West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-01-26
He Wanted 10 Martyr.
ICinclunati Broakfast Table. /

Governor Tom Young tells a good
story of how -. N" the long-haired
nomad of theorizing propensities, re-
J Gently assumed the pressure and
then crawlod out from under il.
The day before the hanging of Bergin
! the Governor was sitting in his office,
very busy with some papers pertaining
/ TO the case, when loud vigorous knock
shook the door, and before an invitation
TO enter could be given, in came the
! philosopher, and marching boldly up TO
| the Executive, whom he addressed by
his Christian name in a familiar man
! ner, he threw himself into a chair, and
said
Tom, I've come up here TO MARTYR"
How SOP queried the Governor.
II assume the entire pressure" re-
turned -. NJ "Throw il all on 10
me. Let Bergin go, and have me shut
in his place. That'll fetch 'em-they
can't hold out-must come right square
down and accept the truth. It's lust
the opportunity I've been searching for
all these years, and can't let her slip.
Bergin's a common mani ain't-let
HIM go and take my blood for atene-
ment. | want 10 martyr-you catch
the ldea-thats enough Here | am"
Nothing would give me more pleas
urc, said the Governor, but are YOU
in earnest? DO you really mean tips
DO mean il? You know me well
enough, Tom Young, to know that Pm
always in earnest. Call i'm your menials
and have me bound at once. Bring on
your chains, and send word to the re-
porters. Pile the pressure all on to me
every bit Of it assume it all"
"All right" said the Governor, with
an impressive voice, you shall be ac-
commodatcd. Get ready to die to-mor-
row at twelve o'clock"
messenger wa. then sent out to
bring in the Judge to prepare the neces-
sary papers for making the desired
change in the proceedings. In few
minutes Justice of the Peace, who had
been posted, was brought in and intro
duced as the Judge" He expostu-
lated with 81. NJ" and endeavored
with well simulated emotion 10 persuade
him from his rash purpose, but the
Immortal" wouldn't bulge peg
from his firm resolve. He had come TO
martyr, and he'd do it, if it killed him,
that S the kind OF Philosopher he was.
SO with groans and ST CHS and watery
eyes, the Judge" went ahead and filed
out the documents. Everything WAS
now ready, aud the formalities ali com
pleted except the signature Of "J. NJ"
to the paper. BY this time the old fell
low was pretty thoroughly convinced
that the proceedings meant business in
earnest, and he became Visibly nervous
and i'll at ease.
"Sign your name," said the officer.
AZ nlNT I'm.
TO your quarters in the dungeon, and a
clergyman will be sent to you"
j want il distinctly understood" ;" re-
marked the martyr, rising, "l don't want
TO be hung-l want TO be shot"
"YOu shall be-" said the Governor,
tomorrow, at noonp
Hold on, now, Governor" said the
now thoroughly fEighte ned philosopher,
with blanched cheek; that's hurrying
the cattle little too much--I didn't
think you'd be that brash Before !
sign that paper ] want respite for
thirty days, to wash up and get ready"
You can't have it.. The time set for
the obsequies can not be postponed" !" said
the Governor.
"Then I'll he darned if I'll martyr at
all, and Bergin can fill his own appoint
ment. ! won't be snapped off this way
without any time to get my last words
ready, and write out few interviews
for the press. That wouldn't> do the
cause particle o good, and Pm work
ing for the cause. ] didn't expect TO
make cent out o this thing myself,
and so ] throw up and back down. You
can tear them papers up-I won't sign
'em all, " and the philosopher bolted
from the room, and left the city with
more precipitation than be had ever
done before.