The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-01-26

killed was one he had given to Frank some
days before, was large hunting knife
encased in silver scabbard,
Pale as death, but showing no signs O.
fear or guilt upon his handsome face, the
prisoner sat unnoved by his sentence
which was to die on the gallows When
asked it he had aught to say, Frank arose.
and looking around the courtroom, in a
clear voice answered
II have! Circumstantial evidence has
condemned me. / admit it looks as if /
did the deed, but | am guiltless ofmurder.
Dropping my percussion cap-boN i'll a
mountain stream, / returned home for
more, for without caps my gun was useless.
! 1t was a lovely night, and determined to
enter the house by my window, get the caps
and return without waking my uncle. /
tieA HI herse te tie fence, sPraneg rang inte the
window, and then heard loud crash, a
call out, and shri * in the direction of
my unclcs room. | rushed thither--a dark
form dashed by me in the uncertain light
ofthe room-and I fell over something on
! the floor. With fear in my heart | arose,
! lighted q candle, anil saw my own knife,
which had done the deed, lying near. |
picked it up, and thus ! was found by the
negro and seen by the peddler. As God
is my witness did not murder the good
old man who has protected me throughout
life, and whom l loved as though he was
my own father. I am gulless of the
deed, but submit to my fate
A silence fell upon all there were, how
ever, but few who believed the youths
statement among the latter was h. Dew
ees and his family, who, through all, re
NAMED his staunch friends.
Frank Mercer was to be hnng--to die All
ignominious death on the galIows-and
hundreds Aocked to the little town where
the execution was to take place, to see him
die.
How disappointed they were to find that
the night before he had escaped. How, no
one knew; but he had left a note addressed /
TO the iailor, thanking him for the kind
ness shown him while he was in his charge, /
and his regret that his escape might cause
him some trouble, but saying that he haG
an opportunity Of escaping, and took ad
vantage of it, for he had no idea Of diving .
an ignominious death for an act he was
not guilty of, merely to CRAFTY the curiosi-
ty ofa gaping crowd. Freedom was Of
fered him, and he accepted it, and he hop
ed he would yet be able to prove his
innocence.
This was about the substance of the let
ter; and when it was published in the To-
cal papers, there were some who were glad
that the boy had escaped the gallows.
Mr., Mereer's property was in his will all
left to Frank, and it was found to be con-
siderable. Trustees assumed charge Of it,
and before long the quiet community had
settled down to its usual routine, and the
murder and the escape were in a short
ime almost forgotten.
Tenyears had passed away, and no word
IF the fugitive had been heard, and people
believed him dead. One exception was
Mary Devices, now grown to womanhood.
She had never believed him dead, and all
through her life had treasured Frank
name in her honest heart, the mystery
which hung around him adding strength
o her regard. Her sisters had married,
Ter mother was dead, and together with
Ter father they had lived in the old home
stead
Business called Mr.. Devices to Havana,
le took Moy with him, and they set sail ,
rom Charleston in d. fine ship running
'outh. They had been some days at sea.
Fhen in the dead Of night the fearful cry
T fire was heard, which aroused all
rom slumber. in vain were efforts made :
! queneh the flames The seamen in their y
right rushed into the only available boat,
nd it sank with them, and left them strug-
ling in the ocean, borne away by the wind
nd waves, while Mr.. Devices and Mary,
le captain Of the ship, and few others,
ere huddled away upon the stern, await : :
& the awful doom that must, to all ap-3
overtake them. :.
"Sail no II :
The joyous cry came from the captain, =
no had been straining his eyes over the !
,ean in hopes ofseeing some vessel com !
= to save him. Swiftly flying towards !, !
em came low, rakish, three-masted :
hooner, which ever and anon sent up o !
ght to prove to those On board the burn : :
& ship that suecor was near
Harkl the deep boom ofa gun i heard, ! !
ID A. the captain listens he exclalms, !. !.
Hiss Devices, we are all right now; cheer :
J, for there comes q vessel of war to our
lief =
ship ahoy + came IN ringing tones from a'