Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-10-28

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tablishing the non-jurisdiction of Il
court, and locating the crime in Canad
The criminal, for such everybody no
believed him to be, was therefore set
liberty, when he was threatened wit
violence il he did not leave the countr,
He refused, saying that he was innocei
and would not stir until he was Wind
Gated.
Whilo movement wns being orga,
lied to put The threats into execution, a
officer arrived from Canada with q requis
ton, and he was taken across the liz,
for trial
The trial was among the most remark
able ever held in Canada. The ables
counsel both Of Canada and Now Yor
were engaged for the prisoner, and b.
postponing the trial for nearly year
spiriting away some of the most import
ant witnesses of the prosecution, an,
other ingenious but questionable da
vices, they succeeded in producing
disagreement in one jury, and finall,
brought about an acquittal, after eight
cen months of imprisonment.
The community felt greatly outraget
by the result, and the press teemed will
dcnunciations of those who thus con
spired to cheat justice. His own coun
sci, wishing to repair MS much as posi-
BILE the wrong they supposed they hat
done society by rescuinga criminal from
just fate, advised him to fee the coun
try, and under another name strive by &
better life to repay society for its toler
ance in suffering him to live.
All such advice the wretched man un
needed and returned to his old home,
declaring his purpose to remain there
until the cloud was lifted from his for.
mer good name. But though saved from
the gallows, he did not escape punish.
ment. The brand of Cain was upon
him. Everybody believed him guilty,
his old friends and neighbors avoided
him, he was pointed out as murderer,
aud his supposed crime was even hooted
in his ears many times as he passed
through the crowds in the public
streets.
Thus the unhappy man passed eleven
years of his life, submitting quietly and
meekly to the aspersions cast upon him,
and waiting patiently for his vindica.
tion. His loss of character had brought
with it loss of property; business men
stunned him, the better avenues of
trade and enterprise were closed against
him, and he became reduced almost to
beggary. But amid all these misfor-
tunes he was still hopeful.
Thus matters stood till the early part
of October, 1867, when man clothed in
the garb of a sailor made his appearance
in the village of Plattsburg, and in
quired for Captain John Weatherwax.
The latter was just then entering the
post-office, where considerable crowd
had collected waiting the distribution
of the mail, and was pointed out to the
stranger. He made his way
toward him, laid his hand familiarly
upon his shoulder, and exclaimed
" How are you, John9"
John looked at him a moment in be.
gave suppressed scream,
and rol,1iod
"Great Heaven has it come at
last o.
Turning to the crowd in the post
office, which had by this time become in
terested, he said i:
Gentlemen, my vindication has at
last come. For eleven years I have
borne your reproaches in silence, hop
ing and praying for this hour. This is
my cousin Andrew, for whose murder
nave suffered punishment many times
worse than death.
The men stared at each other and at
;he sailor, stupefied with wonder. An
lrew was equally perplexed, for the ac-
ions of both parties were to him incom-
For short time there was disposi-
lion to regard the new conner as an I'M
,ostor who had been brought forward to
'elieve Captain Weatherwax of the dis
yrace that had attached to him but his
IDENTIFY was soon established beyond
question, and the interest in the case
thousands coming from all
PARTS of the State to sec the man who
lad apparently risen from the dead.
The account which Andrew gave of
himself was that he left the boat on that
'ventful evening, after the quarrel, wan
Tered into a rum shop short distance
rom the landing, became engaged in a
light and was arrested. In the morning
le was brought before magistrate and
lned, but having no money, and being
till angry with his cousin, he would
lot 60 to him for aid, and was on the
'oint of being taken to Jail, when
tranger in the audience came forward
nd offered to pay his fine if he would
ngage to sail with him, his vessel then
wing at Montreal. He consented, and
he next day they sailed for China; and
or eleven years he had followed the
co and never once communicated with
is relatives. He now heard for the
rst time what one of them had suffered
n his account.
The matter of the blood, and his hat,
'hich, it will be remembered, was
ound on the deck, he explained by
tating that he had had the nosebleed
uring the day, and that. some of the
lood had probably fallen on the deck;
be hat he tossed upon the deck when
o decided to go ont in the evening,
aking better one in it's stead.
The Identification of the body found,
he quarrel, the blow, and the voice of
veatherwax heard during the alterca-
ion, are mysteries never explained.
'erjury can hardly be alleged, but there
'as certainly criminal looseness in judg-
lent which imbittered the best years Of
n innocent mans life, and nearly sent
i'm to an untimely and dishonored
rave.
1t is hardly necessary to say that there
'as complete revolution in feeling to-
'ard Mr.. Weatherwax. Every one
eemed anxious to compensate by kind
ess and patronage for the wrongs SO
1nocently inflicted before. This was
OF unappreciated. Business prospered,
nd three years ago both Andrew and
ohm G.. Weatherwax we're among the
lost contented citizens of Clinton coun.
=, New York.