The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-14
Too Much Pressure.

Governor Tom Young tells q good
story of how "J. NJ" the long-haired
nomad of theorizing propensities, re-
Gently &C. assumed the pressure and
then crawled out from under it,
The day before the hanging of Bergin
the governor was sitting in his office,
very busy with some papers pertaining
to the case, when a loud, vigorous
knock shook the door, and, before an
invitation to enter could be given, in
came the philosopher, and marched
boldly up to the executive, whom he
addressed by his Christian name in a
familiar manner He threw himself into
a chair, and said
Tom, I've come up here to martyr" I"
"How so p inquired the governor.
"I assume the entire pressure, re-
turned 81. n" Throw it all onto me.
Let Bergin go, and have me shot in his
place. Thatll fetch 'em-they can't
hold out-must come right square
down and accept the truth. It's
just the opportunity I've been
searching for all these years, and
can't let her slip. Bergin is COM
mon mani aint-let him go, and take
my blood for atonement. I want to
martyr-you catch the idea-that's s
enough. Here am"
"Nothing would give me more pleas
use," said the governor +; "but are you
in earnest Do you really mean it ?"
i" Do L mean it9 You know me well
enough, Tom Young, to know that I'm
always in earnest. Call in your menials
and have me bound at once. Bring on
your chains, and send word to the re-
porters. Pile the pressure all onto me
every bit of it-I assume it ALL"
| "All right" said the governor, with
an impressive voice, "you shall be ac-
commodated. Get ready to die to-mor-
row at twelve o'clock"
A messenger was sent out to bring in
the Judge to prepare the necessary
papers for making the desired change
in the proceedings. In few minutes a
| justice of the peace, who had been post
ed, was brought in and introduced as
the "iudge." He expostulated with
81. NJ" and endeavored, with well
simulated emotion, to persuade him
from his rash purpose. The "immor-
tai 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 sighs and watery eyes, the
"judge" went ahead and filed out the
documents. Everything was now ready,
and the formalities all completed except
the signature of "J. n" to the paper.
BY this time the old fellow was pretty
thoroughly convinced that the proceed
ings meant business in earnest, and he
became visibly nervous and ill at ease.
"Sign your name," said the officer,
sternly, and then you can go at once
to your quarters in the dungeon, and 6
clergyman will be sent to YOU"
81 want it distinctly understood,
remarked the martyr, rising, 81 DOM
want to be hung-I want to be shot.
"You shall be-" said the governor
tomorrow, at noon."
Hold on, now, governor" said the
now thoroughly frightened philosopher
with blanched cheek, "that's hurryine
the cattle little too much--I didn'
think you'd be that brash. Before
sign that paper 1 want respite fo1
thirty days, to wash up and get ready.
"You can't get it. The time set TO
the obsequies can not be postponed,
said the governor.
lhen Ii pe Dlameu IL IL martyr u
all, and Bergin can fill his own appoint
ment. Iwon't be snapped off IN tina
way, without any time to get my las
words ready, and write out few inter
views for the press. That wouldn't d
the cause a particle of good, aud II
working for the good of the cause.
didn't expect to make a cent out of thi
thing myself, and so 1 throw up an
back down. You can tear them paper
up-I won't sign 'em at all, and th
: philosopher bolted from the room, an,
left the city with more precipitatio
: than he had ever done before Cinci,
l natl Breakfast Table.