Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-03
NO. 4.


compliance can in no way damage you
ropes frequently break you know.
Promise me faithfully that you will do
what I have asked for, and you shall
receive $500 on the evening of the day
of execution,
The Sheriff wavered, "1Ihe request
You make is q singular one," he said
but as you say, the fact of the ropes
breaking cannot damage me. I am
awfully pushed for money"
"4ou have simply to weaken the
rope and allow Harold to descend to
the ground" interrupted Lawrence,
''and five hundred dollars will be
your reward-fve hundred dollars
paid you promptly when all is over"
I'm do it. Here's my hand; I
solemnly promise to do what you wish,
said the Sheriff
very we'll" said Lawrence, .sWhere
will the gallows be erected ? do you
know yet ?"
Near the northeast corner of the
court-yard-same place where Dun
kirk was hung fifteen years ago. We
will put it up there this time, bus
somewhat nearer the fence, so as to
obstruct the view from the roof of that
vacant house of McArdle's. That's
the only chance for sight"
'Just so. unused Charley. "Well, 1
must be going, I have An engagement"
And directing the landlord to replen-
ish the Sheriff glass he went out.
| When Harold Vincent was enligh-
tened by Charley as to what was to be
attempted in his behalf he was thun-
| derstruck.
"Your plan will faiR at the last, L
fear" he said, mournfully. Bright
ening up after a little, however. he
continued, "but I do wrong to dis
courage you, my brave friend. De.
pend upon it, that at the critical mo-
| ment shall not be slow to act. For
the sake of those near and dear to me.
rather than for my own, hope the
plan may succeed"
The two dread weeks interven ing be-
tween the day on which the doomed
| man had received his sentence and the
time appointed for his execution pass
ed rapidly away. The morning Of the
25th dawued clear and bright, but on
the hearts of hundreds in the peaceful
town of l. lay dark clouds of sor-
row at Harold Vincent's dreadful stu
alton. The soon-to-be executed SEN
tence of death was the subject of con-
versation at every breakfast table, and
sad-faced people gathered in knots on
the streets to discuss the awful scene
about to transpire.
Aside from the newspaper men of
the place, the town officials, and a
specially appointed police force, few
were admitted within the court yard
enclosure. At half past 10 Harold
Vincent was led to the scaffold.
He assembled the steps briskly and
took his place on the trap, where his
arms Were pinioned and his collar un-
buttoned and thrown back to facilitate
the cruel work of the moose that dan,
gled above him. The minister made
II touching prayer, bade the doomed
man farewell, and stepped baek.-Had
hf.G he was innocent. The Sheriff
nervously affixed the moose and drew
the awful cap over the shspely head of
the condemned. Then there was n
rafting of bolts, suppressed exola-
nation of horror, and Harold Vincent
shot Ike bullet out of sight in the
earth beneath the scaffold.
The crowd stood transfxed with
for more than a minute everybody ex-
ceptiug the Sheriff, who had tainted,
stood watching the mysterious hole in
IA6 uOb 1dIRcI UAdA Adu
body, through which Vincent had dis
y ciamor of voices and great activity
among the police.
Bring shovels-the prisoner has
fallen into a cave-he must be dug
out"
Shovels were brought and vigorously
used, ana the workmen soon found
newly-opened subterranean passage
which they tremulously followed for
quite distance, aud emerged into the
cellar of "McArdle's vacant house.
There they found lamp burning and,
scattered on the ground, "black cap.
some piacas of rope, among which was
a h2ngman's moose and couple of
sloveis. But they didn't find the
prisoner-no, the gallows had been
cheated of it's victim.
Search was made for Vincent, but
without success. AS there was no re
war; etfared for his recapture, and the
peculiar feeling being on his side, thsre
Was nut little dapger of his being re-
turn TO oonf4elAen'.
A month passed. away, and dying
man confessed to have been the muir
derer of Pollock. And then Harold
Vincent returned, and the names of
The authors of the escape were di
| vuleed, and Charley Lawrence and
Jack Hobby were the lions of the hour.
Saortly after shere was a double we'd
ding, and Harold married gentle Mary
Hobby, and Charley Lawrence became
| blessed IN the matrimonial possession
| of Nellie Vincent. Jack Hobby, Of
course, was present, and said to Har-
old after the knot was tied: Hope
you won't regret the step, old fellow;
remember there is no tunnshDg a man
out of matrImony J"
The Sheriff vas also present, and
laughngiy asked Charley Lawrence if
4e ha,i24t better bribe the minister to
1eak..n the matrimonial knot? The
affair passed of happily; and may the
parties live long 70 tell their children's
children. how they Cheated the gal
| lows"