Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-24

"S"nt tuoii circumstances anu this JOnt.
and Kicks admitted to be true.
Upon the conclusion of these statements
tne Judge arose and looking over the ex
cited throng said, in a loud clear voice:
Fellow citizens, you have hearl tn,
evidence against the prisoners, and htv,
listened patiently 10 what they have utter
ed In defense. 1t is for you TO say VIII,
shall be the penalty of the crime of whirl
AN Intelligent jury has declared then
guilty."
Death" yelled the angry mob in hor
rid accord.
:" Deah be it them" rejoined the Judge
VINO turning to the prisoners thus address
ed them:
" You have heard the verdict-the
unanimous voice of the people. In accord
ance Herewith sentence you to be han ;.
Ell by the neck, forIhwi h, until you are
dead; and may Heaven have mercy on
your souls!'
In an instant one or more lariats. al
ready noosed. came whirlng. lasso fish.
ION. through the air. and fell ut the feet oil
the doomed men. The loops were quickly
knotted around their necks while the
other ends were thrown over two branches
OF sturdy oak that stretched horizontally
from the parent trunk at right angles with
each other. Bloomer, Kicks and Jones
We're placed beneath the larger bough,
Prince and Pyne were arranged under the
other which extended over the western
slope.
Among those busiest around the doomed
men was a handsome youth, the same
who had passed them that morning on
| horseback and who had attracted the re
gard OF Prince through his close resem-
blance to Old Buckeye Phillips pretty
| daughter. The youth made his ap-
pearance just as the verdict of the
jury was rendered, and had managed 10
GAIN and hold position near William
Prlnce-whlttling piece of pine the
while, with sharp bladed knife; and it
was his hands that, with II great show Of
zeal for the cause Of "justice.' fastened
the moose around the neck of Prince,
whose eyes followed the lads movem nts
with II look of mingled horror and reproach
that was pitiable 10 see
Five minutes for prayers" exclaimed
the Judge, taking out II ponderous silver
watch to note the progress Of the 1eeting
moments.
The crowd fell back few p.ces leaving
clear space around the condemned; hut
for moment the youth still remained by
the side of Prince, his fingers busy with
the fatal moose
why should you take such pleasure in
Fastening my dealh?' exclaimed Prince
bitterly.
Hush! Listen" said the youth in n
low but distinct whisper, and audible only
to Prince, " I've cut the moose through, all
but u thread; wait for the judges word
and then break away
A CLEAN Of hope lighted up the con-
demned mans eyes rs the lad left his side
and mingled with the crowd.
The prisoners had not been bound; for
there was no danger that they would at
tempt to escape; neither hal they been
blindfolded-nobody hid thought Of that.
The doomed men stood quietly in mute
despair.
Hundreds of willing hands held the ends
of the halters.
The moments flew rapidly.
Times up!" exclaimed the judge
hoarsely.
Hoist awawr' shouted q sailor like
voice.
In moment Jones, Bloomer and Kicks
were lelked from the earth and pulled W
until their necks touched the b ugh, TWEEN
ty feet above the flower enameled hill side
They were then lowered II little anl LET.
to strangle slowly.
Before the harsh voice of the " peoples
judge had ceased to disturb the Ar Prince
gave vigorous struggle for fc and liber-
ty. He tore the partly severed moose from
his neck with single effort struck out
like II pugilst, right and left; sent two OF
| his set-eectrd exeCutiunerS to the earth.
sieZrd rife from third, Knocked down
live or six others with the butt of tn,
weapon, dropped it and darted down the
hill with the speed of race horse.
Pyne who had stood by the side of
Prince was pulled up into the air at the
word. He was very heavy man, and
when about "a falhom from the ground the
rope broke. He fell upon his knees, but
quickly gained his feet, and rushed off
close behind Prince. score Of rifles
were brought to II score Of shoulders; -
score of eyes ranged along rs many gun
barrels; twenty explosions blended in one
ringing report; twenty death dealing tubes
flashed out their leaden missiles. Ten bull
lets pierced poor Pyne, through and
through; he sprang straight up inlo the
air, dead before he reached the ground!
The mob raised fierce eXuIting yell
Nine of the bullets missed their mark
owing probably, - II tree which Prince
was passing aL The instant; the twentieth
entered the muscle of his left arm Heed
lnsc of thn II h,
ed his desperate flight. A deep ravine.
about II rod in width, ran along the base
of the hill. The nearest bank WAS II little
higher than the opposite edge. Toward
this chasm The fugitive sped. Reaching
the brink, he bounded into the air, and
aided by the impetus given him by his
long start, cleared the yawning space and
landed in the midst OF cump cf Man
santa bushes, yard beyond the brink!
A saddled and bridIed mustang, the
property OF the "pcople LAWYER was
hitchcd close by II AXE in the road. 70
unhitch. mount and rush off ut full speed
was the work Of II moment. Away he
dashed along the Coloma roal, the greater
portion of the honest miners " in full
chase. yelling and shouting continuously
Luckily many minutes slipped away be-
fore any of his purSuers could secure and
mount their horses.
Prince passed over the same ground that
he had trodlen that morning, riding like
the wind. This brought The fugitive TO the
juncture of the bridle path and Sacramento
road where stood OH Buckeyes cabin.
Here his horse stumbled, and Prince, weak
from the loss Of blood. was thrown off.
Mrs. Phillips, O'd Buckeyes wife, WAS
stInding in the doorway Prince fell al.
most at her feet. She helped hm to rise.
lie was faint from his bleeding. but un-
hurt by the fall. Not strong enough TO
mount again. he leaned against the wall
Of the cabin, while the reeking mustang
took roll in the dusty highway which
damaged the saddle. and then proceeded
quietly to nbble the tender grass by the
road side.
The nearest Of the pursuers were at
least three miles behind.
" What is the matter young man?" the
matron asked in kindly tones.
Prince explained matters briefly.
There's been II big mistake in this bus.
mess" she replied, " and reckon we can
satisfy these bloody minded gentlemen
that you didn steal the animals, any