The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-08-12

'tEOuIiu tile SouAV iSVinj ''Atse 'Atse - :" SASs'' w
voice, answered:
q have! Circumstantial evidence
has condemned me! l admit it look:
as If | did the deed, but / am guilt
lessof murder! -Droppingmy percus
sion cap box in a mountain stream
I returned home for more; for with
out caps my gun was useless. Ii va:
a lovely night, and I determined te
enter the house by myroom window
get caps, and return withoutawaken'
ing my uncle. l tied my horse tc
the fence, sprang into the window
and then heard i loud crash, a call
and Shrek in the direction of my
unclc's room. | rushed thither-a
dark form dashed by me in the nn'
certain light Of the room-and | fell
oversomething uponthe floor. With
fear in my heart, l arose, lighted 4
candle, and saw my uncle's body GOV.
cred with blood, gold scattered upon
the floor, and my own knife, which
had done the deed, living near. ]
picked up the knife; and thus was ]
found by the negro, and seen by the
peddler. As God is my witness,
did not murder the good old man who
has protected me throughout life, and
whom I loved as though he was my
own father! am guiltless of the
deed, but submit to my fate"
A silence fell upon all;,there were
however; but few who, belicved'th
. s l:tssei
vas Mr.. Dewes and 'his family, who
though all, ,'emained staunch friends
Frank Mercer was to be hung, tc
die an ignominious death on the gal
lows, and hundreds flocked to the lit
tie town where the execution was to
take place, to $50 him die. How were
they disappointed to find that the
night before he had escaped! How,
no one knew, but he had left note
addressed to the gaoler, thanking
him for the kindness shown him
while he was in his charge, and his
regrets that his escape might cause
him trouble, but saying he had had
an opportunity of escaping. and took
advantage of it, for he had no idea Of
dying an isnominious death for an
act he was not guilty of, merely tc
crafty the curiosity q 4 gaping
crowd. Freedom was offered him,
and he accepted it, and hoped he
would yet be able to prove his limo
ccnce.
This was about the subject Of the
letter, and when it Was published in
the local paper, there were some who
were glad that the boy had escaped
the gallows.
Mr., Mcrcer's property was, in his
will, all left to Frank, and it was
found to be considerable. Trustees
assumed charge of it, and before long
the quiet community had settled
down to its usual routine, and the
murder and escape were almost for
gotten.
Ten years passed away, and nc
word of the fugitive had been heard
and people believed him dead. Ono
exception was Mary Dewes, now
grown to womanhood. She had new
er believed him dead, and through
her life had treasured Franks image
in her inmost heart, the mystery that
hung around him but adding strength
to her regard. Her sisters had mar
ried, her mother was dead, and to
gether with her father, they lived al
the old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dcwes to Ha
vana, he took Mary with him, anc
they set sail from Charleston in fine
ship running South. Theyhad beer
some days at sea, when in the deac
Of night the fearful cry of "Fire!'
aroused all from slumber. The shiI
was on FIRE, and in vain were effort:
made to quench theIaames. Thesea
mem in fright rushed into the only
available boat; and itsank with them
and left them struggling in the ocear
borne away by the wind and waves
while Mr.. Dewes and Mary, the cap
tain of the ship and a few Others
were huddled away upon the stern
awaiting the doom that must over
take them.
,Ie,1-l ",