Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-05
HANGED By A DREAM.
By l.. D.

BY l.. D.
was staying for short time in Medina
county, Ohio, when the following occurred ::
\ hoy, living in s. Centre with his parents,
was "bound out TO: q year to a MIR. Evans, at
Medina, the county seat His work was to
chop and saw wood and run errands. AS the
boy was perfectly honest and not afraid OF
work, he soon gained the goodwill of his EN-.
player, who, when the year was out, made him
a present, in addition to his wages. OF fine copy
Of Robinson Crusoe' The boy had been
kindly treated during his term, and this, with
the addition of the present, had gained his
employers esteem. The boy wished to stay
another year, but his parents had need OF
him at home, and so he returned.
About three months after he visited his old
employer. He remained day or two, and du:-
ing that time ''struck up an acquaintance with
a man who had succeeded hlm 10 the Old mer1
chants service. Now, as all boys are social
and wish for company, it is not surprising that
he went with the hired man good deal. At
night he was allowed to sleep With hun, yet
the man always viewed the boy with dislike.
MIR. Evans extended him a cordial invitation
to come again, and once more the boy returned
home. Not a week had passed when one
morning the boy, coming down from his room
,ale and embarrassed, asked for horse to
uroceed at once to Medina. Such request
was not common, and the parents by close ques-
toning succeeded 10 elicting the following story:
"Whcn went to bed last night. | som got
to sleep. don't believe slept over an hour when
something awoke me- Lay there thinking aud
thinking and then turned over to go to sleep. All
at once felt us if sword had been stuck through
cd from the bed. 1t seemed rather curious,
50 | cast glance toward the bed and saw that
somebody was there to all appearances sleeping
soundly. =,
The mother then interrupted, saying, u
ruc,s you ate too much for supper and had the
nightmare.
The boy made no reply except to proceed
with his story. II tried to feel the body in
the bed, but by some invisible agency | was
whrled out of the window, and with terrific
spccd was carried toward Medina How 1t was
done know not yet am as sure | was ab-
sent from this house last night in spirit OR body,
ms am that l am now living. Passing over the
fields, noted every house and farm until Me
dua was in sight Faster than the wind |
went, until | was looking into the chamber VIII
dow of Mr. Evans. He was sleeping with bis
wife, calmly and peacefully. | looked toward
the door 1t creaked on its hinges, opened,
and three men entered softly. One OF them
was the hired man. The others | know not,
yet could recognize them amoug a thousand.
One was halt: breed, and the other apparent
lya Scotchman.
THE hired man opened drawer 10 the stand,
and took from it the old man $ own razor. lie
went to the bed, and with it cut the old man
throat from ear to ear as calmly as IT he was
huchcring cow. The hot blood spurted forth;
the old man gave but one groan, and be was
dead. The blood fell upon the face of his
wife. 1t awokc her. There, in the moonlight
she saw her husbands murderer-his hands
dripping with blood Then she turned
toward the murderer. She seemed cndow-
ed with the strength of giant. Snatch
ing the razor from the bed where it had fall
en-, she sprung like tgress upon the murder
er. He shook her off, Then, with one super
human effort, she drove the razor deep into the
breast Of the one who stood nearest. 1t ". 8
the half breed The other two seemed transfx-
cd with horror; but the Scotchman, recovering
hlrlselt,sezcd Ratchet which he had brought,
AND literally hacked Mrs. Evans into pieces.
packets Of Mr.. Evans and raising the mattress
took from under it a package oil bills round which
was wrapped a small piece Of writing paper. l
saw no more [ was conducted back to y
Centre and awokc from sound Sleep 1t was
morning"
When the boy began his story the parents
n1Iculcd him, but his earnestness and the know
ledge Of his integrity had convinced them that
there was something in it. !"
So, according to his repeated requests, he was
aIoWdcd to 60 to Medina. He arrived at noon
and found that Mrs and Mr.. Evans had been
murdered; that one of the murderers had been
Killed by Mrs Evans, and that the police were
on the track Of the hired man who had not been
seen since the murder.
The boy remounted and started home, and
when the news came that the murderers had
been captured he went up to Medina ard sat's-
lied huself that they were really the murder
Crs.
The trial came off, Sias Ketchum, the hired
man, pleaded not guilty, and SO also did his
comrade. The prosecuting attorney had heard
the boys story and began an address in which
he described everything as the boy had related.
When he came to the part where the ScotchmapD
Killed Mrs. Evans, the prisoner started up and
cried out:
oh, God Silas we relost some one has seen
U.s. (To the judge): will confess What MIR.
" N-says is Gospel truth; we did kill them.
'aay God have mercy upon us. -
The two were sentenced to death, and hang
cd soon after, for justice was sure and speedy
III that time in 0hio