The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-08-14

compelled to seek the North, and had
fixed temporary abode in one OF the
pleasant villages of an Eastern State.
Among the few acquaintance l formed
was that OF an eminent judge, who was
at that time presiding Mt the trial OF a
wretch committed for arson and muir
der. He was particularly noticeable,
commanding III persona deep, rich
voice, q fine dark eye, and hair sprinkled
with silver. He lived in elegant style
as l can attest, at his place called Man
grove Hall, without n wife, and child
less. His card read, Poinset Telfair.
AT the breakfast table, the last day
of the exciting trial, l was agreeably
surprised to recognize my old friend
Lavender. He had just arrived, in quest
OF tarrying-place for the season: Cir
cumstances at once determined him to
remain with me. The pending case at
the courthouse, in which l had become
much interested, was the topic OF dis
course, and Lavender was induced to
be present with me at its conclusion.
GAS we seated ourselves among the
eager spectators, Judge Telfair passed
in with elastic step, an air of calm dig
nifty, admirable in ripe manhood, Law
ender whispered enthusiastically
What lord (!
"The case was given to the jurors
and they had returned, giving as their
verdict murder in the first degree !!
The prisoner will stand!' said the
Judge. 1T is a solemn charge, the
sentence of death None should re-
ceive it but the atrociously guilty. Just
and righteous laws have been enacted
to prevent convicted felons even from
inequitable decisions. The benefit of
these laws has been your claim and
privilege. Weary days have been con-
sumed in this unwelcome duty of find
ing you beyond the mercy of man, and
now it is incumbent upon me to make
this finding fearfully exacting. Before
l pronounce the dread sentence, let me
urge your most serious attention to the
awful fate that awaits you and for what
crime? In the dead of night, when in
nocence sleeps and none but the plot
ter of evil seeks work, you entered q
harmless household and sent an I'M
suspecting soul swiftly to the judg-
ment, applying the torch to cover the
|
fore an offended Deity, with stains of
blood so deep that none but Almighty
God can wash them out. Let your time
be improved in reconciliation with that
Being you have so desperately Knocked 7
San awful stiffness shut down upon
that crowded room. Yet upon the face
of the prisoner was villainous sneer,
and struggling in his eyes were the
blacklist passions | ever saw flashed
upon man. His teeth were firmly set
and his hands griped the rails so hard
that his very nails were dark with his
base blood.
" But the sentence!
Z" You, Philip Wing, will be taken to
the prison, and on Friday the seventh
day of September, between the hours
of eight and twelve, will be hung by
the neck until you are dead, and may
God have mercy on your soul !
Go And may He condemn yours J
screamed the wretch, pointing his
finger directly at the Judge. 'Ay,
yours, Frank Lavender Do you re-
member Dick Perry, now? Ha Ia a
murderer for Judge !!
Through the athletic frame of the
Judge a violent tremor was discernible.
Falling heavily over in his velvet chair,
his arm hung listlessly, and his face
grew black. 'At last! he grasped,
while a purple stream gushed from
nostril and mouth.
"Gone first! again yelled the pris.
oner, still standing with outstretched
hand and demons grin upon his livid
features. And dead first. Ha ha !!
BESIDE the dead Judge there was
another carried from that room insen-
sible. 1t was the son, the inheritor OF
the Judges wealth and of Mangrove
Hall I"
Shadows were creeping down Anem-
one Vale as my friend finished the
manuscript.
81 have no doubt r. S. is the uncle
of the weird sisters of the Redwood
mansion" he added. There is dilapi-
dated headstone in st. Johns church
yard bearing this inscription: erich
ard Stepley, obit October 10, 1871,
while recruiting his health at st.
Thomas, West Indies, etat thirty-eight