The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-04-04
THE WALKING GALLONS.

"
In no other country in the world,
perhaps, did such savage and diabolical
scenes occur as those enacted in Ireland
in the terrible and bloody year of 1873.
War has given birth to many monsters
-men whose hearts are granite to the
tender feelings of pity or remorse, and
whose sweetest enjoyment is to revel in
blood and carnage. Neros and Robe
spheres are abundant on the historic
page of every nation; but, tyrants
though they were, there is still some
good deed linked with their names, and
Byron says that when Nero died sssome
hand unseen strewed flowers upon his
tomb" But the pen of the historian
has no such pleasing fact to recordgin
tracing the lines of the infamous scoun-
drel who is the subject of this brief
sketch. 5,s...+ ..t.... 4t...,,.. s..8
Among the monsters which the in
surrection act, passed in 1896, called
into loyal activity, none have surpassed
HThe Walking Gallowsr for atrocity,
nor more distinguished for moral de.
pravity. .t7sf antsse an
This wretch came from England to
Dublin when a boy, and became appren-
ticed to an apothecary, a business that
may be ranked among the most peace
able and humane pursuits, at the same
time by the opportunities 1t af-
fords to reconcile imperfect I'M
derstandings to a taste for cru
city, afforded but trihing grati-
ficationsa to the Impatient genius
of the monster of whom, we write,
Drawing a tooth or opening a, vein,
though they might afford amusenfents
to petty or uninferesting talents, were
beneath the aspiring genius of Heben-
stall. His ardent mind rejected the
triaing game afforded by his profession
under the restrictions of the law, and
he longed for higher and nobler game.
An opportunity was soon offered him.
Two brothers, the only support of their
aged and widowed mother, were arrest
ed for crime Of which they were inno-
cent-the murder of drunken soldier.
They were tried bya packed jury, found
guilty, and sentenced to- be executed.
On the night previous to their execution
the Government hangman, being recog-
nized on the streets, swas assassinated
Hepenstal, hearing OF this, proceeded,
disguised, to the castle, and offered to
perform the duties of coElmon hangman
without fee or reward, provided he
would be allowed to carry out the per-
Torrance in his own manner. His pro-
posed method was to adjust the rope
round the culprit's neck, and hosting
him on his baek-he' being an extraor-
binary tall man-walk around the castle
yard in tae presence of the soldiers until
the victim was strangled His request
was granted, and next day Hepenstal
had the pleasurable satisfaction OF legal
ly numbering two innocent men,
The disturbed state OF the country
and the powers transferred from the
magistrates to the army, inspired him
with an, opportunity Of uniting the char
acter of a gentleman with those of an
executioner. His speeulations We're re-
duced into activity by the interest of his
brother, then clerk in the Dublin po-
lice, by whose influence the Walking
Gallows was enabled to exchange the
pestle for the sword, by being appoint
ed an ensign in militia regiment And
now he found ample authority and scope
to display hi, peculiar talents, Hearing
of the deeds of his friend and conpan-
ion, Captain Swayne, who was then sta
toned in another part of the country, he
determined to Guido him in LOYALTY and
ferocity. He was determined TO com
tmand flying party for travelling a GER
tain district apportiened out toshis own
discretion, in a part of Westmeath, then
declared under statute out of the King s
protection. Hepenstal entered the viii
lage of MoWvres at the hour Of mid
night, when the innocent inhabitants
were enjoying repose after the labors of
the day. He ordered the alarm drum
to beat, and soon each inhabitant be-
held with horror the ministers Of fer
ror at his bedside; the night resounfted
with the taunts and curses of one party,
and the screams and dying groans OF
the other. 1t was a night of blood and
carnage. Setting fire to the village,
Hepenstal was about departing when he
perceived three men rushing from 4
burning dwelling. They proved to be.an4
old man named Smith and his two sons.
They We're captured and dragged before
him.
Hepenstal, with the malignity of
tiend, looked upon his three unarmed
and helpless victims. A smile Of sa-
tanic hate shot for moment across his
dark features, and, approaching the
aged father, he dealt him a violent blow
with his broad, open hand upon the
cheek. The old man staggered for al
moment, and, with the blood squirting
from his mouth and nostrils, fell stun
ned to the ground The soldiers in
dulged in a coarse laugh at the brutal
deed of their commander, and the latter,
again approaching the PROSTATE man.