The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-09


/ have an indistinct recollection OF
passing through shadowy corridors, up
and down steps, through narrow doors,
and over walls, and q clear idea OF sur.
roundings did not possess me until I
found that we were plodding through
the dust OF o country road, with no
sign OF human habitation before us,
and the town sinking out OF sight in
tho dim distance behind us. As /
looked at my companion, as We were
walking along, 1 felt as one fascinated
by one he knows to be villain.
We proceeded in silence for some
time, when Sangin called my attention
to riderless horse standing near the
fence at the right OF the road before us.
AS we approached, another object met
our eyes-a well-dressed man lay on the
ground before us, grooming with pnin.
In faint tone he told us that, seized
with vertigo, he had fallen from his
horse, and, being unable to rise, feared
that he had broken some bones. San.
gin directed me to sit down and sup.
port the gentleman's head upon my lap
while he made an examination. When
Ihad done this, he quickly took every.
thing which the wounded man had upon
his person, including a costly watch and
o plethoric purse, and placed them in
his own pockets. While We were look
ing in astonishment at this bold pro-
ceeding, Sangin drew from his boot
long, murderous-looking knife, and
plunged it into tho bosom OF the help
less traveller =! The blood spirited into
my face, and my person seemed, almost
in twinkling, TO be deluged with gore.
Before could regain my feet, Sangin,
with the most unearthly yell 1 ever
heard, leaped upon the horse and dis
appeared. What n situation was here
-oh, cursed fate Completely lost in
n sea OF bewilderment, I cannot say how
long I might have stood looking alter.
nately atthe bloody corpse before me
and my equally bloody self, did not the
Gathering hoofs behind mo arouse me.
1 turned and saw n mob OF horsemen
bearing down in the direction where 1
stood. Leaving a fow to take charge
OF the unfortunate w9yfarer, the rest
turned in the direction whence they
came, first having secured me on one Of
the horses.
Fleet as the wind we pushed forward,
until n sort Of dizziness seized me, and
I felt as il I was being whirled through
some wild and awful dream, and yet
with Just enough consciousness TO know
that there was basis OF reality to it all.
All ut once we halted on the bank of
fire, which shot up a million forked
tongues OF lurid flame. A heavy black
cloud hung all around, and the mir was
dense with sulphurous odor A
dreadful mad.house noise resounded
in my ears, and I thought that here was
Tophet, and was TO be victim 10 the
insatiate Moloch. Amuffled bell tolled
one stroke like an echo from n tomb,
on my right, and, looking up, my eyes
met blaek-draped gallows which rear
ed Its hideous form into the air. No
time was allowed me to contemplate
this new feature, even had / been SO
inclined, for was instantly taken
charge Of by q pair Of hangmen and
placed on the scaffold. The rope was
placed around 10y neck, and the still.
ness which took the place Of tho walk
ing to and fro on the scafold, told me
that 1 stood there alone muttered a
prayer, but before n dozen syllables
were uttered, all that was substantial
beneath mo gave way, and I dropped
suddenly in a direct line downward !;
a piercing pain ran like q dagger
through my head; everything grew
dark and red, and purple and white, by
turns-until, after what seemed IN age
of agony, my feet touched something, a
momentary light flashed upon me, and,
in syncope, I lost all thought and
memory and feeling.
R
Amurmur Of voices crept upon my
ear, and slowly and gradually I re-
vived. I opened my eyes and found
myself in the company OF several
people, some OF whom were rubbing my
hands, others administering restora-
tives, and all, more or less, contribu-
ting to my restoration. As my senses
returned, i saw that l was in strange
room and sitting by n window. Out OF
that window I looked, and-great
heaven what q spectacle met my eyel
It was the yard OF prison, and pend
ant therein, from the cross-beam Of a
gallows, hung the lifeless body OF San
gin The sight at once recalled oil the
OF the past; but there was q
hiatus which was yet to be explained.
II was done so by u kind attendant,
who informed me that my fall at the
courthouse steps nearly deprived me
OF life, and did deprive me OF reason
that after brief Incarceration in my
cell II was thought best TO place me
under medication, aud I was removed
TO the hospital department OF the pris-
while there tho criminality OF
Sangin, tho author Of the murder for
which I had been condemned, was dis
covered through the appearance Of my
witness, some unguarded ex-
pressions Of Sangin himself during n
debauch in q neighboring village,
aud other circumstances which had
come to Light since my trial
that he was tried and condemned,
and made a confession, in which lie
stated that he had administered o MR.
cotic potion 10 me, pushed me under
the shed, and then after Waylaying Mr..
Elburne, and takinga large amount Of
money from his person, had placed the
watch and pistol on me, smeared me
with blood, and then escaped /; that he
gave poison TO o cabman Who was cog.
infant Of how and by whom I was
placed under the shed. The cabman
was my missing witness, and his re-
coyery from the drug, although be was
for somo time in q state oiinsensibility,
and nm iha vor0a M da0th waa tina