Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-08-28

/ =
| horses and cattle for more than two years
past, and tried to put it all on the Indians
You have murdered rcen, and this here
traveller would never have seen daylight
again if we hadn't come in. You got the
Jew from Santa Fe into your shanty, and
robbed and killed him.
No, captain burst out Joe Il bar
| that don't deny the hosses, nor the cat
tie and 1 may hev killed man or two
so may Phil but never touched the Jew,
nor killed a man in my own shanty and
way safe man. Then turning to me, be
said you don't believe I meant killing
of you, stranger ?
L do not p said very emphatically, for
| meant it.
We'll, there's enough agin you without
that said the spokesman {; though we
know you amt so bad as Phil You've
been warned to go time after time
Not regular warned, captain argued
Joe and now we are going
No, you amt, you bet said the cap
tain, with a meaning smile, which ran re-
sponsIvely through his band no, you
amt. Your time has come but you shall
have n fair trial from the Vigilantes here
assembled, and what their judgment is you
must abide by
In an instant a sort of fOrmality was
given to the assembly, the ca tain and an
other being the centre Of sem;-circle,
while opposite to them were the two pri-
sOners, guarded by four men. l suppose
there must have been some seventeen or
eighteen of the Vigilantes altogether. With
a rapidity that almost stunned me the trial
began and concluded: The prisone-s offer
ed no particular defense, they seemed con-
scious of its inutility, and the evidence
against them was chiefly accusation-h"t
it sufficed. When the captain asked the
verdict, there was unanimous reply of
guilty > and he addressed the culprits
thus 'Say-Joe Blakey and Phil Maril,
you hev heard the evidence in this honora-
BILE committee Of Vigilantes, and the YER
dict of guilty. We therefore intend to
string you up, and we mean to clear the
country of all thieves right away. You
have ten minutes allowed you to leave any
message you wish
The apathy of the two men was eXtraor-
dinary Phil only scowled AZ the speaker,
while Joe absolutely turned to his nearest
guard and asked him for chew : and the
guard, pulling cake of tobacco from his
breast, handed it to Joe, who broke piece
off and began masticatlng it with apparent
relish. Just then L caught his eye, and
thought it was fixed on me with such a
hopeless yet appealing look that | could
hesitate no longer. With an energy which
surprised myself / broke out into an ap-
peal for the lives of the condemned, ex-
planning how had been received by them
and given the best they had, and how Joe
had helped me to find my horse in the day.
Il will be security concluded, that they
.eave the neighbOrhoOd. l bear letters
from good houses in New York to several
persons in this vicinity, some of whom may
be known to you, and which will prove
can bear out my Offer l drew my letters
from my pocket, ami read the addresses :
Capt. Hiram Danks, Major Julius Blum
per, Sheriff Gollopy, Col. Vanwoort, Capt.
IIumpus-'
That's me-, said a rough-loOlzins man.
Give it here
lie wasn't much after my idea OF cap
tain, but, as it could do no harm, L gave
him the letter. He read it and handed it
to the captain, leader of the band, who
read it also.
latter but the Vigilantes out here dop't
vally New Workers, and don't work &C.
cording to New York laws
Nor they don't want no New York no.
ney,' said voice from the rear.
An asserting murmur endorsed this se!tl-
ment, and l felt things were looking vry
black for my hosts. They were evidetly
of the same opinion, for Joe smiled sally
and said IL amt of no use, squire, were
Just as much obliged, though. wouldn't
say no more, or you'll maybe get into tru-
bic yourself. If things is ready, I'm ra-
dy,' he continued, turning to the leadr.
well, we shan't keep you awaiting
long, Joe Blakey,' responded the latter II
hear the young men a-coming back thy
have been choosing Il tree
With horror / exclaimed Il neVr
dreamt of such cold-blooded work as thj
Look here, captain the only reason 1
don't offer money is because | believ /
should do more harm than good by it ht
if you hang these men you will send he
away with the feeling that / have thir
blood on my head, for they expected yur
visit and l believe that but for my pc
sence they would have made their esc0e
tonight. If you won't listen to anything
else you might think of that
Twas pleased to see that my words mde
some impression, for instead of answerig
me in his calm, cruel style, the captain
turned to his gang, and low, but earnst
discussion took place. At least he turnd
round. and in very stern voice, quite df-