The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-13

lowed that would have no doubt ende
in blows if some of the crew had no
interfered.
! The syInpathies of the captain /
this quarrel were with his son. an
those of Mabel with her lover, whoI
, she did not consider at all to blame,
1t was not far from the middle of th
night following the quarrel betwee
Haywood and Stanford, and, save tn
gentle moaning of the wind throug
the rigging, and the ripping of tn
water as the ship ploughed on he
course, all was silent as death, whe
the helmsman, peering out with strain
ing eyes into the impenetrable gloon
of the black expanse beyond, was sud
denly aroused from the dro Ssiness tha
was stealing over him, by hearing
cry for help, and then splash in TIN
water from off the lee bow.
He quickly turned to ask the super
cargo, who but moment before hac
been standing by his side, the cause o
the noise, when he saw that the youn,
man was gone.
Then the truth instantly flushed
through his mind and he shouted, in
startling, excited tone:
"Man overboardi"
1t seemed but an instant from the
giving of the alarm before the captain
and crew were on deck, and lights b.
ing quickly brought they rushed to the
place whence the helmsman had heard
the cry, when to their surprise they
discovered the second mate, a wild and
haggard look upon his face, holding in
his hand a heavy, murderous looking
club.
"What means this?" thundered the
skipper, as thoughts OF foul play flash.
ed upon his brain.
But, amazed and startled, Haywood
was silent.
"Who is lost?" cried the captain, in
the next instant.
But before anyone had time to an
swer him, his own eyes told him.
"My Godl tits Lewisl and that red
handed william has murdered him !!
Quick, men! hoist all the lights and
man the boats! Let everything be
done that can be. as quickly as posi-
BILE. He may be living, and if you
save him this shall be good nights
job for you. Work, work. for your
livesI"
The orders of the grief-stricken faith
er were readily obeyed. But, though
lights were hoisted, and boats sent out
in every direction, nothing could be
found of the lost one. So, at last it
was given up as hopeless case, and
the men returned to the ship, when
Frank Haywood was seized for the
murder of Lewis Stafford.
No more sleep visited the ship that
night. The sorrowing father paced the
deck till daylight; and in the cabin be-
low his daughter was sobbing for the
death of her only brother, and for him
accused of that terrible deed.
In the morning Haywood was ar
raigned before the crew on oharg. OF
wilful murder. Nothing seemed lack
ing to substan,iate his guilt. His
quarrel with young Stanford, and the
circumstances under which he had
been found after the alarm, together
with his appearance at the time, seem
ed sufficient to prove his guilt.
Yet he stoutly protested his limo
cence, saying, in explanation of his
conduct, that he had harbored no ILL
feelings against Lewis, but had been
ready TO forgive and be forgiven.
As 10 his being found with that muir
derous looking club in lis hands. il
was accidental. Feeling little anx
ious about the weather, he had left his
bunk TO 90 upon deck. and was just
iu season to hear the cry which had
caused the alarm. .,o
Fastening TO the spot he stumbled
over something in his path. 1t was
the club which he had in his hand
they discovered him a few moments
later. with that wild look upon his
face, caused by the feel that some hor-
rible crime had been committed.
Heywood's story was received with
shouts of derision. The circumstantial
evidence was too overwhelming against
him for any one to have the least sus-
picion that his seemingly inconsistent
story was anything but false fabrica-
tion gotten up for the occ ision.
Assoon as order could be restored the
captain stepped forward with a pair
manacles, and placing them upon the
doomed mans wrists, said.
"Before God and man, Frank Hey
wood, l believe you guilty of murder
ing my son. Therefore, l secure you
in irons, and order that you be kept in
close confinement until we reach port,
when you shall be delivered over to the
proper authorities to meet the punish
ment you so richly deserve"
Here" he added, turning 10 his
crew, "some of you take Mr.. Haywood
below"
''Oh, father, don't!" cried Mabel,
who had been silent spectator of the
s,ene. "He did not do it! know he
did notI"
Tut, tut, girl, no more of this!"
said her father. Men, do your duty. !"
A couple of sailors STEPPED up to obey
their superior's order, when, with Il
low cry, Mabel sprapg forward be-
tween them and her lover, as if to
shield him from their grasp.
Without word tho captain, in spite
of her fearful entreaties, Tudely
snatched his daughter away.
Haywood, CHANGING to look up,
caught sight of the mate. Warren
Gregg, standing but a short distance
off, an eXultant look of 6endish salts
faction cleaning in bis usually express
sionless eyes.
1t was plainly q look K of seornful tri-
umph, and as the sailors placed their
hands upon his shoulders, the young
man fully realized the peril of his sit
nation, and from what source it was
dno Rut furfher thought or action WAS