story; "When went to bed last |
night, oon got to sleep. don't be-
lieve | slept over an hour when some. |
thing awoke me. / lay there thinking |
and thinking, and then turned over TO 20 |
to sleep. All at once felt as IL a sword |
had been stuck through me, and immedi- |
ately jGmped or rather loated from the
bed. 1t seemed rather curious, so l cast
glance toward the bel and saw that
somebody was there, to all appearances
sleeping soundly.
The mother then Interrupted, saying,
60 guess you ate too much supper and
had the nightmare"
The boy made no reply except to pro-
coed with his story. d" tried to feel the
body in the bed, but by some Invisible
agency was whirlod out of the window,
and with terrific speed was hurried to-
ward Medina. How II was done | know
net yet am as sure ! was absent from
this house last night in spirit or body as
am that | row live. Passing over the
fields, noted every house and farm until
Medina was in sight. Fas er than the
wind ! went, until was looking into the
chamber window OF Mr.. Evans. lie was
sleeping with his wife crlmly and peace
fully. ! looked toward the door. II
creaked on its hinges, opened and thr,c
men entered softly. One Of them WIS
the hired man. TIE others know not,
yet could recognize III, m among a thou
.IN 4 a
other apparently ScOtchnau.
The hired man opened a drawer in the
stand, and took from Ii the old mans
swn razor. lie went to the bed, and
with il cut the old mans throat from ear
to ear rs calmly as If he was butcherlng
,, COW. The hot blood spurted forth !;
the old man gave but one grOan, and he
, was dead. The blood fell upon the face
, of his wife. II awoke her. There, in
the moonlight, she saw her husbands
murderer-his hands dripping with blood.
4 Then she turned toward the murderer.
She seemed endowed with the strength oil
I, a giant. Snatching the razor from the
/ bed where il had fallen, she sprung like
. a tigress upon the murderer. He shook
+ her oil. Then. with one superhumau
y. effort, she drove the razor deep into the
J., breast of the one who stood nearest. II
was the hslf-bre d. The other two
- seemed traustlxed with horror but th'
4 Scotchman, recovering himself, seized d
I, hatchet which he had brought, and liter
"a ally hacked Mrs. Evans into pieces. Thei
"a dcvilish work being done, they r!iled thu
IL pockets of Mr.. Evans, and raising tn
N mattress, took from under il a paokag
-, OF bills. round which was wrapped {
,g small piece of writing paper. | saw NJ
Z, more. | was conducted back to s.
,d Centre, and awoke from a sound sleep
lt was morning."
~ When the hoy hegan his story tn
,a parents riiiculed him, hut his esrne
IN ness and the knowledge of his integrit.
~ had convinced them that there wa
something in ii"
or So, according 10 his repeated request
-, he was allowed to Wv to Medina. lie al
"a rived at noon and found that Mrs. an
!, " MIR. Evans had been murdered that or
20 Of the murderers had been killed by Mr.
rr Evans, and that the police were on Il
.s track of the hired man who had M
,s been seen since the murder.
,,a The hoy remounted and started hOm
H. and when the news came that the ms
-, drrers had been captured he went up
'M Medina and satisfied himself that the
n. were really the murderers.
r.. The trial came oil, Silas ketchem, Il
nv hired man, pleaded not guilty, and
ar also did his eomrade. The prOsecutr
mo had heard the boys story and began s
,at address in which he described everythii
iSe rs the boy had related. When he came
pe tne purl wueIS 'lo ,,S ari
tai out;
,o va. "Oh, God silas we'relost-some o
to has seen us. (ro the judge) l Will &C
,,.e fcss. What Mr.--says is Gospel trut
,s 'iss we did kill them. May God have mel
,ey upon u.s."
~ The two were sentenced to death, a
~ hanged soon after, for Justice was 81
ore and speedy at that time in Ohio.-N
Daily Ne'1s.