The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-16
UUY HE WASN'T HANGED.

81 have served two terms as sheriff of
Usage county said the little man as he lit
a fresh cigar, and braced his feet against
the stove as If about to delight with
story.
Ibid you ever hang anybody?' was the
natural inquiry that was quickly propound-
ed to the sheriff.
NO" and thought l detected a faint
smile ON the speaker Hips. But | held d
man under sentence Of death, and lie wash
reprieved either.
OF course all of us wanted to hear about
that man, aud Mr.. Mittimus proceeded DIT
once To crafty our curiosity.
81 knew before the Case was called that
John Upshot would be fonnd guilty of
murder IN The fist degree. His relatives
aud they weienunbe ced among the most
wealthy and influential people OF the dis
trict-engaged the abest attorneys III the
Slate for tue defense. But money aud tai
ent could not save the criminal. n good
deal of legal lore was lost upon the twelve
honest farmers who filled the jury box, aud
the ouly interest that seemed to attach 1t
self to tue trial was the chicanery Oi Up
shots counsel.
..For four days that trial dragged its
serpeutiue length through the October
term. lit worried me-, for, as | felt THAT i
was to have a hanging On my hands, l
wanted to ret Though tue ugly JOB as
quickly as possible. did not sleep much
OF nights, for had to lie awake and hear
the rnu de eli pacing his cell rs If the ghost
of his victim was keeping hun on terrible
march. The closing Of the tiial WAS great
relief and [ bieaihed freer, even wien
heard the only veidict at which twelve hon
| EST men could arrive. | heard Tie cli.ei
that greeted the verdict, and when TOOK
/ my man back to JAIL he looked up into IN y
/ face aud said with a smile
/ ...You will do me favor 10y committing
no blun,lers when the time comes, Mr.
/ 8littimus.'
would die cou,aceously, and | felt like
| thanking John Upshot for that, Tor "'s
] fearful that he would play the coward
! felt that [ could hang man that was n"'
! afraid TO die. \ coward, sqnir"ing ano
weakening on the gallows, might have un
manned me.
! ..Tae county town of Usage was not large
then. The jail, to which was attached .h'
sheriff : residence, stood on a iise, ana 'h'
,ear windows, barred and very strong, ov
r,looked a gently sloping piece of GROUND
"a vuich buasied of IA fine grove of beech anf
buiteruut That grove held mauv pleasan
r.culiect,ous to me, for there had playe'
through hoyhood, and loved to iieqnen
lis coniipy shades, long after had icachct
mans estate. Ii WAS upon THIS pteti y scen
thar the sole vii dow of john Upshoi &c
Iocked. More than once during the tfiai
I'D discovered him standing AT the bars a
If siohinp for the freedom OF the bitds ina
filed the grove with tileir music.
The day Of executionsapproached ou
very slowly to me. | assure you, gentiemei
that | wanted it to come on the wings q
4 the wind, for, as L have already SAID.
wanted the hangman's job off my hands
The prisoner appeared Indifferent Tor Se'
. L..rt /.
his .n,,roachins fate soon fell upon hin
and his smile faded away. A,epiieve Wa
totally unlocked for, and believe that T.
stems were ever taken towards one. Ii wa
given out everywhere that Upsh ot wo"i
te adng.