Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-10-22

4
kof-that is to say, /, John Wray, {
Criticized Friars-shambled up two flight
OF narrow stairs and entered a little dock
on the further side of which stood
warder, with a baton while in front, som
way Off, was seated portly, imposing pei
sonage at high desk, and, surrounding
him, a group of officials, among WHOM
were my friends, the coast guard sailo
and the policeman.
$500, Raschkoffi charged with max
ing his escape, resisting the police, inso
lence to the gate-keeper, and giving tn
assistant surgeon unnecessary trouble"
All this the aforesaid portly gentleman
read aloud, and then, without waiting tt
hear me plead, called upon my captors t
! give their story.
This has already been told. 1t was
little embellished, no doubt, to glorifl
their courage. Next came Dunkley tn,
father of seven children, whom /, in M
character of Raschkof, was about to roll
of their bread. Dunkley was about t(
plunge into details of the daring manner
in which | had eluded his observation
when all at once his face fell.
| Here at last" [ SAID, is some one who
knows am not Raschkoff.n
| Go on, Mr.. Dunkley, go on" said the
| Governor. But Dunkley could not go on
Already, with self-interest quickening his
| intellect it had dawned upon him thai
| they had caught the wrong man, that
| Raschkoff was still at large, and that
therefore, the seven miniature Dunkleys
| were far from secure from want.
saw my opportunity.
"I wish to observe"
"Silencel"
81 wish to Observe" again.
Silence!' again, and more perempto-
rily.1
~ ao5N speak," I said, growing reso-
lutte. "I wish to observe that my name is
John Wray,. of Criticized Friars."
AT which announcement the little court
was Immediately convulsed with laugh
Evter. identity the joke of my alleged
mistaken identity was considered highly
amusing.
81 repeat, my name is Wray, and not
Raschkotf."
The Governor for the moment looked as
if he would eat me, and his myrmidons
were little less aghast at my persistent in
science.
But Dunkley at last found his tongue
"He's right, sir! He's not Raschkoff at
ALL"
"Not Raschkoffr' from the Governor,
who felt himself still one short of his total
number.
"Not Raschkoff!" from the policeman,
who felt himself fool, and five pounds
poorer.
"Not Raschkoffr' from the pious gate
keeper, from the first warder to the second,
to the third, and so on along the scale, and
all in turn expressed their surprise. But
there was no doubt about it; Dunkley was
positive; and other officers corroborated
his statement. There were plenty now
who knew the real Raschkoff by sight;
wardens with whom he had been in
daily contact, and who saw at once that
/ was quite different man. 1t was my
misfortune that, on the previous evening,
none of these had been on duty but
in prison containing nearly two thou
sand felons the mistake was more than
possible.
At last the Governor spoke, and angrily:
cob! but this is too absurd. What
were you about, all of you? It's disgrace
full! And you, sir!''-this to me-" how
dare you come here to insult us and make
us look like fools?"
One might have thought that / had
been guilty of breaking into the prison by
force, and that had insisted they should
keep me there for the rest of my life.
"But let me tell you, STRIP he went on,
that there is such a thing as connivance,
and that it is felony to assist convict to
escape, and that before you are many
hours older you will be by the heels in
Dorchester Jail, for trial at the next assize."
And let me tell you, STRIP replied
holly in my turn, "that there is such
thing as action for false Imprisonment,
and that if you do not instantly set me
free, if there is any law in the land, be-
fore you are many months older, you will
be cast in heavy damages in the Court OF
Queens Bench"
Nonsense, sir! I insist on hearing
your explanation"
My explanation as if hadn't wanted
to give it these twelve hours past!
Then in few hurried words told him
the whole story.
"But can this be corroborated? Have
you anyone within reach to speak to your
IDENTIFY"
"There is the innkeeper at Lulworth,
and others there. Or stay; telegraph to
my firm, Stokes, Wray & Co., of Criticized
Friars"
"Will one of the partners come down ?"
eyes, no doubt, if it is urgent"
ut is urgent. / am sorry to appear
discourteous or to disbelieve your story;
all l ask is that you will remain here"
I'm prison ?"
BY no means; in my house, as my
guest said the Governor, with bow OF
a finished courtier "All ask is to be
quite convinced. | trust you will under
stand that 1 am bound in my serious and
II Ia folZ
granted
And my clothes?"
81 dare say we can fit you out, said
the Governor, with slight smile. " we
keep a large stock of readymade clothes
no, not convicts', but Experimentation
prisoners on discharge. Step into my
private room and you shall make the
change at once"
In half an hour I was at breakfast, and
at the right side of the gates with my host.
"Our Mr.. Stokes" arrived that evening
by five, with full proof of my identity;
the Governor was satisfied; and | left
Portland gladly enough within half an
hour afterward Mr. Stokes went back to
town at oDce, but got out at Wool, in
tending to walk to the inn. Strangely
enough there was wye, who had taken me
and my luggage In his cart from the sta
ton at my first arrival three weeks before.
/ hailed him. He evidently did not rec
ognize me in the least.
g No wonder you don't know me-" /
said. g A nice time I've been having of
if these last four and-twenty hours"
NV voice alone seemed to bring back
CLEAN of intelligence into his face. Slow
" his eyes opened wide, and his lower
jaw dropped.
Surely" he said, 81 saw you a-goin'
away last night quite late with the two
ladies. They sends down to the Cove and
orders cab just afore ten-says they are
OBLIGED to 90 unexnected. and must catch