Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-11
VOL. XXXV.

ieeiin very well, had turned back. while
Ills brother went on, jntendin' when NIGH
come 10 stop at the nearest cabin. After
tnat ne had never seen his brother alive
the pocket book had three thousand dol.
lars in it.
MY lawyer cross examined this witness
very sharp. and mixed him up a good deal
In TACT he conlradicted himself so much
doubtful
All ut once the truth flashed into me.
| That's the man that done III s,vs
springin' up, and pintin' at the witness
know now why the dyin' man didn't want
nothin' said!
The officers forced me back into nv seat
ana the witness took out his pocket hand
kercner and began weepin' vi'lently. He
could stand anything. he said, sobin'.
sooner bein' charged with his brothers
murder.
The scene powerfully affected the very
Jurymen that just afore had begun TO show
signs of doubt; and they too, took out
their handkerchers, and wiped their ewes.
and blowed their noses, and then shook
their heads.
The young lawyer made good speech
for me. but twasn't no use. When a
murdered mans money and body's both
found on the prisoner, it's easy to see he
don't stand much chance.
The jury brung me in guilty, and the
Judge pronounced sentence.
As I'd got to be hung. I'd been glad
to have it over, but the Judge give me
couple of months to prepare for death
and said he hoped I'd improve the time
repentin' of my great offense.
Them sixty days passed mighty tedious
every one of 'em was spun out with suf-
terin'. Hold your hand in the fire a minnit
and guess you'll think it's full hour.
10 add to it all, Parson Piget kept
teazen OF me to confess. He said he could
not offer me any hope unless did; l told
him my hope wasn't in him; that I'd put
my trust in One that didn't want no living
confessions. felt sorry afterwards for
bein' so sharp with Piget, for he was
good man, and l have no doubt meant
right.
Then came my last night. I'd been
long wishin' that all was over. but tbn,
night somehow the horror of my situation
came before me more distinct than ever
before. I'd been listenin' during the dav
to the carpenters putin up the gallows,
and my measure had been took for NV
coffin.
When night came threw myself on my |
bed, and thought over my past life. l |
begged forgiveness for all the sins | had |
actlly committed, and tried to pray that |
he, too, might be forgiven for whose crime
was about to suffer. This was up hill |
work. but hope done it sincerely. Bur,
oh! the awful agonv of the thought that |
was to die a shameful death, and that al, |
them who had loved me could never again |
hear my name without a blush
Worn out with anguish. l fell asleep at
last and dreamed of the happy days of
and of my dear mother, having
II sort of confused notion that, for some
reason, l felt glad that she had died years
ago.
slep' till they awoke me in the MORN
ing. The sheriff, his aids, and Mr.. Piget
was there.
The sheriff read the death warrant. Then
Mr.. Piget prayed very fervenlly, and my
heart said amen! for he did not speak NO
more of my great crime, but only asked
the Heavenly Father to have mercy on
me.
Liz sueTlu tieu lOOk tue rope from MS
pocket. l started back at the sight Much
Is | had thought over all that Was to
come, found was not yet prepared for
he horrid reality.
Hold n. Mr.. Sheriff says my lawyer,
rushing in and holdin' up paper. I've
been ridin' night and day for three days,
and thank God am in time.
The sheriff took the paper and read
t.
All right, Mr.. Mopson. says he-you're
! free man this is full pardon from the
gov'ner!
won't try to describe my feelin's. It's
enough to say that the truth had come out
The murdered mans brother who'd got the
pocket book and money after my convic-
ion. got mortally stabbed in row over a
gaming table, land afore his death confessed
hat he shot his brother while trying 10
'ob him, but the latter had escaped after
'eceiving his death wound. This. of
course, explained the fact of both the
'pcket book and the body being found on
ny premises.